Posts Tagged ‘organ’

NAIL FUNGUS
Over the last several years, nail fungus has garnered public attention completely out of proportion with its seriousness. The medical term, onychomycosis (oh-nick-o-my-CO-sis), is long and scary, but it just means fungal infection of the nail. Perhaps so many people are curious about this topic because nail fungus is very common. In addition, the development of
•    Soak your nails in a solution of one-third vinegar to two-thirds water
•    Prepare a cornmeal suspension and soak nails for an hour a week
•    Apply Listerine to infected nails daily
•    Coat the nails with Vicks VapoRub
•    Soak the nails in tea tree or vitamin E oil
•    Try Pau d’Arco tea soaks
•    Ask your MD about a prescription for urea paste 40 percent to remove the infected nail
•    Apply prescription Penlac (ciclopirox)
•    Consider the pros and cons of Lamisil (terbinafine) and Sporanox (itraconazole)
new antifungal drugs that can treat (dare we say cure?) nail fungus has encouraged the pharmaceutical industry to advertise in magazines, in newspapers, and on television.fbe popularity of sexy sandals as footwear may also have contributed to the interest in treating nail fungus.
For diabetics, nail fungus is a medical issue.fbey need to be extremely vigilant about foot care and attend promptly even to things that may seem minor. For the rest of us, though, thick, yellow toenails that are crumbly or hard to cut are more of a nuisance than a serious health concern. They look ugly, and if they get very thick, they may be uncomfortable as well. Sometimes they split, which can be quite painful.
In our opinion, though, it would be a mistake to put your life on the line to clear up your funny-looking nails. Mat’s why we have collected so many home remedies for this problem. They probably won’t work for everyone, but they shouldn’t be very risky, either.
Q. My husband took Lamisil to treat toenail fungus, The drug worked but was ultimately responsible for his death.
The fine print for this prescription drug noted that it might cause neutropenia. For my husband, it did. This led to MDS (myelodysplastic syndrome), which was followed thereafter by AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and his subsequent death.
He had suffered with periodic flare-ups of toenail fungus and athlete’s foot for most of his life. Neither condition was life threatening. The Lamisil was!
Even though serious side effects mentioned in prescription drug labels may affect only 1 percent of users, anyone could be in that I percent. People should ask themselves if it is worth taking that chancel
A. We are so sorry to hear of your husband’s tragic death. In rare cases, Lamisil may trigger serious blood disorders such as neutropenia, a lack of white blood cells. This drug can also damage the liver; there have been deaths associated with this problem. This is a high price to pay to cure toenail fungus.
Patients must always take into account not only common side effects but also the possibility of rare but deadly adverse reactions.
Home Remedies
It’s hard to say just where nail fungus comes from and why some people appear to be more susceptible than other-, Occasionally readers report that they first noticed nail fungus after going for a manicure or a pedicure. Presumably, it is possible to pass the organism that causes nail fungus from one person to another, and surely from one nail to another.To minimize that likelihood, we suggest that any tools such as scissors or clippers that have been used on a nail that might be infected be soaked in rubbing alcohol for 15 minutes before being used on an uninfected nail.
We think home remedies are the place to start for treating nail fungus, whether it affects the toenails or fingernails. (”This does not apply to people with diabetes, who should seek medical care for this problem.) Needless to say, some doctors are not fond of the idea of using home remedies for nail fungus.
Some time ago, we heard from a podiatrist who was very unhappy with our recommendations. “Home remedies hardly ever work,” he wrote. “The unproven treatments you mentioned are little more than urban legends. In 23 years of practice, I have never seen even one patient who responded favorably to Vicks VapoRub, dilute vinegar soaks, or vitamin E oil. Don’t make me waste time dispelling these myths.” He recommended that people take FDA-approved prescription drugs like Lamisil, Penlac, or Sporanox instead.
We certainly heard from readers who disagreed with him. One person who had success treating nail fungus with vinegar soaks expressed this opinion: “If a treatment is relatively harmless, as this is, and there’s even a chance it can work, I believe doctors should encourage alternative methods instead of high-priced medicines laden with potential side effects.”
A pharmacist also weighed in with some information on the effectiveness of the prescription medications:
I would like to point out some facts about the FDA-approved drugs the podiatrist prefers (Lamisil, Penlac, Sporanox). Does this doctor know that Penlac’s success rate for a complete cure, accord-ing to the manufacturer’s prescribing information, is only 5.5 to 8.5 percent after 48 weeks? When using Sporanox, the percentage of overall success rises to a dizzying 35 percent.
Also, does he know the costs of these medications? A bottle of Penlac costs $72.99. To reach 48 weeks of treatment once a day to a single affected nail, I conservatively estimate that the patient will need six bottles of the lacquer (one bottle approximately every other month), So Penlac will cost the patient, without insurance, 5437.94 to reach an outstanding 8.5 percent cure rate.
For Sporanox, one pulse-pak costs ME99. This is a 14-day supply. The manufacturer recommends 12 weeks of treatment, bringing the patient cost, without insurance, to $1,535.94! No wonder people are looking for alternatives to these medications.
Oral medicines such as Sporanox can occasionally trigger serious reactions as well. No wonder some people are willing to spend time and effort—but not much nioney—trying a low-risk home remedy.
I assumed toenail fungus was a fact of life forme. khad spread to five or six toenails when I finally saw a dermatologist The prescribed treatment was costly, and after it began, the dermatologist told me the odds of reinfection after treatment were about 50 percent
I had a nightmare reaction to the pills a week later I was in remote Finland, of all unlikely places, when I developed hives and severe itching. After 24 hours of nonstop, nonsleep itching, I got through to my doctor and was told to stop taking the pills.
When I got home, / decided to try the vinegar treatment I applied a drop of distilled white vinegar to my toenails with a cotton swab each time I got out of the shower As the nails grew out the fungus was completely gone, along with slight traces of athlete’s foot
Cost: under $ZOO over 9 months.
Side effects: none.
Effectiveness: 1019 percent (or 200 percent it you include the athlete’s foot).
Vinegar
One of our favorite home remedies is a vinegar soak. It is surely, one of the cheapest remedies for nail fungus. People who sit still to read, use the computer, or watch television could soak the foot with the affected toenails or hand with the affected  Vinegar
Use two parts of water to one part vinegar for a soaking solution. It does not seem to matter whether you use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, so we suggest the cheaper
white vinegar.
Downside: Your toes may smell of vinegar.
Cost: $1.60 to $2 for 64 fluid ounces—enough for at least four treatments, and possibly eight
fingernails in a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts water. Vinegar is acidic, and acid makes the environment inhospitable to nail fungus. Because it is a home remedy, there is no “prescribed” method. Some people have had success soaking for an hour each week, all at one go; others soak once a day; and still others use the technique of daubing undiluted vinegar on the affected nail with a cotton swab every day. Persistence is needed with any home remedy. Nails grow slowly, especially toenails, and you need to give them time to grow out healthy and fungus free.
Cornmeal
Another natural fungus fighter may be cornmeal. We first learned of this approach from a public radio listener: “Put about an inch of cornmeal in a plastic dishpan. Pour in hot water, stir it so the cornmeal gets dissolved, and when it is cool enough not to hurt, soak your feet for an hour. If you do this regularly, it will get rid of the fungus.”
When examining me my doctor noticed that I had nail fungus affecting toes on each foot He recommended that) make a batter by mixing cornmeal and water in a shallow pan, let it sit for an hour, and then soak my feet for an hour He told me to do this once a week for a month. I did the cornmeal therapy for 3 weeks and the fungus was gone. I don’t know why it works, but it’s cheap, harmless, and it worked for me.
We haven’t found any scientific support for cornmeal as a nail fungus treatment, and fewer people have written us regard-Cornmeal
