Aromatherapy for Baby Care | 婴儿护理芳香疗法

Everyone has their own ideas and suggestions when it comes to soothing a baby. So too, does Mother Nature...

Natural remedies - in particular aromatherapy, can often provide gentle yet effective relief from minor ailments and may even enhance many experiences (for all concerned) associated with the arrival of a new baby. Take care to be kind to your child’s skin and offer products which are as pure and natural as possible.

A quick scan of the ingredients list on a bottle or associated packaging (ingredients should be listed in correct, descending order), will equip you with the information you require to make a well-informed decision on which products may be suitable and which perhaps are best avoided. Being aware of which ingredients are more likely to cause a reaction on the delicate skin of a newborn will ensure you do the best job possible in keeping your baby comfortable and content. Pure essential oils are extremely powerful so it is always ideal to seek out pre-blended products that offer effective, proven preparations for babies and children, rather than attempting to blend essentials if you do not have qualifications or extensive experience in working with the oils.

With this in mind, here is a selection of aromatherapy options for babies and toddlers which are well worth investigating. For a calming bath, look for products containing chamomile or lavender. Not only are these oils widely used, they are ideal to help encourage relaxation before bedtime. In addition, the anti-inflammatory properties of some specific chamomile oils may help to ease any inflamed skin present, such as that associated with nappy rash.

For helping soothe dry scalps geranium has long been associate with head and hair care; using a baby shampoo containing this oil may help to reduce the appearance of flaky skin and help minimise cradle cap.

If you are looking for a chest rub for older children to help with settling, try gentle massage using long, fluid strokes down the back or torso, or use to gently massage the lower back area to help encourage relaxation, again both lavender and chamomile essential oils can be helpful here.

Remember, that whilst natural and often organic, essential oils may also trigger allergies in young infants and those with sensitive skin in the same way that artificial fragrance/perfume can. It’s therefore important to always patch test products prior to use. Aromatherapy is best limited during the early months of a newborn’s life; look for unscented (essential oil free) products if in doubt.

Skincare for new babies should be taken very seriously, particularly when the baby has been born premature. In some neo-natal intensive care wards across Australia, babies are only bathed once they reach a weight of 1500 grams, so for many parents this is the first opportunity they have to actually have hands-on experience with their own baby following many weeks of limited contact. This is also the first time a baby may come into contact with any skincare products. For the first few weeks of a premature baby's life it is best to use a bland, unscented product or alternatively, simply water. Many general, adult toiletry products are manufactured using higher amounts of perfumes, alcohols, added colours, surfactants (the detergent type ingredients) and other ingredients potentially irritating to an infant's thin skin. Be sure to seek out only the mildest and gentle, plant-based products which have a long history of safety and have been formulated specifically for babies to minimise the risk of allergic reaction. If there is a family history of allergies, this too should be taken into account when selecting products for babies. For more information on caring for baby, ingredients to avoid and skincare tips, join the free eClub www.aromababy.com/eclub

说到安抚宝宝，每个人都有自己的一套办法。大自然母亲也是如此…

自然疗法——尤其是芳香疗法，通常可以温和而有效地缓解轻微的疾病，甚至可以增强与新生儿有关的许多体验。照顾好孩子的皮肤，尽可能使用纯净自然的产品。

快速浏览一下瓶子或包装上的成分列表（成分应该按照正确的由高到低的顺序排列），你就能获得所需的信息，做出明智的决定，哪些产品是适合的，哪些最好避免。了解哪些成分更可能在新生儿娇嫩的皮肤上引起不良反应，将确保你尽可能让你的宝宝舒适和满足。纯精油的功效是非常强大的，所以如果你没有使用精油的资历或丰富经验，最好是寻找预先混合的产品，为婴儿和儿童提供有效的、经过验证的准备，而不是自己尝试混合精华。

考虑到这一点，有一些适合婴儿和学步儿童的香薰疗法选择，值得好好研究一下。想要一个舒缓的沐浴，可以选择含有甘菊或薰衣草的产品。这类精油不仅被广泛使用，也有助于睡前放松。此外，某些特定的洋甘菊油的消炎特性有助于缓解皮肤炎症，如与尿布疹有关的炎症。

想要舒缓干燥的头皮，天竺葵是头发护理的不二选择；使用含有这种油的婴儿洗发水可以帮助减少皮肤的剥落，减少乳痂的出现。

如果你要找用来帮大孩子们做胸腔按摩药膏，试着用温和的按摩手法按摩后背或躯干,薰衣草和洋甘菊精油同样适用于身体按摩。

天然有机的精油也可能像人造香料和香水一样引起婴幼儿和敏感皮肤的过敏反应。因此，在使用之前一定要对产品进行贴片测试。芳香疗法最好仅在新生儿最初几个月使用;如果有疑问，使用无味(不含精油)的产品。

应该非常认真地对待新生儿的皮肤护理，尤其是早产儿的护理。在澳大利亚的一些新生儿重症监护病房，婴儿只有在体重达到1500克时才会洗澡，所以对许多父母来说，这是他们在数周有限的接触后，第一次有机会真正与自己的孩子接触。这也是婴儿第一次接触护肤品。在早产儿生命的最初几周，最好使用温和无味的产品，或者只用水。许多普通的成人盥洗用品在生产时使用了大量的香水、酒精、色素、表面活性剂（洗涤剂类成分）和其他可能刺激婴儿薄弱皮肤的成分。一定要选择最轻柔温和的植物性产品，这些产品已被证明是安全的，并且是专门为婴儿配制的，尽量减少过敏反应的风险。如果有过敏家族史，在为婴儿选择产品时也应考虑到这一点。想要了解更多关于婴儿护理、避免使用的成分和护肤技巧等信息，可以免费加入我们的俱乐部www.aromababy.com/eclub

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