408 - Health and Hygiene

Dr. Carole Keim addresses health and hygiene products in this episode. She details which hygiene items are actually necessary for newborn babies and then explains medications to keep on hand for newborns. She also recommends some medications useful to have for babies over 6 months of age. With each item Dr. Keim offers insight and advice, as well as identifying certain popular products not actually required for babies. 

Dr. Keim offers tips to help make cutting baby fingernails a less daunting task, what items make bathing babies easier, and explains why baby powder is no longer used. What medications are safe for babies and what is actually useful and necessary? Dr. Keim highlights exactly what vitamins and dosages to look for, what it is that antifungal creams treat and how to identify whether or not a baby’s diaper rash is fungal, and has practical teething advice and pain management options. This episode ensures parents have all key health information on hand for their infants.

In this episode:

Newborn items

• Nasal bulb sucker | bulb sucker w/ oral aspirator | electric bulb sucker
• Nail clippers
• Nail file 
• q tips
• baby bathtub
• baby wash
• body lotion
• washcloths
• thermometer
• Baby hairbrush / comb
• Unscented and dye-free laundry detergent and dryer sheets

Don’t need: shampoo/conditioner (the baby wash works as shampoo), baby towel, baby washcloths, scented products, baby q tips, baby nail clippers, baby powder 

Medications to keep on hand

• Saline drops
• Children’s acetaminophen
• Dosing syringe
• Vitamin D drops
• infant tri-vitamins
• Antifungal cream (clotrimazole and/or terbinafine)
• Hydrocortisone cream 1%
• Neosporin / bacitracin ointment 
• Oragel | Anbseol
• Vicks vapor rub or essential oils for breathing 

Don’t need: gripe water, benadryl, infant’s acetaminophen, homeopathic medications, baby vicks

Ages 6 months and up 

• ibuprofen
• iron
• multivitamin
• liquid claritin / zyrtec

Don’t need - infant ibuprofen, baby aspirin 

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Dr. Keim has extensively researched the information presented in this episode. She is pulling on the knowledge of hundreds of thousands of new parents, other pediatricians, doctor moms, the Academy of Pediatrics, and breaking pediatrics news sites. Her insight and knowledge on alternative and holistic treatments can be found in her book Holistic Mamas Handbook, and her first book, The Baby Manual, covers year one of a baby’s life. Follow Dr. Carole Keim on her TikTok and YouTube channels for additional tips and advice on babies and toddlers. 

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Resources discussed in this episode:

• The Holistic Mamas Handbook is available on Amazon
• The Baby Manual is also available on