A footbath of cornmeal mush is neither expensive nor dangerous, and it takes just 1 hour a week. Put about an inch of cornmeal in a shallow pan and add enough hot water to dissolve it. Let it cool to a comfortable temperature and soak your tootsies for an hour.
Downside: This treatment could be somewhat messy. Don’t spill it on the carped
Cost: $2 to $4 for 5 pounds of cornmeal—enough for at least five treatments, and probably more
ing their success with cornmeal than with vinegar, but some have used it to eliminate their nail fungus.
Cornmeal does seem to be a popular home remedy in the garden, though. Gardeners claim that working some cornmeal into the soil around a rose bush will discourage black spot disease, a fungus that affects roses.
Vitamin E
We are always impressed by our readers’ ingenuity. We would never have thought of putting vitamin E oil on fungus-infected toenails, for example. We can’t think of a good reason why vitamin E in particular would be useful against fungus, and yet a number of people have tried this approach with some success.
I keep reading about treatments for toenail fungus so I thought I would pass on my solution. When I had this problem several years ago, I used a simple approach. I kept my toenail soaked with vitamin E oil and the fungus disappeared completely. I can’t recall exactly how long it took but it wasn’t too long.
As we understand the vitamin E tactic, a capsule that you would take as a vitamin—any dose will do—is pierced with a needle or a pin.’Iben the contents are squirted out all around the edge of the nail and particularly under the nail, between it and the skin. The key here, as with most nail fungus treatments, is patience and persistence.
Listerine
The old-fashioned mouthwash Listerine is one of America’s favorite all-purpose home remedies. (The other is Vicks VapoRub; more about it in just a bit.) Amber-colored original flavor Listerine contains a mixture of herbal extracts that can fight fungal pasties from dandruff to jock itch. Some people have also reported having good success with soaking infected nails in Listerine.
0. 1 cured my toenail fungus using a fifty-fifty mixture of vinegar and Listerine. I kept the mixture in a quart jar with a screw-on lid and used a clean paintbrush to apply the liquid to the affected toes morning and night. I wore socks to protect the bedsheets at night.
The fungus took about 3 months to clear up. It is slow growing but is also slow to cure. I hope this helps someone else.
A. You combined a couple of favorite remedies. Many people have reported success with soaking infected - nails in one part vinegar to two parts water. Others got good results soaking their toes in Listerine. Such remedies won’t work for everyone and take several months to produce results.
*** Listerine
This amber-colored mouthwash contains a fair amount of alcohol along with a mix of herbal oils including thymol, eucalyptol, methyl salicylate, and menthol. The thymol and the eucalyptol, at least, seem to have antifungal activity, and the other two may fight fungus as well. Soaking the nail in Listerine (original flavor) or daubing on a bit of Listerine after the daily bath has worked for some people.
Side effects: None known
Downside: Your nails may smell like Listerine. Cost: Approximately $5 for a liter  Vicks VapoRub
This ointment contains herbal oils such as camphor, menthol, thymol, eucalyptol, cedarleaf, nutmeg, and turpentine. Some of these have antifungal activity, and they may work synergistically. Apply Vicks VapoRub all around and under the affected nail or nails once or twice a day. Putting it on right after a shower or bath seems to help. If you apply it at night, wear socks to bed to protect the sheets. It may take 6 months to see results.
Side effects: Allergic rash is possible. In addition, we heard from a few people whose fungus-infected nails came off with this treatment. This might increase the effectiveness of the remedy, but it could be painful.
Downside: Inconvenience
Cost: Approximately $12 for 6 ounces. You could probably treat several toenails twice daily for 6 months with this much Vicks.
People have conjectured why Vicks seems to be beneficial against nail fungus. There is a compound in Vicks—thymol—that is now listed as an inactive ingredient.
When I was a premed student at UCLA in 1951, 1 met a mycologist (an expert on fungus). During World War It he devised a preparation to treat fungal infections that were common among the troops in the North African campaign. ft was an ointment that relied heavily on thymol as the most effective antifungal agent and reeked of thyme.
Vicks contains three active ingredients and 22 considered inactive. One or more of these might help thymol penetrate the tissues. I suspect that a pure preparation of diluted thymol, without other ingredients except a solvent, would be a good antifungal nail treatment
Vicks VapoRub certainly does not work for everyone. But we have heard from a great many people who have tried it and gotten a positive response. Some could see the results within a few weeks; others needed to keep applying it for month-s. Even prescription drugs take quite a while to clear toenail fungus, however, because the toenails grow so slowly. The infected nail must grow out completely and be replaced by uninvolved nail.
I had nail fungus fora long time. Medicines recommended by my doctor didn’t work. Then I read about using Vicks VapoRub. I applied it to the nail every day for about 5 months and now the fungus has disappeared. I’ve been cured.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil comes from an Australian tree, melaleuca. It has long been used to treat skin problems, particularly fungal infections. You don’t need to go to Australia to get it, though. It is marketed widely in stores and on the Internet in the United States. Applying tea tree oil to the infected nails daily can overcome some cases of nail fungus. Some people do develop allergic rashes in response to tea tree oil, however, so be alert for any itching or redness.
Q. Some years ago I was diagnosed with a fungal infection on one toenail. The intense throbbing pain made it difficult to wear a shoe.
My podiatrist said the only way to treat the toenail was to remove it. I had several more months of pain while the toe healed.
After the surgery I was alarmed when another toe showed signs of fungus. I asked about a natural treatment at the health-food store and was told to try tea tree oil.
I applied it liberally several times that day. Within 10 hours, the pain had diminished. I continued using tea tree oil on the nail daily for a few months. The base of the nail grew in pink and healthy.
I am angry that my podiatrist chose to operate on my toenail rather tha” recommend a natural, pain-free tMMYnent.
A. Tea tree oil (derived from the Australian melaleuca tree) has antifungal activity. It has long been used to combat skin and nail problems. Your podiatrist may not know about this herbal product, however.
Pau d’Arco Tea
The lure of the exotic can be seen not only in tea tree oil but also in Pau d’Arco, also called taheebo. This product is the inner bark of a South American tree that has been used medicinally by the natives of Brazil. Argentina, and Paraguay. It contains at least one compound with antifungal activity. Some readers report that using an infusion of Pau d’Arco to soak toenails, much as one would use vinegar or Listerine, can help clear the infection.
Oregano Oil
Oregano oil doesn’t come from a tropical rain forest, but it is hardly a common household staple. Nonetheless, some people have used it topically for fighting athlete’s foot, and others have reported success in using it against nail fungus. Like Listerine and Vicks VapoRub, oregano oil contains thymol. It also contains carvacrol. These two herbal oils together seem to have some antifungal action. Some people are allergic to oregano oil. Anyone who has experienced a reaction to basil, sage, lavender, marjoram, or mint probably should steer clear of oregano oil.
Can you stand another toenail fungus cure? I have found one that works for me, and I have tried them all, including prescription Lamisil pills.
I read somewhere that oil of oregano will kill anything, so tried putting a drop down between the nail and the skin every day. Slowly but surely the toenail is growing out normally! I hope someone else can benefit from this as well.
Lemon
Some years ago, we heard from a reader who maintained that sleeping with a lemon attached to the toe for 3 nights running would clear up toenail fungus. Only a few others have tried this -and reported back to us. It did not work for at least one person, though it seemed to help another.
0 0 *
0. Many people write to you about toenail fungus, but you have never mentioned a remedy I learned from an elderly lady in South Carolina. This remedy requires three fresh lemons. At night cut a hole in the top of one and scoop out a hollow just large enough for the toe.
