Baby powder may smell and feel good, but I don't recommend it — and the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends against it. Powder can cause breathing problems and serious lung damage when inhaled, and it's not always easy to keep the powder out of the air where your baby might breathe it.
This is most worrisome with talc-based powders, which have small, easily inhaled particles. Cornstarch, which has larger, coarser particles, is not as easily inhaled as talc.
There's no evidence that baby powder helps to prevent or treat diaper rash, either. The best preventive strategy is to clean and pat dry your baby's bottom at each diaper change and then apply a thin layer of protective ointment or cream.
If you wish to use powder, choose the safer cornstarch-based product. Shake the powder into your hand, away from your baby, never directly on or near her. Keep the powder container well out of your baby's reach at all times, too. You don't want it to fall over and produce a cloud of powder for her to inhale. Occasionally, you can use a medicated powder in the neck folds or groin folds as long as you don't allow it to build up.
Finally, to avoid irritation, carefully wash away any powder that may have accumulated in your baby's skin folds whenever you change her diaper.
This is most worrisome with talc-based powders, which have small, easily inhaled particles. Cornstarch, which has larger, coarser particles, is not as easily inhaled as talc.
There's no evidence that baby powder helps to prevent or treat diaper rash, either. The best preventive strategy is to clean and pat dry your baby's bottom at each diaper change and then apply a thin layer of protective ointment or cream.
If you wish to use powder, choose the safer cornstarch-based product. Shake the powder into your hand, away from your baby, never directly on or near her. Keep the powder container well out of your baby's reach at all times, too. You don't want it to fall over and produce a cloud of powder for her to inhale. Occasionally, you can use a medicated powder in the neck folds or groin folds as long as you don't allow it to build up.
Finally, to avoid irritation, carefully wash away any powder that may have accumulated in your baby's skin folds whenever you change her diaper.
No comments:
Post a Comment