Archive for Baby
July 31, 2008 at 9:35 pm · Filed under Integrative Medicine, Baby, Pain Management
photo credit: myreado2
Irrefutably, the power of touch is immensely soothing for an infant. After having spent many months immersed in a warm, fluid environment, the outside world can feel extremely barren, cold, and unpredictable. Infant massage has been shown to alter hormone levels in babies and reduce anxiety and stress while promoting relaxation. Physiological effects of massage include mobilizing fluids, washing out metabolic waste products (i.e. lactic acid) that build up in muscles, and promoting blood flow. Muscles, after being massaged, have decreased spasm. The tactile stimulation can activate nerve fibers carrying touch sensation and the sensory input from those fibers can decrease pain signals to the brain via the Gate Theory of pain. Thus, reducing the perception of pain.
In many cultures, massage with tropical oils is routine. The tropical oil massage provides multiple benefits. Oil based substances improve skin barrier function and protect the skin. Massage has been shown to improve thermoregulation. A compelling study from India looked at the effects of massage with coconut oil, mineral oil, and placebo (powder). Coconut oil massage caused greater weight and height gain rates compared to placebo in preterm and term infants. Read the rest of this entry »
July 2, 2008 at 8:58 pm · Filed under Nutrition, Baby
just apples, texture: so smooth
I had the good fortune of being able to sit down with Theresa Kiene of Homemade Baby and talk about a pivotal stage in infant development, starting solids. I was given minimal information from my son’’s pediatrician( a xeroxed copy from a page in a book), and not much else.
I was interested in experimenting with making my own baby food, but was also considering supplementing with Earth’s Best organic jarred baby food. After speaking with Theresa I was aghast to find out what comprised even the organic jarred baby food. The quality of produce used to make jarred baby food is usually labeled processor food. This is food that is on the verge of spoiling and can not be put on display as it is overly-oxidized. I was shocked and alarmed to learn that this produce, which would not even be fit for display, was being used to make baby food. Read the rest of this entry »
February 25, 2008 at 9:52 pm · Filed under Baby
Inspite of the oxymoronic title, Nature Babycare is an environmentally savvy disposable diaper. It boasts the convenience of a disposable without all of the gross plastic and its many associated ills. Nature Babycare was developed by a Swedish mom, who sought to create a diaper with a low environmental impact, but with the ease of a disposable diaper. The end product is a simple, yet ingenious solution.
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February 18, 2008 at 10:40 pm · Filed under Baby
Photo Credit: g diapers, originally uploaded by kspan17.
While I was pregnant, one of my most daunting challenges was what I would do about mindfully managing my baby’s basic bodily functions: the elimination of waste. The thought of leaving a 500 year poop legacy was reviling. I was consumed with trying to find thoughtful diapering solutions. Like many expecting moms I was thrilled at the promise of the gDiaper. Finally, a disposable diaper with a conscience that would allow me and my baby to leave a lighter eco-footprint. If you are not already familiar with the gDiaper, it is a relatively new diapering solution that boasts multiple environmental features: no chlorine, no dyes or inks, no perfumes, no latex, no plastic. Unlike conventional plastic diapers, the gDiaper is composed of a cellulose pad and takes merely 50-150 days to biodegrade. In contrast, plastic nappies take up to 500 years to decompose and some release toxins into the environment as they breakdown.
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