My mother had a great toenail so thick and hard that she could hardly wear a shoe on that foot. I used duct tape to hold the lemon on Mother’s foot, and put a sandwich bag over it to protect the bed. Do this for 3 nights in a row. The toenail becomes so soft that it can be peeled right off, and the new nail that grows in is normal. It worked for my mother!
A. We have been collecting nail fungus remedies for years, but this is the most unusual. Fungus doesn’t thrive in an acidic environment, which may be why dilute vinegar soaks are so effective. The citric acid in the lemon may work in a similar manner.
Prolonged exposure to pure lemon might be irritating for some people, so we suggest that anyone who wants to try such an approach test it first. Removing a
toenail should be done only with medical supervision,
because there is a risk of infection.
* 0 0
Prescription Treatments
Unlike home remedies, prescription medications for nail fungus have been scientifically tested and have performed better than placebo. That is the criterion applied by the FDA before approving any prescription product. Don’t expect too much from these medicines, though: They don’t work for everyone, even though they might be more effective than home remedies. Before beginning a prescription medicine for nail fungus, make sure you understand the risks.
Urea Passe
One treatment for toenail fungus is to remove the nail surgically and then treat the underlying skin with an antifungal cream while the nail grows back without fungus. Many people are understandably reluctant to undergo surgery for nail fungus. Infection is always a risk. We hate it when the cure is worse than the condition it’s intended for.
Dermatologists have studied a different approach that is Urea Paste
The high-strength 40 percent urea paste that dissolves infected nails is available only by prescription. Its use should be supervised by a physician who is familiar with the treatment.
Side effects: Irritation, itching, or burning
Downside: Many doctors are not familiar with this approach. Cost: Approximately $75 for an 85-gram tube
far less traumatic. Urea paste at a 40 percent concentration will dissolve infected nail and leave healthy nail alone. It is essential to work together with the prescribing physician, however, as removing a nail is not a trivial issue. Please do not do this at home by yourself.
0. 1 have ugly, thick, yellow toenails that are hard to clip. My doctor says they are infected with fungus but he doesn’t want to prescribe Sporanox because it could interact with other medicine.
I have tried home remedies, including Vicks VapoRub, and none has worked. The podiatrist wants to remove the nails surgically. I know you have written about urea paste to dissolve away the infected nail. Where do I get it and how do I use it?
A. Surgical removal of nails can be painful and there is a risk of infection. Stanford dermatologist Eugene Farber, MD, discovered the urea treatment many years ago while traveling in Russia. 761 Urea (40 percent) is available only by prescription (Ureacin-40, Carmol 40, Gordon’s Urea 40). Your doctor should supervise the treatment.
Penlac
A lot of people are reluctant to take an oral antifungal drug. Some worry about side effects, others are concerned about potential interactions with other drugs they take. Both are valid concerns.
One manufacturer came up with a topical prescription antifungal medicine that is applied like nail polish. Penlac (ciclopirox) was approved by the FDA for the treatment of mild to moderate nail fungus. Like most of the home remedies we’ve already discussed, Penlac requires a lot of persistence. It needs to be applied to the affected nail, including between the nail and the skin, every day. It can cause redness or irritation, and it may take up to 6 months to produce results.
When people use Penlac, they need to see a health-care professional on a regular basis to have any unattached, infected nail removed so it won’t continue to spread the infection. We have no way of comparing Penlac’s effectiveness to that of other treatments. Presumably it is as good as most of the untested home remedies, but it is not really too astonishing. About 12 percent of the patients treated with Penlac in clinical trials were able to clear their toenails of fungus. One of the biggest differences between Penlac and a home remedy is the cost. A little bottle (6.6 milliliters) costs $130 or more.
Sporanox or Lamisil
The heavy artillery for treating nail fungus is an oral antifungal medication. If it is crucial to eliminate the infection, the physician will prescribe a drug such as itraconazole (Sporanox) or terbinafine (Lamisi)). (You may have seen magazine or television ads for Lamisil that feature a cartoon character, Digger the Dermatophyte.)
In a long-term head-to-head study, patients with toenail fungus were given either terbinafine or itraconazole according to the recommended dosing procedure for 3 to 4 months. 762 At the end of that time, 46 percent of the people who had taken Lamisil and 13 percent of those who had taken Sporanox had no detectable fungus in their nails. The follow-up extended for another 4 years or so. The investigators (some of whom worked for the maker of Lamisfl) found that relapse rates were significantly higher among those who had taken Sporanox.
An analysis of cost-effectiveness found that terbinafine is the most cost-effective treatment a doctor can prescribe. 761 Penlac was judged to be at least three times more expensive than the others, considering cost per cure. This analysis did not take any of the home remedies into account. If there were scientific data on them, they might well demonstrate low effec-tiveness, but because they are cheap, their cost-effectiveness might compare well to some of the standard treatments.
Another advantage of home remedies is the low likelihood of serious side effects. Lamisil is considered fairly safe, even for children and the elderly.764 Nonetheless some people taking Lamisil have developed liver failure.’W~ People who already have liver problems should not be given this drug. Other people taking Lamisil have come down with a very serious skin reaction, so anyone who develops a rash should get in touch with the doctor promptly. People who have lupus could get worse while taking Lamisil, so it’s generally not recommended for them.
As we mentioned at the beginning of this discussion, Lamisil occasionally can lower white blood cell counts to dangerous levels. Usually, the count comes back up once the person stops the drug. This drug may interact with other prescription medicines, including antidepressants. beta-blockers, and certain other medications that regulate the heart’s rhythm. By now, we hope we have convinced you to stay in very close touch with the doctor who prescribes Lamisil for your toenail fungus. It’ll probably run you more than $800 for the 12 weeks of treatment, but because it works so well, it is quite cost-effective.
Conclusions
Nail fungus, particularly toenail fungus, is usually more of a nuisance than a serious medical problem. (For diabetics, however, nail fungus or any other foot problem qualifies as serious and requires medical care.) As a result, we feel comfortable in recommending that most people try home remedies first. We don’t have any data on how well they work, but the testimonials we have received indicate that they do work for some people. In addition, they are inexpensive and don’t cause dangerous interactions or reactions.
A palm) who needs a higher likelihood of cure may need a prescription for Lamisil. It is the most cost-effective of the prescription nail fungus drugs. Even so, it does not work for everyone, and it is not always appropriate. Some people may be taking other medicines that could interact with Lamisil. Others may be at risk of liver problems or complications such as lupus. Most of the time, nail fungus is a problem you can live with; some of the rare side effects could be deadly.
•Toenails grow slowly. It takes a year to a year and a half for them to grow out completely, so be very patient and persistent.
•    After cutting fungus-infected nails, soak the clippers or scissors you used in alcohol for 15 to 20 minutes so you don’t spread the infection.
•    Soak your feet in a footbath of one part vinegar to two parts water for 20 minutes a day.
•    Mix cornmeal with hot water, allow it to cool to a comfortable temperature, and soak the affected nails for 1 hour once a week for at least a month.
•    Squeeze vitamin E oil or tea tree oil around the cuticle and under the nail once or twice a day.
•    Soak the feet in original Listerine or apply it daily to the affected nails.
•    Smear Vicks VapoRub around and under the nail every day.
•    Brew an infusion of Pau d’Arco for soaking the affected nails every day.
•    Stick your toe in a lemon overnight to soften the infected nail for removal.
•    If the nail needs to come off, ask your doctor about prescribing urea paste (40 percent).
•    Lamisil is the most effective prescription pill for fighting nail fungus.

