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African Skincare for Babies

09/24/2008 15:53

Caring for your infant's skin will be an important part of you or your customer's daily routines. It is also one of the fun parts of getting to know your baby. At first, it may be a little daunting, but you will both soon settle into a comfortable routine. There's nothing sweeter than talking to your baby while you massage their little legs with your product of choice. Those irresistibly soft, sensitive folds of of baby skin don't need chemical, perfumed products to stay nourished. Nature has provided all that you need for your baby's skin care without lots of fuss and frustration. Remember your baby's system has to work hard to remove toxins from the bloodstream, so the less you use on your baby's skin, the better.

A few all-natural, easy-to-use ideas for baby skin care include: 

100% Pure Shea Butter: Shea butter warms when you rub it in your hands, and babies love the soft, buttery feel of it. It is non-greasy and quickly and effectively softens the skin. It can also be used as a diaper rash cream! Many infants get eczema, and this is also a wonderful choice for that. Shea butter comes from various areas in West Africa. 

Jojoba Oil: This 100% plant extract has a structure closely resembling human sebum. Because of this, it is easily absorbed into babies skin. Jojoba oil is an ideal emollient for baby's delicate skin and effectively reduces nap rash. For nursing mothers, massaging nipples with this oil will prevent cracking and is safe for baby. Massaging jojoba oil onto the tummy after pregnancy will reduce stretch marks and restore tone. If your baby has flaky or crusty skin on the scalp (commonly known as cradle cap), gently massage a small amount of jojoba oil into the scalp to help loosen the flaky skin. Comb it out gently using a thin baby comb. You can also use a cotton swab dipped in jojoba oil to clean in and behind the baby's outer ear. Never try to clean the inner ear. 

Lavender Essential Oil: A drop or two of lavender essential oil in your baby's daily lotion or shea butter will help soothe babies and promote a happier, deeper sleep. Lavender oil has been used for decades to calm the nerves, reduce stress, and calm upset stomachs. In World War II lavender oil was often used in military hospitals to reduce the stress of the patients. You can also add some lavender essential oil to a vaporizer to help babies with colic. 

Natural African Black Soap: This is a very effective soap for babies with very dry skin and for those with skin conditions like eczema, rashes, acne, and others. In Ghana and Togo, black soap is nearly the only soap used by mothers to wash their newborns, as its purity makes it gentle and non-drying.

As always, if you want to find out more go to the Africa Imports web site at africaimports.com.