While you’re rushing around trying to decorate a nursery, research strollers, tie up any loose ends at work before maternity leave, and grow a person, you might long for a few minutes to relax. Having a beauty treatment is the perfect way to take some time out from the hustle and bustle, put your feet up and feel calm. A beauty treatment will help you to feel great in your changing body too. You may be desperate for a trip to the local salon, but wondering which beauty treatments are safe during pregnancy?

Safe treatments
The following treatments are considered safe during pregnancy:

• everyday cosmetics – hair and nail products such as shampoo and nail varnish, are considered safe for use during pregnancy.
• hair dye – each time you dye your hair, a small amount of chemicals is absorbed into your skin, but there is no evidence that this reaches or affects the baby. Some women choose to avoid dying their hair during pregnancy, just in case. Some healthcare providers worry about the use of bleach during pregnancy, but most are unconcerned about its use.
• tanning lotions – fake tans are safe to use when pregnant.
• facials – facial products are considered safe for use during pregnancy. If you are having a professional facial, be sure to inform your beautician that you are pregnant. They may be able to tailor the facial to best suit your skin’s needs during pregnancy.
• massage – not only are massage oils safe to use during pregnancy, they should be compulsary. A massage is the perfect way to rid you of those pregnancy aches and pains, and help you to relax and forgets the stresses of impending motherhood. If you are having a professional massage, be sure to tell your masseuse that you are pregnant as this will affect the massage techniques used.

Treatments to avoid
The following beauty treatments are NOT considered safe during pregnancy:

• tanning – you should avoid using sunbeds during pregnancy. Sunbeds may cause your body to overheat. The harmful UV rays are also found to break down folic acid. Folic acid is important for healthy foetal development.
• body wraps – the application of heated towels or wraps during pregnancy should be avoided. The heated wraps may cause your body to overheat, and there is no effective way to monitor how much heat is reaching the foetus.
• hot tubs – you should avoid hot tubs and saunas during pregnancy, because these can raise your core temperature to a level considered dangerous for your baby.
• botox – it is generally thought that botox stays in the area it is injected, and so would be unlikely to reach the baby. However, there isn’t enough data on this, and so most healthcare providers will advise postponing botox until after the birth.
• piercings – pregnancy compromises your immune system and puts you at an increased risk of infection, so you should avoid getting piercings when pregnant.

Have you had any beauty treatments during pregnancy as a way of relaxing?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Babywearing is nothing new, women have been wearing their babies for generations the world over. Long before prams were invented, women were carrying their babies using lengths of fabric as makeshift carriers. Far from being the new craze the media would have you believe, babywearing is a tried and tested  parenting method to make life a little bit easier once the baby arrives. There are plenty of reasons to try babywearing, here are just five of them:

1. You won’t have to leave your baby crying – listening to your newborn baby scream because he needs you is awful. If you have a clingy baby (they all are, at times) and you need a bathroom, you have two choices. You can either leave your baby to cry while you feel guilty on the toilet, or you can cross your legs tightly until your partner gets home to help out. Or, secret option number three, you can stick your baby in the carrier, and go about your daily business as usual.

2. You’ll be hands free – babies just love being carried, and cuddled and played with. Your baby may not be overly keen on being put down, so you’ll probably find yourself carrying him around the house with you anyway. You will learn to do pretty much everything with just one hand, for example, make cups of tea, open jars and pack the nappy bag. Or, you could stick your baby in the carrier, and have the luxury of two hands.

3. Your baby is nearer to the action – babies in prams and pushchairs are a little out of the way. If he is parent-facing, he will enjoy listening to you, but probably won’t be able to see much of what you see. If he is forward-facing, he will miss out on the conversation (and opportunities for language skills development) and will see a knee-height view of the world. In a sling, he would be able to hear what you’re saying, engage with the same people as you, and be able to see the same things.

4. Your baby will have his creature comforts to hand – after nine long months in the womb, your baby likes the sound of your heartbeat, the rhythm of your voice, the smell of your skin, and the warmth of your body. Your baby wants to be with you as much as possible to help him feel safe and confident in new environments. If you’re breastfeeding, you may find you can breastfeed him in the carrier, meaning he’s exactly where he needs to be.

5. Why not? – if you’re not sure babywearing is for you, give it a go before discounting it as an option. There are lots of different types of carriers available, so you should be able to find one you feel comfortable using. Get in touch with your local sling library to book a consultation, an advisor will be able to help you try on different slings, and recommend which will be best for you and your baby.

Will you be giving babywearing a try?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

Babywearing is growing in popularity in the Western world. After decades of relying on prams, many parents are now enjoying more traditional ways of transporting their babies. When babywearing, your baby is snuggled happily against your body and you have your hands free to get on with life.

Babies who are regularly carried cry less. Babywearing can also aid with breastfeeding and encourage bonding between baby and caregiver. Keeping your baby close allows you to respond to early cues, and this may, in turn, help your parenting confidence to grow.

It’s also convenient. Having your baby nestled against your chest frees up your hands for other things. You can prepare a sandwich, send an email or do your weekly shop, all with your baby happily tucked up on your chest. Of course, it also keeps your baby’s head at the perfect height for you to be able to sniff at will, so enjoy that gorgeous newborn smell while it lasts.

If you’re new to babywearing, the variety of slings on offer can seem pretty daunting. How do you know which one is right for you? Here are a few ways to find out:

1. Find your local sling library

Many towns now have a local sling library which loans out slings and carriers for people to try. You’ll be able to speak to a babywearing expert, learn how to fasten the slings, and even take one home to try it out for a few weeks. This will give you the opportunity to try out a wide range of slings until you find the one that’s right for you. It also means you can save your hard-earned pennies for the real deal. It’s also a great way of meeting other like-minded mamas, so worth popping along even if you already have a sling.

2. Ask for advice

Thanks to the recent surge in babywearing parents, you may have a few friends experienced in the ways of the wrap. Ask them for advice. They may even be able to lend you a spare sling to try out, or give you a quick lesson in how to use it.

3. Look online

If you don’t have any babywearing friends and can’t find a sling library nearby, you may need to get your inspiration online. There are plenty of bloggers who review slings, so you should be able to work out which sort of carrier will work best for you. If you’re unsure how to tie a sling, YouTube is a great place to find tutorials.

4. Go for it

Once you’ve decided upon the type of sling you like best, whether that’s a stretchy wrap, a woven wrap or a structured baby carrier, it’s time to invest. Slings come in all kinds of colors and patterns, so find one you truly love.

Which sling do you use to carry your baby?

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.