Practical Advice for
Birth to Three Months
Q
Psychomotor development
During the course of the first three months, the child gradually learns to control his head myopothy from prednisone . In the first month lie learns to focus, for example, on his father or mother albuterol nebulizer treatment for pneumonia . He also learns to follow an object, first with his eyes, and in the second month by rotating the head along with the eyes penicillin vk .
In the second month, the baby is able to hold up his head independently methamazole and albuterol .
The baby starts to laugh at about six weeks, which is a real milestone for the baby and its parents cephalexin liquid .
In the second and third months, the baby learns to raise his chest as well as his head, when lying on his stomach side effects to lasix .
Sleeping and waking
During the first three months, the baby is only really awake at the times that he is being fed online buspar . Adding LIP the time it takes to change the baby, this lasts from 45 minutes to up to one hour every time avandia bmj . By the end of these three months these periods may already be longer prednisolone eye treatment . If the baby’s pattern of sleeping and waking is very different, for example,
because he cries a lot and sleeps for short periods, or because he is difficult to wake, you should discuss this with the baby clinic pet tavist .
Crying
Many babies cry quite regularly in the first three months levitra without a presription . This is because they are getting used to a new life, and their intestines are still developing and usually cannot perform their functions straightaway watson brand carisoprodol . This can lead to hours of restlessness every day, as well as periods of crying prilosec pros and cons . In general, restlessness or crying for two or three hours a day is quite normal cycle length on clomid . This does not mean to say that a restless or crying baby is easy to live with; it takes you over completely wellbutrin and regular blood tests .
First of all, it is important to learn to distinguish different types of crying buy lithium carbonate . If the baby grizzles while he is falling asleep, this can be ignored for a while because it often stops automatically normal dosage of furosemide day . If the baby is crying because he is cross and cannot settle, this also often stops after a while lithium containing foods . Sometimes the baby will turn red bupropion fatigue . There are many children who fall asleep this way menopause and testosterone . However, there are some babies who cry so much that you simply have to console them because they cannot settle on their own cipro medication for bacteria .
Over the course of the first three weeks, the parent will start to hear whether the baby is crying because he has wind, or is troubled by a dirty nappy (diaper), or because he
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The most common cause of crying mentioned by parents is cramp buspar constipation . You cannot always tell from the baby’s position — curled up with his legs tucked up — because all babies lie like this when they cry a lot zocor leg pain . The way in which he cries —vehemently, often alternating with short periods of silence — can tell you more, particularly it’ the crying is accompanied by a hard and swollen stomach and a lot of wind diovan long term results . At the baby clinic you can discuss whether to make any changes if you are breastfeeding caffeine msds . If the baby is bottle fed it is best not to change to a different sort of formula milk straightaway if the baby has cramp; changes in feeding can exacerbate cramps zyrtec or claritin . There are a number of ways that can help with crying babies detrol la prescribing information . Again it is important not to try everything out on one day, but to try out one thing for a few days to see whether it helps venlafaxine fordogs .
The method of feeding
In the case of breastfeeding, problems can arise if the baby has developed the wrong technique for drinking; for example, if the baby drinks too greedily and messily, so that he sucks in air coumadin prothrombin levels . It often helps to hold the baby in a more vertical position sleep disorders zocor . If the baby drinks too greedily, it can be helpful to express some milk before feeding can adderall be taken with zyprexa . The baby can then drink more calmly order diflucan online .
If the baby is fed too often once breastfeeding has started, and does not empty either of the breasts fully, he may be getting too much fore milk exelon transdermal . This is rich in carbohydrate, in contrast with the hind milk, which contains more fat manufacturer of altace . If the baby is proportionally drinking more fore milk than hind milk, this can lead to fermentation in the intestines luvox lead investigator .
In the case of bottle-feeding, the hole in the teat may be too large, so that the baby gets a lot of food in a short time buy generic carisoprodol . Look at the quantity: is the baby getting too much or too little (see Feeding Table on p methotrexate and medcation errors .1 14) metformin 500mg picture . Swaddling is an effective procedure for restless and crying babies
crying
(see also p lamictal combine other anti-depressants .108)
It also makes a big difference if you are able to deal with crying in a fairly relaxed way side effects if tetracycline . If you are able to communicate a feeling of calm and tranquillity and establish a pattern in your behaviour, this will also calm down the child buy propecia in canada .
Page 99 describes a number of household remedies, which may help for stomach cramps 7 proscar and hair loss .
If you are worried about the crying and think that something is really wrong with the baby, contact your doctor or the baby clinic zovirax tablets .
Care
Bathing and washing
Bathing the baby daily is not really necessary and is actually inadvisa-
ble in the first few weeks after birth methylphenidate zoloft . Once or twice a week is usually sufficient guinea pig ivermectin overdose . In fact, the baby loses a great deal of warmth when bathed, and not all babies feel comfortable when they are completely undressed to have a bath li-10b lithium battery . Furthermore, the layer of sebum, which is of enormous importance to the baby for the first few days after birth because it feeds and protects the skin, will soak off when the baby is bathed cheapest prices carisoprodol online . If you do not bath the baby, you should obviously give him a wash every day instead zoloft and naseau .
Bathing
Bathing the baby safely and efficiently is quite an art, which is usually learnt with the help of a health professional just after the baby is born cognitive psychopathologic response rivastigmine . It is important for the room in which the baby is bathed to be well heated, and to wrap the clean clothes and towel around a hot water bottle beforehand generic famvir . An extra hot water bottle should also be placed in the cot so that the bedding remains warm therapuetic level of trileptal . This should be removed before the baby is placed in the cot cialis now .
Do not leave the baby in the bath too long minocycline dosage for arthritis . Pat the baby dry all over and dress him quickly unexplained infertility and clomid . As bathing is tiring, the baby will often fall asleep straightaway after he has had a bath and been fed albuterol alternatives .
Washing
When you wash the baby, do not undress him completely, but undress him bit by bit to prevent him from cooling down cialis forum cialis pharmacy . Only those parts of the body that really need it are washed; the rest can be cleaned when the baby is bathed zoloft and blood sugar . Wash the face, ears, folds of the neck, armpits and diaper (nappy) area carefully with water, pat dry and apply calendula baby oil or another hypoallergenic product, as it provides a protective film on the skin salt and lithium . Do not clean inside the ears propecia hair loss treatment php .
There is no need to use soap, because it removes too much oil from the skin wellbutrin as a weight loss aid . The diaper area, armpits and folds of the neck can also be cleaned with some cotton wool and baby oil (see above) caffeine llc alex . Ready-to-use baby wipes sometimes cause irritation to the baby’s bottom dilantin dreyfus .
Nails
In the first few weeks it is only necessary to cut the baby’s nails if he scratches himself tribulus testosterone . Cut the nails straight and not too short with a special pair of baby scissors or baby nail clippers side affects of lovastatin . Do this at a moment when the baby is quiet or asleep north china beijing time syphilis cialis .
Foreskin
In little boys, the foreskin does not usually move freely yet children’s motrin dosing . Nothing has to be done about this; until the age of six, simply wash and pat dry albuterol safer than salmeterol .
Umbilical cord
In general, the umbilical cord drops off between the fourth and fourteenth day clomid in women who already ovulate . By six weeks, the navel is usually dry over the counter pyridium . In principle, you do not have to do anything apart from
keeping the navel as dry and clean as possible cymbalta maoi . In order to help it dry up, it is possible to use some Weleda Wecesin powder in the navel several times a day bosch replacement lithium ion batteries . Continue to use this, even after the umbilical cord has dropped off, until the skin of the navel is dry and looks clean cellcept and shingles . Make sure that the baby does not breathe in the powder when you are applying it buy citrate online sildenafil .
Taking the baby’s temperature
During the first few days after the birth, take the baby’s temperature every day low testosterone levels treatment . The temperature should be about 37°C (98 proscar is .6°F) lithium techno . Taking the baby’s temperature during the first few days is important because it takes a while for the baby to start to regulate his own body temperature, and one blanket or one hot water bottle (not in the cot with the child) more or less will have an immediate influence on its temperature testosterone imbalance .
After this, you should get to know the baby so well that it is only necessary to take his temperature when he is ill (see p methotrexate by myla .24f) picture of ziac . Observing the baby closely is important, because each child is different, and because the weather can change the baby’s temperature very rapidly stomach side effects from zocor .
If the baby really feels the cold, an extra bonnet, even in the cradle, sometimes works better than an extra blanket, because much warmth can be lost from the baby’s relatively large head cardura and cialis .
Diapers (nappies)
For parents who like to use cotton nappies (because cotton is good for the skin, or for the sake of the environment), but cannot cope with the mountains of washing, there are nappy services available risks and benefits of coumadin . These organizations collect the dirty cotton nappies from your home and bring clean ones in their place interaction mechanism digoxin fibre .
Wrap the baby up in a woollen wrap over the cotton nappy, or put knitted woollen overpants over the cotton nappy zithromax and side effects . These keep the baby warm and let very little moisture through, although they do breathe online generic viagra overnight .
In the cot
During the first two weeks, it is important to put the baby alternately on one side, then on the other side, then on his back alcohol cialis . The effects of gravity, to which the baby is now exposed for the first time, can affect the shape of his head, as well as the relationship between his trunk and pelvis canada launch biaxin xl history . By changing the baby’s position, you can avoid too much pressure on one side triamcinolone and ezcema .
Since the first results were published in the Netherlands in 1989 about the link between placing babies on their stomach and cot death, all baby clinics advise against this position male testosterone levels and frequent ejaculation . Infant mortality rates have clearly fallen as a result medrol dose pack and pentasa . After the age of two to three weeks, it is not advisable to place a baby on his side, because he can then roll onto his stomach tadalafil lesions . It is therefore advis-
CARE 51
able to place him on his back at this stage toxic dose of ibuprofen . Since this advice has been given, there have been an increasing number of babies with flattened heads doxycycline hyc 100mg via feeding tube . This does not do any damage to the brain risperidone wiki . As regards the appearance: as soon as the baby starts to play lying on his stomach in the playpen and starts to sit up, the shape of the skull will change back to some extent lexapro patient feedback . Any flatness that remains will not be so noticeable once the hair grows estradiol blood levels .
