Welcome to the ninth newsletter. It gives me great pleasure to announce the winners of the recent HalosnHorns photo competition featured in the 12th TIPS e-newsletter. The six finalists include pictures of dads with babies and toddlers cuddling up skin-to-skin in the bath, in the shower and even in the swimming pool! Click here to see the winners.
These lovely shots show how much fun dads can have with some water and their precious little angels. Hope you enjoy the pictures - a bottle of HalosnHorns baby bath is on its way to all those featured.
Bath time provides an ideal opportunity to cuddle your little one in a large fluffy cuddle towel - so why not have a look at the 2008 TIPS review of apron style towels on www.tipslimted.com?
Things to remember when buying your cuddle towel:
- Before and after carrying out any baby-care it is very important to wash your hands thoroughly - this remains the simplest and most effective way to prevent cross-infection.
- Wash your towel before you start using it - this will make your towel as soft and absorbent as possible.
- Do not overload your washing machine. This will ensure your towel is rinsed well.
- Do not use fabric conditioner as this reduces the absorbency of towelling fabrics.
- Make sure your towel is fully aired between uses as bacteria can multiply if a towel is left folded while still damp.
- If possible warm the towel on a radiator before use. Many of these cuddle towels fit around the parent whose body heat will keep the towel at a comfortable temperature.
- Follow any instructions provided with the towel.
- Skin-to-skin contact - a cuddle towel is known to be a wonderful way to provide your baby with extra security and promote a close attachment. This can lead to a happier and more contented baby (Anderson 2004).
- Sensory stimulation involving warmth, touch and smell (for example baby massage, bathing and skin-to-skin contact) is an extremely powerful vagal stimulant. It causes oxytocic release, which in turn raises the skin temperature of the breast, decreases anxiety, increases calmness and enhances parental behaviours (Uvnas-Moberg 1998).
- After their bath or shower babies loose heat quickly which is why it is important to cover a baby's head using a hooded towel during bath time.
A well-designed cuddle towel will fulfil all the needs of parent and baby, and enhance the bath, massage or swimming experience. A cuddle towel must be easy to use. It must keep your baby safe and warm, and help you, the parent, feel confident. This can only be achieved when manufacturers use top quality fabrics and pay close attention to detail when designing their products.
To read the final reviews of all towels tested go to www.tipslimited.com/awardscuddletowels.htm
For the latest information and advice regarding baby skincare check out version 5 of the TIPS Babycare-back to basics™ leaflet (sponsored by HalosnHorns). This can be accessed on the TIPS website but if you would like your own copy email me here or ask the kind people at HalosnHorns to send you a free copy.
Meanwhile if you have any particular questions relating to your little one's skin (or any other parenting topic for that matter) then please feel free to email me.
See you next time
Sharon
References:
Anderson G C, Moore E, Hepworth J & Bergman N (2004) Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants (Cochrane Review). In: The Cochrane Library, issue 1. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Uvnas-Moberg K (1998). Oxytocin may mediate the benefits of positive social interactions and emotions. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 23: 819-35.
Sharon Trotter©2009
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