Top Tips for minimising New Baby Allergies... • If your baby is born with


Did you know that 50% of young children in the UK now suffer from some sort of allergy, much higher than a generation ago?


Research indicates that some allergies are genetic; however some can be triggered by environmental factors with babies being the most sensitive to these.


Key advice would be: • To protect their skin, bathe your new baby in just plain water for the first month


• Use a non-biological clothes washing product


• Consider using natural sheepskin rugs and liners for your baby to lie on


• Do not smoke around infants and young children


• Avoid spraying chemical cleaners or deodorants around your baby


Beware Measles is on the way!


n early 2013, Swansea was the first city to have a large outbreak of measles. With the current low levels of vaccination in the UK, the current outbreak will almost certainly spread elsewhere in the country.


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Babies under one year of age are most at risk, but it can affect anyone of any age who has not been vaccinated against the disease or who has not had measles previously. Once infected, lifelong immunity develops.


Measles is a highly contagious viral airborne infection. It is spread by coughing or sneezing, close personal contact, or direct contact with nasal or throat secretions. It has an incubation period of about 10 days, with a further 2-4


Small Steps 8


or develops very dry skin, ask for advice from your GP, midwife, or health visitor. There are special creams and bath products available on prescription, made specifically for very young babies


• Seek early treatment of eczema and other skin conditions as this may halt other allergy development


• Nappy rash is common in all babies. However, seek medical advice if the rash spreads outside the nappy area, or the skin is broken or weeping


More help can be found at Allergy UK, the leading national charity dedicated to supporting the estimated 21 million allergy sufferers in the UK - www.allergyuk.org


Visit www.smallstepsonline.co.uk for more parenting tips and advice.


days of early symptoms (including fever, cough, and conjunctivitis) before the characteristic skin rash develops.


The child usually feels most ill on the first or second day of the rash. In addition to the rash, symptoms may include nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.


Complications are quite common even in healthy children, and around 20% of reported measles cases experience one or more complication. These can include ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis and serious eye disorders.


Children who have not been fully immunised face a life-long risk of catching measles.


For more information on vaccination, contact your local GP or visit www.nhs.uk and search on “Measles Vaccine”.


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