Some children develop a preference for lying on their back with their head to one side venlafaxine antidepressant effexor . This can result in the back of the head not only becoming flat, but also slightly crooked affects of caffeine on toddlers . It is possible to take a number of measures to prevent this clomiphene humans . Turn the cot around; the changing light and the new direction from which adults approach the cot can sometimes have a corrective influence metformin period pcos . When you change the baby, place him directly in front of you instead of at an angle to emphasize symmetry celebrex new vioxx york . These measures may not always be successful chemical properties prednisolone . Discuss the problem with the doctor if you are worried pravachol coupon .
As a preventative measure to safeguard against cot death, it is advisable for the baby to sleep in his own cot, not in his parents’ bed viagra koop belgie . Many parents like the baby to sleep in their room, especially for the first few weeks or months medicine terbinafine hcl . This feels safe and is easy if the baby is still having night feeds evista side efects . The time at which the baby moves into his own room (if there is one) to sleep will depend on the parents’ needs and on the baby’s sleeping pattern (also see Night feeds, p orlistat meds .56) chlorzoxazone tablet . During the day, the baby should be allowed to sleep in a quiet room generic viagra caverta generic viagra pillshoprxcom . It does not have to be absolutely silent, because children generally sleep well in a room where household sounds can penetrate to some extent lithium battery explosion . However, it should be somewhere where the baby can be quiet, without being constantly stimulated, thus preventing it from sleeping acyclovir and drinking alcohol . Therefore, a bedroom is much more suitable for sleeping than the living room, particularly for babies who are awake a lot or easily stimulated at is diclofenac . At first it may seem that the baby is rather a long way away, but experience has shown that you can still feel the connection with your baby at a distance accutane lab tests .
Many parents use a baby monitor at home to feel secure lexapro user . The disadvantage of this is that you respond to every sound the child makes contradictions lexapro pregnancy . Babies make all sorts of sounds while they are asleep, and these may seem rather alarming through a baby monitor hyzaar astra zeneca . This means that many parents take the baby out of the cot to calm him down, but this can actually make him restless and stop him from learning to solve minor problems for himself different mg of atenolol .
The room where the baby sleeps should be thoroughly aired at least once a day siadh and declomycin . Apart from this, the temperature of the room should be
between 18°C and 20°C (64°-68°F) keflex 750 mg capsule . If the baby is able to keep himself warm and is growing well, the temperature of the room can drop to about 15°C (60°F) depakote reactions . During this stage, it is often necessary to pre-warm the cot with hot water bottles fluoxetine hot sweats .
Going outside
For the first few weeks after the birth, there is no need for the baby to go outside cox-2 and warfarin . When he laughs for the first time, it shows that he is starting to feel at home here on earth prilosec cost . This may be the moment at which the baby can gradually get used to going outside lithium online . A baby does not need direct sunlight, not even to prevent rickets (see p prostatitis flomax .84) fenofibrate rebate . Too much sunlight on the skin can be dangerous, leading to sunburn and dehydration in the short term, and permanent damage to the skin in the long term prednisone versus methylpred .
The best place when the baby is outside in the pram in the shade under a blue sky; but if it is overcast, a baby can still come into contact with light and air allegra d experiences high . Light and air are essential for the baby’s development, first, held in his parent’s arms, and then in the pram in good weather indications for plavix . If you have a garden, the baby can sleep outside in the pram recreational viagra use . In summer it is important to ensure that the baby does not become overheated under the hood of the pram is toprol a selective beta blocker . If this is the case, place the pram in the shade childe and buspar . Take the way in which the wind is blowing into account atenolol potassium levels . In general, children sleep very well outside doxycycline hyclate 100mg for acne .
Always stay nearby, because warm prams are very attractive to cats, and use a cat net soma experience .
If you take the baby outside in winter, it is important to dress him warmly difficulty quitting celexa .
Thumb sucking and dummies
Between the age of six weeks and three months, many babies discover their thumb and start sucking it tramadol great buy . When the baby sucks his thumb, this helps him to make contact with himself, and withdraw into a dreamy inner world success with celexa . Thumb sucking can be a consolation and have a calming influence prescription drugs altace .
In the first few weeks, babies often cry, sometimes a great deal, because entering a new life is by no means easy nexium delayed release oral suspension . A thumb could be a great consolation but the baby has to find his thumb himself, and this often takes a long time drug interactions celexa and mucinex d .
A dummy can serve as an alternative to the thumb wyoming zyprexa lawyer . We would like to briefly outline the advantages and disadvantages bio-identical hormones testosterone levels .
Thumb sucking
A child always has his thumb with him, and can put it in his mouth when he feels the need to do so methocarbamol for goth . Dentists have different views about the negative effects which frequent thumb sucking could have on the jaw pregnancy or clomid . A child has to learn to stop sucking his thumb by himself, preferably before the permanent teeth come through, and this can be quite difficult pravachol risks pain .
If thumb sucking is linked with a cuddly toy or doll, it could be limited by only having the toy in the cot buy 1 cialis .
Dummies
The great disadvantage of dummies is that the child is dependent on his parents nexium uses . If the baby loses the dummy in the cot, he will not be able to find it by himself isosorbide mononitrate er generic name . Crying is the only way of letting the parents know, and this may happen several times a night depakote discount . If the baby uses the dummy a lot when he is not in the cot, this can affect the healthy motor development of the mouth and speech lyrica used with effexor xr . Do not give the baby a dummy if he has not become used to the breast and has not really mastered the sucking technique long term use doxycycline . By sucking on the dummy in this situation, the baby can learn the wrong sucking technique dangers of methyl-1 testosterone . If you give the baby a dummy, the flat, broad variety is preferable to the round, cherry-shaped model in connection with the development of the jaw diovan hct 12.5 . It should definitely be removed when children start to speak as they might develop a lisp on line soma .
Hiccups
There can be different causes for the hiccups saw palmetto or finasteride . Too much food all at once, or food that is too cold can cause hiccups, but so can stress or too much excitement g postmessage propecia subject forum . Copper ointment can be a good remedy if the hiccups lead to a great deal of restlessness paxil rosacea . Apply some copper ointment to the stomach with a warm hand, and at the same height on the back amaryl for diabetes .
Toys and playing
The child learns to explore the world through direct sensory contact — with his ears, nose, mouth, eyes, skin and hands, he assimilates everything difference between glipizide and metformin . During these months these are his toys flagyl for bv daily dosage . For example, the baby will discover his own hands and will practise endlessly bringing them together cheap generic propecia finasteride .
The parent’s face is also fascinating to look at or touch; the nose, hair, and mouth snort toradol 100mg . If you make sounds, recite a nursery rhyme or sing softly, the child will watch and listen intently molar absorptivity acetazolamide .
When the baby is outside in the pram he can look at the rustling leaves in the tree testosterone in females . He will see shadows and light and feel warm or cool air on his skin interaction mechanism digoxin fibre . His pleasure can be further increased by an attractive ribbon on the branch of a tree or shrub, or a bell to play with lecuona prozac .
Safety
The most common accidents during this period are caused by bums, falls and suffocation thioridazine mellaril australia . Take the following precautions:
Burns
Always check the hot water bottle and make sure that is it never in
direct contact with the baby side affects from actos . It is best to place the hot water bottle between two blankets at the foot of the cot, and remove before placing the baby in the cot 25mg spironolactone side affects .
Make sure that the bath water is at body temperature aleve interaction with casodex .
Falls
Never leave the baby alone, even for just a moment on the dressing table, or on a bed without a rail ultram lead investigator .
Use a changing mat with a raised edge on the dressing table weight loss side effects with ibuprofen .
When you walk around holding the baby, make sure that there are no articles left lying around on the floor or the stairs that you may trip over trazodone and eye irritation .
Suffocation or strangling
Make sure that there are no small objects left around the baby, such as loose drawstrings on clothes or hats, or, for example, electric cable near the cot; any drawstrings on the clothes should be well secured seroquel side effect .
When you use a bonnet, check that the bonnet encloses the head properly, and the cord is securely fastened uses for nizoral . It is better to tie it firmly with a short drawstring than to have a loose knot zoloft causes suicidal thoughts .
Also make sure that the lining of the cot is properly secured, and do not use a duvet high liver count due to lipitor .
In the first few years, it is not advisable to use a pillow in the cot, from the point of view of safety pseudoephedrine manufacturers in china .
Feeding
Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is the art of giving, an art which you learn particularly in the first few weeks all uses of synthroid . In order to be able to give, the mother must be relaxed, or the reflex which releases the milk from the supply behind the nipple will not occur satisfactorily recent accutane stories .
A quiet environment contributes to a relaxed feeling, both for yourself and for the baby lithium indications for use . Try to feed the baby in the room where he sleeps as much as possible, particularly in the beginning, without household noises around you and without any visitors generic viagra vega . A relaxed position is also very important when you are feeding the baby carisoprodol product .
The position for feeding
Lying down: Place your shoulder on the mattress and your head on the pillow exelon chemical structure . Draw up your upper leg and support your knee with the mattress stop smoking bupropion . Make sure that you both feel comfortably warm, and if necessary take another blanket or duvet bupropion and half life .
Sitting down: Place apillow on your lap or under your arm for the baby to lie on so that you do not have to carry him in your arms all the time; a foot rest means that you do not have to cross your legs to keep the baby at the right height generic lansoprazole . Make sure that when you are feeding the baby, his head and body are in a straight line
FEEDING 55
or that his stomach is lying against you ibuprofen and platelets . If his head is turned away from the body, it is much more difficult to swallow metformin how it works .
The rhythm of feeding Breastfeeding is a matter of supply and demand caffeine and low carb dieting . The more often you feed the baby, the more milk will be produced diovan hct 25mg . It usually takes a few weeks before supply and demand are interrelated metformin and arm pain . Insisting on a rhythm too rigidly during this period, with not enough times when the baby can feed, could prevent the pattern for breastfeeding from developing satisfactorily drug interaction between claritin and pepcid . The baby’s own feeding rhythm starts to emerge after the first few weeks wellbutrin sr tinnitus . This is often approximately every three or four hours, but hardly ever at exact intervals sulfamethoxazole trimethoprin . For example, a pattern may emerge with three and a half or four hours between every feed in the morning, and three hours in the afternoon low price caduet . This is the baby’s own rhythm exelon patches . If there is a clear pattern, use this as a starting point for the next few weeks and try to keep to the routine as far as possible dell inspiron lithium ion battery .
A good routine creates a peaceful, calm atmosphere; parents often say that their children flourish better with a clear routine than with feeding on demand kitchen towel calan . This rhythm may be as follows: five to six times during the day, that is, every three or four hours, and another feed during the night if the baby wakes up for it effexor withdrawal dreams .

