How to pamper your active baby this summer
MANILA, Philippines - It’s the time when babies seem always in motion, when they are about nine to 18 months old — crawling, tumbling, taking baby steps. “They are like little explorers,” says Rose C. de las Alas, past president and present national auditor of the Mother and Child Nurses Association of the Philippines (MCNAP). “That is how they learn all about the world, by exploring and investigating everything around them. You should allow them, but you should also keep a watchful eye on them.”
Summertime is a good time as any for babies and toddlers to engage in activities, both indoors and outdoors. “It’s all right to take them on short trips,” says the MCNAP president, retired Col. Estelita T. Galutira. “But if you are taking them outside, make sure that they are properly protected from the sun’s heat.”
It would be good to have a sunshade on your baby’s stroller, or let them wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover not only their face but also their neck. As a rule of thumb, if you feel hot, then your baby must be feeling hot, too. Perhaps, even more so. Because they have thin skin, babies tend to be more susceptible to sunburn. They should be exposed only for a very short period of time, and use just the right amount of sunscreen.
“If you’re just staying indoors, dress your baby in loose-fitting clothes made of light, natural material like cotton,” Galutira suggests. In fact, it’s all right to dress them in the least amount of clothing, where they would be most comfortable. Diapers may be sufficient. Pampers Active Baby diapers have elastic sides that expand and contract, following the baby’s body shape. They not only fit comfortably but can stretch and move with him. It’s just right for your little explorer. Pampers Active Baby diapers also feature absorbency that lasts up to 12 hours, so you and your baby can enjoy a restful undisturbed sleep all through the night. De las Alas can vouch for this. She says her grandchild is given her feeding at 6 p.m. and sleeps straight, without need of a diaper change, until 6 a.m. when she wakes up the following day.
Pampers is a brand known for its commitment towards understanding and promoting baby development. It has a long-running partnership with MCNAP, which aims to improve mother and child nursing in the areas of clinical practice, research, and education. “We uphold only the highest standards of safe nursing practice on maternal and child care,” Galutira stresses.
“Some new practices have replaced old habits,” De las Alas says, “such as washing the baby immediately after birth, which is no longer done since this exposes the baby to hypothermia and removes the vermix, a protective barrier against bacteria and infections. Washing should be postponed until eight hours after birth.” A new protocol, called the Essential Newborn Care, promotes new approaches to post-natal care. Lying in and immediate breastfeeding is encouraged, which leads to intimacy and a strong bond between mother and child.
“Pampers and MCNAP have been working together in various programs and activities that promote baby development,” Galutira notes. Among its projects is the Aral Alaga scholarship program which is given to top nursing students and aims to equip them with the advanced knowledge they need to provide excellent care for mothers and children. Babies, after all, can never have too much tender loving care.
