Natural baby hygiene and its benefits
Natural baby hygiene and its benefits
In the past, it was impossible to find babies a few months old without diapers, but this is a habit that is gradually being abandoned as more and more parents adopt the Natural Baby Care method. In addition to being more comfortable for the child, parents can see the benefits of not using diapers, whether cloth or disposable, on their babies.
Natural Hygiene is easy to introduce into a baby’s routine, but for this to be possible, it is important to recognize the main signs that a child shows when they need to relieve themselves. Parents can then take them to a safe place so that they can relieve themselves without needing diapers.
What is natural baby hygiene?
Natural baby hygiene is a method that meets a baby’s bowel movement needs without the use of diapers. To this end, it is necessary to pay attention to the signals the child gives and take them to an appropriate toilet or potty.
This method can be used at any age, but it is recommended that it be done from birth or up to three months of age. We know that it is not so simple and requires a lot of dedication and patience on the part of the family, especially when it comes to newborn babies, who relieve themselves while sleeping or breastfeeding.
From birth, babies are able to express their needs through subtle signs. When they want to poop, for example, their faces start to turn red, they make the famous “pout” with their mouths, squirm a little, or pass gas. While breastfeeding, they usually let go of the breast or show some irritation.
When these signs appear, it means it’s time to take the baby to a toilet or potty. With the right assistance, they are able to defecate on their own, greatly reducing the number of diapers the baby uses per day. In addition, it is important to identify how often the baby defecates per day. Normally, a baby in their first month should have 6 to 8 bowel movements.
This method of controlling a baby’s needs is widely used in African and Eastern countries, but before introducing it into a baby’s routine, parents need to inform themselves and talk to a pediatrician first, as there are still no in-depth studies on the technique.
What are the benefits of natural hygiene?
There are still no studies proving most of the benefits of the method, but parents who are adept at this Natural Hygiene technique share the various benefits they have observed throughout its practice. According to them, it is possible to achieve:
- Fewer diaper rashes;
- Greater comfort for the baby;
- Assistance in the
- development of body awareness;
- Improved communication between parents and child;
- Greater savings;
- Bowel regulation;
- Prevention of nocturnal enuresis (bedwetting);
- Easier potty training;
- Reduction of skin dermatitis;
- Prevention of hand, foot, and mouth disease;
- Stronger bond between mother and
- newborn baby;
- Better understanding of the baby’s feelings and sensations;
Less waste that is harmful to the planet.
Even with countless benefits, it should be noted that this is not an easy technique to apply. Starting this hygiene routine requires a lot of work, attention, and training. However, with a lot of persistence and dedication, it is possible to eliminate at least most of the use of diapers and enjoy its benefits.
Oh, and we need to point out that just because it has several benefits doesn’t mean that the technique will work in all cases. Every child is different, so sometimes this hygiene method can work really well for one child and be completely wrong for another. So it’s important for parents to stay calm and, if they don’t have success with the method, just go back to putting diapers on their baby every day.
How to practice natural hygiene with babies?
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As with other natural methods, such as sunbathing for babies, to begin this technique, you need to focus 100% on identifying the signs that your baby may show. In this case, always before they relieve themselves. In most babies, these signs appear in the following ways:
- Straining;
- Small grunts;
- Crying;
- Red face;
- Suddenly waking up from sleep;
- Contorted body movements.
Generally, these are the main signs that a baby may show moments before having a bowel movement, but it is important to remember that every child is unique. Therefore, to perform the technique, patience and careful observation are required, as the signs may vary from baby to baby.
After observing the baby’s signs and witnessing one of them, it’s time to take them to an appropriate potty or even a shower stall. You need to hold them properly so that they can relieve themselves.
Babies up to three months old usually have a bowel movement quickly after showing signs. However, an older child may become stuck after positioning. At this point, it is best to wait or create and organize a home routine with the baby to make it easier and more comfortable for them.
The recommendation is to always take the baby to the potty right after they wake up or at scheduled times. This can significantly help them adapt to the new technique.
What is natural hygiene?
For this technique to be truly possible and harmless, the child must be positioned in a squatting position, i.e., crouching, with their feet on the floor and their spine straight. In the case of babies, while they are relieving themselves, they must be held close to a toilet or potty.
It is important to note that babies under one year of age should not touch the toilet or potty during bowel movements, as these are places that are full of bacteria and babies do not yet have the necessary immune protection. From one year of age onwards, it is possible to allow them to touch or sit on the seat.
Therefore, try to learn as much as you can about the technique, study it, and see if it will be possible to apply it to your baby. If you want to try it, commit to it, but always keep in mind that there is a chance that your child will not adapt.
After that, start the process slowly so that your baby can get used to the new routine and, together, you can reap all the benefits of natural hygiene.
It is important to remember that, although it has advantages, natural hygiene also presents challenges. However, with care and patience, many parents find benefits in this method.
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