Toys and playing
A newborn baby has a special relationship with the world around it. In the first place, the child and his world are still one, and all the impressions from that world have a

deep effect on the child’s organism. This applies to the baby’s food, but also for impressions, such as the arms rocking him or the sound of lullabies.
In addition, we find that everything the child does is a form of play. The whole voyage of discovery of his own body takes place with great perseverance, as well as with great

joy. For example, the child sees and discovers his hands and puts them together. Although these are uncontrolled movements at first, the baby practises this hand-eye

coordination time and time again. The pleasure he gets from this is quite tangible.
The baby needs very few toys during his first year, actually no more than what is available in the home in terms of safe and attractive shapes, and what you can make simply

yourself. The fewer objects in the child’s environment, the more thoroughly these will be explored, held, sucked and eventually understood. If the child has too many toys he

cannot
choose; attention to the world, interest and concentration can actually be practised best when the child has few objects around him.
Background music should also be avoided. It distracts the child from listening to the sounds produced by his own activities.
Every object should be simple and straightforward, so that it leaves something to the child’s imagination.
We should focus our attention not only on the safety of the material, but also ask ourselves whether the child can gain different experiences. A piece of wood has a particular

weight, which can be felt and a grain which can be examined with the fingertips. Both elements reveal very different things from a cuddly toy. The child’s gaze can be captured

by bright colours and rigid, caricatured shapes; his eyes are powerfully drawn to the object, and it is no longer possible to pay attention to it in a free and playful way. This

applies to an extreme extent with regard to television.
It is a good idea to alternate playing alone and playing together. On the one hand, it is good for the child’s development to learn to play alone and experience things in a

quiet, peaceful atmosphere. On the other hand, the parent and child can gain a great deal of pleasure, for example, from playing games while the child sits on his parent’s lap,

giving and taking bricks and so on. The practical sections of this book explore further possibilities in greater detail.
Play is an essential element in a child’s life. It is a preparation for being able to work with concentration and enthusiasm in adult life.
Safety
The child’s safety is an important part of upbringing. Parents can avoid many dangerous situations, though not all, by taking safety measures in and around the house.
Keeping an eye on the child, knowing where he is and what he is doing, is the second important factor with regard to safety at home.
The third factor is concerned with teaching the child. You can teach your child safe behaviour by helping him to learn to recognise dangerous situations, by teaching all sorts

of skills properly (going up and down stairs, cycling etc.) and by insisting on obedience, particularly with regard to safety. This third factor, teaching safety, hardly plays

any role during the first year. Safety measures in and around the house are discussed in the practical section of the book (see Chapters 3-6).
Many children learn to do something new at a time when you are not really expecting it. Suddenly they appear to be able to roll over or stand up in their cot. Anticipate these

situations and make sure that you take the right safety precautions in good time. The description of successive psychomotor skills may help in this respect.
Parents’ behaviour also contributes to making the environment more or less safe. Clear discipline in the home, clear habits and customs, a good safety routine and clear
agreements    also with brothers
and sisters will increase safety. Nevertheless, it is an art to remember these, even in unexpected situations (the telephone ringing, unexpected visits etc).
Keeping an eye on the child in the first few months mainly means not leaving the baby alone on the dressing table or wherever you change his nappies, and knowing whether there

are any brothers, sisters or pets near him. From the moment that the baby starts to crawl, stand and walk, it becomes increasingly important to keep an eye on him, because the

area in which he moves becomes larger and larger.

