Abuelita’s Infallible Baby Care Remedies

When nothing seems to bring relief to a crying baby, moms seek out those tried and true, homemade remedies that never fail-the kind abuelitas always recommended. Here's some well-honed baby care wisdom from past generations.


Abuela's remedies for baby care/(iStockphoto)
Abuela's remedies for baby care/(iStockphoto)

Skin care solutions for…
Cradle Cap: Also known as Seborrheic dermatitis, it's a common skin condition that causes yellowish, flaky scales on a baby's head, forehead and sometimes inside the ears. Apply almond oil to the baby's skin half an hour before his bath. This will help keep the baby's skin soft and supple. Applying baby oil or a very thin layer of Vaseline to the affected area is also an effective option.
Contact dermatitis and eczema: The pulp of the aloe vera plant is a perfect, natural solution for the treatment of dermatitis and eczema. It soothes, moisturizes, and it has many anti-bacterial properties. Just take a full-grown aloe vera leaf, peel it with a knife as if it were a fruit, and apply the jelly straight into the affected areas.

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Diaper Rash
• Cornstarch: Use baby powder that has cornstarch as its main ingredient (instead of just talc), and apply to the affected area. Be careful not to get big puffs of powder in the air and to use it only on the skin's surface. You can also make your own homemade baby powder by adding two tablespoons of dried chamomile to ¼ cup of cornstarch.
White Vinegar: Add two tablespoons of white vinegar to the baby's bath water to help soothe the irritated skin.

Crusty eyes
• Make a warm infusion of chamomile tea, soak a couple of gauze squares, and softly wipe your baby's eyes. Make sure not to use the same gauze on both eyes. If the condition worsens or the baby's eyes appear red or swollen, contact your medical provider.

Getting Baby to Sleep
Orange blosssom tea: Make an orange blossom infusion, and add two teaspoons to the baby's last bottle before going to bed.
Canciones de cuna or lullabies are an age-old proven sleep inducer for children with the added benefit of providing an unforgettable moment of bonding with the baby.

Listen to a favorite Spanish lullaby, A la nanita, nana:


Teething
• Slippery elm: Make a paste out of chamomile tea and slippery elm in powder form, and apply it to the baby's gums. It will soothe the pain and discomfort of teething.
• Verbena: Add a few drops of verbena or lemon balm tea to the baby bottle. Its calming effect will soothe the baby and help her go to sleep.

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Hiccups
Rub a little bit of sugar on the bottle's nipple before giving the baby his milk.
Rub a tiny drop of lemon juice on the baby's lips. Lots of abuelas swear by this anti-hiccup remedy.

Colic
• Fennel: Make an infusion of chamomile and fennel. Wait until the tea is no longer hot and pour it into the baby's bottle. Fennel helps the baby pass gas, and the chamomile will help her relax.


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