baby sleeping bags

A good oil massage soothes and calms a baby, helps them to relax and sleep better and makes them more alert during their waking hours. It is a good exercise and promotes motor activity and emotional security in a child besides, a healthy body and muscular development. It stimulates digestion and helps the baby pass gas.

Massage increases blood circulation in the body. It also helps in parent-child bonding. As soon as the child is born, the baby needs to spend quality time with his parents. Talking and smiling to him while massaging him keeps a child happy, making the baby, more secure and robust. Here are some tips on massaging technique for babies:

• It is a good practice to keep all things you ready before you start rubbing the oil on the baby's body. This includes, the baby massage oil or the vegetable oil, tissues, clean diapers and clothes.
• Baby's skin is very soft and bracelet, rings and long nails might hurt your child accidentally. So keep your fingernails short and keep aside the jewellery pieces you wear on hands when you are massaging the baby.
• Spread a changing mat or a soft towel on a flat surface and undress the baby. Put the baby down with his or her face up.
• Rub only about half-a-teaspoon of oil at a time on your palms so they glide easily on the baby's body. You can apply more oil later as needed.
• Make sure that your palms are warm. Aromatherapy oils for adults may not be suitable for the baby.
• Use smooth, gentle but firm strokes with your palm or fingers. Light circular movements on chest and stomach, stroking across the shoulders, downward movement on the arms and legs and upward movements on the back are the best.
• Do not put too much pressure on the baby's fragile body and avoid the spine area.
• Keep the baby engaged while massaging him or her by talking or singing to the infant.
• Eye contact with the baby ensures him or her of your undivided attention.
• Sudden break in contact of your hands may cause alarm to the baby, take care to be gentle while stopping the massage.
• Do not oil baby's palms or fingers as these little ones tend to put them in their mouths or eyes often and this may cause them irritation.
• Wrap the baby in a clean and warm towel after the massage and cuddle him or her.
• Do not massage the baby just before or after feeding, or when the baby is ill.
• Do not wake the baby up for a massage.
• Avoid rashes, wounds or areas where the baby has got his injections or vaccines as it may hurt.

You can continue to massage your baby till he is three or four years old, as the benefits of a good massage are numerous.

• There are a number of things that disturb a sleeping baby - a wet nappy, hunger, pain or because they are feeling cold. Feeling cold is the most common reason that parents tend to overlook. As they sleep, their body temperature is lowered and if they have accidentally kicked off their blanket, they wake up, waking up the household. Using a sleeping bag will keep your baby warm without extra covers that can be displaced. As your baby can move and kick her legs in the sleeping bag as well, she will not feel constrained.
• Choose your baby's sleeping bag according to season so that he or she stays comfortably warm and does not overheat. Bags are given a TOG rating according to the warmth they provide, higher the figure warmer the bag. In winter a first-size baby sleeping bag should have a rating of 4 TOG - 2.2 TOG that is the average. In summer you'll need a sleeping bag with a lower TOG rating. When using a new bag, check it to ensure that the design and weight do not lead to overheating.
• Make sure that the room in which your baby sleeps is not too warm - the ideal room temperature for a baby is 18 degrees C (65 º F).
• Look for a sleeping bag with deep sleeve holes, so that the air has room to circulate thus preventing your baby from overheating. Underneath the sleeping bag your baby can wear a cotton sleep suit, pajamas or just a vest or T-shirt in summer