Is it safe to use baby powder on my baby?

Jennifer Shu, board-certified pediatrician in Atlanta, Georgia, and coauthor of Heading Home With Your Newborn

Pediatricians no longer recommend talc-based baby powders because they're dangerous if inhaled, but I see no danger in cornstarch-based powders if they're used sparingly and carefully.

Use a cornstarch baby powder in your baby's diaper area to help reduce moisture and friction, which can occur when a wet diaper rubs against your baby's skin. Today's diapers tend to be super-absorbent, so most babies won't need daily powder if you change them frequently.

You don't want your baby inhaling any kind of powder, so make sure that you don't get it near her face. Instead, pour a small amount into your hand away from your baby and then apply it when you see her diaper area starting to look a little irritated from chafing.

There are times when cornstarch powder isn't a good idea. If your baby's skin is raw from diaper rash, for example, it's probably best to keep powder off it and use a diaper ointment or cream instead. And if your baby shows any signs of a skin infection — like areas that are red and very warm to the touch or oozing — then don't put powder on it, either. Instead, have your baby's doctor take a look.

Jo Ann C. Rohyans, pediatrician and lecturer on pediatric health for Columbus Children's Hospital and the Columbus Health Department, Ohio

Baby powder may smell and feel good, but I don't recommend it — and the American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends against it. Powder can cause breathing problems and serious lung damage when inhaled, and it's not always easy to keep the powder out of the air where your baby might breathe it.

This is most worrisome with talc-based powders, which have small, easily inhaled particles. Cornstarch, which has larger, coarser particles, is not as easily inhaled as talc.

There's no evidence that baby powder helps to prevent or treat diaper rash, either. The best preventive strategy is to clean and pat dry your baby's bottom at each diaper change and then apply a thin layer of protective ointment or cream.

If you wish to use powder, choose the safer cornstarch-based product. Shake the powder into your hand, away from your baby, never directly on or near her. Keep the powder container well out of your baby's reach at all times, too. You don't want it to fall over and produce a cloud of powder for her to inhale. Occasionally, you can use a medicated powder in the neck folds or groin folds as long as you don't allow it to build up.

Finally, to avoid irritation, carefully wash away any powder that may have accumulated in your baby's skin folds whenever you change her diaper.

Wow! What a couple of weeks

Ok, ok, ok, so I have kept you in suspense about developments in my job for a while (if there is anyone who reads my blog and has been waiting in anticipation to see what is up).

I started a new job with my boss at his other company c c G A L L E R Y. The spaced characters are to avoid possible spammers. The company is a motorcycle business, selling bikes, apparel and accessories, and also servicing the bikes. What a ride. I jumped in the deep end there,
and have had to swim, and learn new strokes very quickly. But, having said that, I have enjoyed every moment of it, and I am still enjoying it. I have the job, of ordering parts and stock, managing the network, and what ever else there is to do, including teaching everyone how to
use the new system that has just been implemented, which I am still learning.

Then, Chloe has been growing so fast. She is almost sitting up by herself, has started eating solids, and just so alert it is scary. I am waiting for her to start leopard crawling. She can roll from her back to her tummy, but not the other way around, and I am sure that she needs
to master that before she will be able to crawl. I'm not rushing things though, just trying to enjoy every moment with her and watching her grow and develop daily.

Now, after telling you about work and Chloe, try mixing the two. My subconscious mind did. The other night, I was stressing about the new system, and worrying about all the stuff I had to do at work, and inevitably dreamt about trying to add Chloe as a stock item to it, and opening job cards to feed her and everything. Talk about majorly stressful. I was getting more stressed because I wasn't sure what she would be classified as and none of the things I needed to load on the job card were loaded into the system. All I can say is that I was glad that she woke up and I needed to wake up to feed her.

Then, some not so great news...
My dear friend Sandy's husband nearly wrote himself off last Friday afternoon, while returning home on his motorbike, he had an accident, and was in theatre today. Sandy, has been a pillar for him, and has been amazingly strong. I have been praying for them, and knowing Franc was in theatre today, I prayed for her peace and that the Lord would hold her and comfort her, and she said she was feeling very calm and sounded like she had it together this morning. I think that she was battling again this afternoon though. Sands, you're an amazing woman, and God is your strength, remember that, and also please don't let Franc get another bike.
Please could you all keep them in your prayers and I will try to keep you updated as we go.

Well, that is the news for now.

xxx Kim