Care
Boundaries
Birth is an immense change for the baby. Her whole physiology changes fundamentally and she experiences a completely new environment. The boundaries of the womb are left behind and she enters a ‘boundless’ world. In the womb, the child was able to grow harmoniously, protected from the world.
This reveals that everything that is developing requires a protective environment. With a newborn baby, and actually throughout childhood, this protective environment is constantly provided to establish firm foundations for later life. Unconsciously, the child is constantly reminded of the situation in the womb, which is related to an experience of security, safety, protection and fundamental confidence.
Warmth
The womb not only protects the embryo from the world; it also surrounds it with an even temperature of 37°C (98.6°F). A ‘warm environment’ is provided in the best possible way.
After birth, a child has to learn to maintain her own body temperature at a constant level, at first with the help of adults. She must interrelate the warm and cold parts of the body. This is achieved by means of a sensitive metabolic process which generates heat.
Normal growth and the development of the normal physical processes are also dependent on this metabolism. All the heat which the baby does not have to produce herself in order to maintain her temperature at the right level will benefit growth.
It takes the child a long time to regulate her own temperature; the normal difference of PC (2°F). between the body temperature during the night and the day is achieved by most children between their fifth and ninth months. Up to that time they are extremely dependent on the extra warmth provided in the form of good physical care, clothes, and hot water bottles used to warm the cradle before they are placed in it.
The ability to distinguish whether something is hot or cold is learnt during the initial period. The better this ability has been developed by providing sufficient warmth in childhood, the better the child can use it at a later age.
Cold feet are an important sign that extra attention should be devoted to regulating the child’s temperature. A baby should have warm feet, warm legs, a warm body and warm arms.
Special attention to warmth also has another significance. A warm environment helps the child to ‘warm up’ for life on earth. However, our motto is not ‘the warmer, the better,’ because always being dressed in too many clothes or being covered up can actually make a child either drowsy or very restless, and overheating can be very dangerous. Detailed research has revealed that there is a relationship between overheating and cot death. Duvets and synthetic materials can especially cause overheating. Therefore we certainly advise against using these.
In our view, the important thing is to learn to observe the needs of the child with regard to warmth, and to read the signs when more or less warmth needs to be provided in the form of clothes, bedding or ambient heating. The body temperature of the child is the most important thermometer, and in a healthy baby, this fluctuates around 37°C (98.6°F). You can learn to take the baby’s temperature with your hands so that you can literally feel how the child is regulating its own temperature. In the first week or two after birth, take the baby’s temperature every day, as well as feeling how warm she is. Then start testing yourself: feel how warm the baby is, then predict her temperature and check with the thermometer for a few days. If your predictions are correct, you will only have to take the baby’s temperature when you are doubtful or if she is sick.
Impressions
Everything we do, feel and think around the child is assimilated by the child. She is still completely open and has a boundless trust in the environment. The buffer which
we have between ourselves and the world as adults is formed by recognising and understanding that world. A small child is not yet able to do this. Up to about the third year, the child identifies with the environment in which she is living in a very natural way. This is followed by a stage in which thinking gradually assumes set patterns, and the child leans to distinguish herself from the outside world. For the first time, she makes a distinction between her own individuality and the world which is perceived. In this light it is understandable that first memories only go back to the third year, and there are no, or very few, memories before this.
The child is one big sensory organ. Up to the third year, all impressions are assimilated in an uninhibited way and disappear into the subconscious. There they are combined with other physical processes, and a sort of print is made; it is as though the child models the influences of the environment in its own `clay.’ Therefore, it is important that we are aware of what ‘goes into’ the child — also for later on.
Example. A child in a boat on the water, experiences the swell, feels the sunlight on her skin and the wind in her hair, smells the odour of water and fish, is taking in healthy impressions which build up the whole organism. The situation is quite different for a child at a department store who is placed in a rotating ship, which goes round and round when a coin is placed in the machine. The child will enjoy both these experiences, but they affect the organism in significantly different ways. The ‘boat on the water’ situation sounds idyllic; this is usually a vacation experience. However, there are also impressions closer to home, which can be constructive and have the above-mentioned character
Positive, constructive impressions are those impressions in which the natural origin of materials, sounds etc, can be perceived by the child. For hearing, these are the sounds of people and animals, and natural sounds such as the rustling of the wind. For sight, they are natural colours. For the sense of touch, they are materials such as wool, cotton, silk, wood, sand and water.
Many domestic appliances such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, radio, television and plastic toys were created as a result of human technical ingenuity. For children, these are actually an abstraction, lacking in natural connection.
Radio, television and plastic toys are things you can consciously choose to have or not to have in a small child’s immediate environment. With household appliances, you can take care to minimize the sound in the baby’s immediate environment. So-called ‘white noise’
from household appliances is not a good idea for the young child as it blocks out normal impressions. Autistic children can also become obsessed by white noise. Playing a lyre, humming or singing are better background sounds for the child.
Simple actions such as washing hands, or sweeping up with a dustpan and brush in the child’s presence show how things are done. These actions are enjoyable and you can invite children to imitate them.
The feelings of people around the child also have an effect. It is obvious that a child will thrive best in a genuine atmosphere of joy and warmth. This has a positive effect. But there is not a parent in the world that is always cheerful and relaxed at every moment of the day (and night). It is worth aiming to achieve these qualities, but at times when you do not succeed, you must take them for what they are — also real human emotions. In every family there are days when everything goes pear-shaped and the ideal image of a happy family seems a long way off. Humour is always a good remedy. It can be a relief if you can laugh about yourself and the situation.
The needs which were mentioned above — that is, the need for boundaries, warmth and positive impressions — make great demands on the environment. It means that parents must have clear insight and a good level of empathy to get things right: too cold or too warm, too many im-pressions or too quiet, well-protected or not enough room to breathe?
From this point of view, we would like to discuss a number of practical aspects of childcare.
Clothes
Clothes are like a second skin, which support the functions of the skin. The skin helps to regulate body temperature and protects us from infections. In addition, the skin is a sensory organ with which we perceive the environment. These three functions are most effectively supported with clothes made of wool, silk, cotton or hemp. These fibres are preferable as they provide sense impressions from a natural source via the skin, which help the child to build up its body. Other fibres are more alien, and even viscose, which is made from cotton or wood, is processed quite strongly, in a way which is now known to be quite polluting.
Wool
Sheep’s wool protects the sheep from heat and cold, rain and toxic waste. The curls trap the warm air around the sheep’s skin. The wool keeps out the rain, and waste products are absorbed and emitted through the wool via perspiration.
All these qualities are found in woollen clothes. The warmth of the wool protects the child from cooling down too quickly and supports her unstable heat regulation system which cannot yet retain body heat.
Its absorbent capacity (30 to 40%) ensures that the child remains comfortably dry. The quality of the wool depends on the age of the sheep, the animal’s diet and health, as well as the way in which the wool was turned into clothing.
Finely knitted woollen vests are available, which forma soft, flexible outer skin. Woollen jumpers and cardigans should be loose fitting so that they are easy to put on and take off. Woollen pants are wonderful to use over cotton nappies. They can be knitted easily, preferably from slightly greasy sheep’s wool, and are ideal for absorbing moisture and neutralizing the waste products in urine.
A woollen shawl will keep the baby warm when there are fluctuations in temperature. Woollen socks will also keep the feet nice and warm. Furthermore, wool does not attract dirt, and therefore woollen clothes do not have to washed as often as cotton clothes, though they do have to be aired regularly.
Silk
The silkworm spins its cocoon of silk thread, in which the worm is sealed off from any negative external influences. The silk is made under the influence of sunlight — at sunset, the silkworm stops spinning, and at sunrise, it starts work again.
If you use silk in clothes, you will feel its enclosing qualities. Furthermore, silk can absorb 30% of its weight in moisture without feeling damp. In addition, silk retains heat when it is cold and releases heat when it is warm. That is why silk is worn especially in summer. Silk and, in particular, knitted silk is an excellent basic material for vests, but it is advisable to put a woollen vest over the silk vest as well.
Children who are sensitive to wool against the skin, and children who are very sensitive to impressions and consequently become restless, will benefit from wearing a silk vest.
Cotton
Cotton is widely used nowadays for children’s clothes, especially as this material can be washed so easily in the washing machine. At the same time, it should be said that it actually has to be washed often because it attracts dirt easily. Cotton can absorb 20% of its own weight in moisture.
As cotton cannot absorb heat, this passes easily through the material to the outside air. Consequently, this material is not the best choice for a child’s underclothes throughout the year. Furthermore, the way in which cotton is grown is not particularly environmentally friendly, and chemical products are often used in the treatment of the material. Fortunately, there are several eco-cotton projects which now promote its environmentally-friendly cultivation and processing, and eco-cotton is becoming increasingly available in shops and over the internet.
We suggest dressing the baby in at least two layers of clothing, covering the whole body, including the arms, legs and feet. This produces a layer of air between the two layers which retains heat. In a temperate climate, a long-sleeved woollen vest — or a vest of wool and silk — can be worn for most of the year.
In practice, we regularly find that babies are not dressed warmly enough, and they are often restless and troubled by stomach cramps, or they are constantly crying. The simple remedy of dressing the child more warmly, in better fitting clothes, will do wonders for this.
Bonnets
Unfortunately, bonnets are no longer in fashion. In comparison with the rest of their bodies, little babies often have an enormous — and sometimes rather bald — head. The head is constantly losing heat, which should really be retained for the development of the brain and organs. On the one hand, a silk bonnet will retain the baby’s heat, and oil the other hand, it protects the head and the open fontanel from a restless environment. It is important for the forehead to be free, because this part of the body acts as a sort of thermostat for regulating body heat. Where it is often windy, it may also be necessary for the baby to wear a second bonnet made of wool. There are wonderful bonnets on sale, or they can be knitted in material which is so soft that it is like a second skin.

Bonnets can be removed when the child is in the cot as long as the baby is well protected.
Wraps and swaddling
Because of the need for boundaries, it is understandable why many babies, as well as older children, calm down and fall asleep easily when they are firmly tucked in, or if they are wrapped up or swaddled.
Usually, babies have a flannel sheet wrapped around them, during the postnatal period, but this often disappears, to be replaced by a babygro/sleepsuit. We recommend continning to use a swaddling cloth and wrapping it firmly around the babygro/sleepsuit before putting the baby to bed (see illustration). As the baby still lies with its arms and legs bent, it should be swaddled in this position, to increase the sense of security. The baby can now relax and will fall asleep warm and snug. However, you must make sure that the baby is not wrapped up too warmly (see p.25).
The woollen wrap can serve as a blanket outside the cot for when the baby is fed. When the woollen cloth is no longer sufficient, use a (woollen) baby sleeping bag for in bed.

Children who remain restless and have difficulty falling asleep despite being wrapped up, as well as babies who do not establish a good rhythm of drinking/sleeping, may benefit from the old-fashioned method of swaddling in which the arms are also wrapped up so that the child cannot flail about. Flailing is often a response to crying, cramps or fright, but because it is involuntary, it can cause new restlessness. Swaddling can help to break this vicious circle.
Many parents find it difficult to restrict their baby in this way; in our age of boundless freedom, it is not so easily accepted. However, parents usually overcome their resistance when they see how the baby responds to swaddling. For most babies, it results in a much greater sense of peace, and consequently they sleep well and establish a pattern of sleeping and feeding every few hours. Nowadays, two methods of swaddling are recommended: either ready-made swaddling blankets or swaddling wraps, or using the method shown at the back of this book (see p.108). (See also Blom, Crying and Restlessness in Babies.)
The cradle
The cradle is an important successor of the smallest home in which the baby lived before birth. You can opt for a basket cradle (Moses basket), a wooden (rocking) cradle or
a cot. For safety considerations, the baby’s feet should always be placed at the end of a cot, with its head halfway down. Tuck in the blanket in such a way that the head is free and the shoulders are covered. A hood or canopy over the cradle or cot makes the space more intimate, so that the child is not distracted by the environment and can sleep more peacefully.
For the canopy, it is best to use plain materials in soft colours. A canopy made of light blue silk combined with a layer of pink silk gives a very subtle calming colour.
The mattress must be absolutely flat, providing good support, and it must be well-ventilated and warm. Our preference is for a mattress of kapok, cotton or another natural material. A sheep’s fleece can be placed on the mattress. The fleece is soft and gives a beneficial warmth so that the newborn baby is protected from cooling down too quickly. Make sure that the fleece is not too large and lies on the mattress without any folds. Cover the fleece with a sheet. The bedding should be made of cotton and wool. Do not use synthetic materials. The sheets and blankets should be big enough to tuck the baby in quite firmly. The fleece and the mattress should be regularly aired. If you use a woollen wrap there are likely to be patches of damp under the mattress. If necessary, use a waterproof sheet. There are cotton sheets available that are impregnated with rubber and do not feel clammy. We do not recommend the use of duvets, even those made of wool, because of the risk of suffocation.
If the cradle is next to the window, watch out for overheating in the sun. A baby can easily become too hot in a heated room when the sun shines through the window.
The playpen
Up to the age of four months, it is not really necessary to have a playpen. Nevertheless, when the baby is downstairs, it is a good idea to have a safe place to place it. A wicker basket with a soft cover, or the bed of a pram, are quite suitable.
We do not recommend the frequent use of a baby seat or recliner, as the baby is stimulated by the ac-
tion of sitting in an upright position at a stage when he is still physically immature. The baby can only lie passively in a baby seat, which does not matter for a short period, but is harmful to physical development in the long term.
This objection does not apply so much to the use of a recliner, but there are other objections; when the baby discovers that he can bounce the recliner with one leg, he often finds it difficult to stop, even when he gets tired of the mechanical movement.
When the baby starts to reach out for things and becomes more active in its motor development, it is time for a playpen. Quite apart from the fact that this provides a safe place for the child to learn to sit and stand, it is often a favourite place for being quiet and for playing undisturbed. A cloth cover, like a curtain, along three sides of the playpen will increase the sense of security, and is not to be confused with cot bumpers, which are not recommended as they pose a suffocation risk for the young child. For motor development, it is important that the floor of the playpen is sturdy and not too smooth (for example, a cloth folded double), so that the child can roll over and can put pressure on it.
Walkers and baby bouncers
We emphatically advise against the use of walkers and baby bouncers. These are ‘aids’ which speed up the child’s motor development in an unnatural way. Children certainly like to use these things — especially if they can move around in them quickly — and want to use them more and more. However, it is much better for a child to learn to stand and walk at his own pace. In this sense, walkers and baby bouncers do not help healthy development in any way, and are actually more of a deterrent to healthy development.
Prams and baby carriers (slings)
The pram can be a safe and sheltered place in which the baby can sleep outside during the first few months. For walking, a baby carrier is often a better alternative because it means
that the baby moves in time with the pace at which the adult is walking, and is not shaken about so much as in a pram, as it goes up and down the pavement. The child is carried in a natural position in a baby carrier (sling), (see the illustration on p. 106).
However, at this point a warning should be given. It has been shown that babies can become too hot and stuffy, particularly if carried under a coat. Unfortunately, there are even a few cases, which resulted in a baby’s death. We recommend that you keep a careful eye on a baby in a baby carrier, and if possible carry it on top of a coat rather than underneath, with, if necessary, a woollen cloth around the baby.
The disadvantage of a baby carrier in which the baby is in a vertical position is that the baby did not take up this position itself. In this sense, the baby carrier is not for babies until they reach the age of nine months. A sling is preferable, as the whole back and head are supported, although it might be tiring for the mother to carry.
When a baby has reached the age for a pram, the best model is one in which the baby faces the parent. In this way, the baby constantly has the comforting face of its father or mother in front of it, and can find out from that face what is happening in the big wide world. A traditional pram has the advantage that the child lies flat, as at this age the baby’s head is still relatively heavy and the neck cannot keep the head in a stable position. We recommend a buggy only from the age when the child is able to sit unassisted.