Baby Care (Balopacharaneeyam)

क्षीरिवृक्षकषायेणसर्वगन्धोदकेनवा l
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Baby Care

Having a new born baby in the family will be the happiest yet the most care requiring moment, both for baby and mother. A well planned and scientific approach towards baby care helps to improve the physical, mental and social wellbeing of the child. Ayurveda has unique and effective practices that help to uplift the child health. Ayurveda details various procedures required for a baby from birth to each stage of development. Dr. Gupta’s IAFA provides genuine guidelines to follow the practices of Ayurveda in daily life from birth itself. IAFA is conducting several programs that ensure over all baby care.

The growth stage of a child can be divided into different classes based on their age, as follows:

Neonate – Within 28 days of birth
Newborn – Within 2 months
Infant – Within 1 year
Toddler – 1-3 years

Baby care within 1 year of birth is very crucial and should be watchful in terms of being healthy and fruitful. In this regard, Ayurveda ensures specific protocol for baby care. This should be adopted only after assessing the general health of baby.

Oil Massage

A new born can be massaged withsuitable oils like Balataila, Lakshaditaila or virgin coconut oil that helps to improve blood circulation. Oil should be applied especially on head, ears and legs. Oil massage has to be done every day unless baby is having any health issues. It provides the child good sleep, strengthens sense organs like skin and eyes and increases general immunity.

Ayurvedic Reference of Snanam (Baby Bathing)

Food

Breast milk is the easiest, safest, cheapest and most nutritious baby food. Nothing can substitute breast milk unless other than inevitable.According to Ayurveda breast milk has all the nutrients essential for optimum growth of baby. If breast milk is not sufficient Ayurveda suggests use of goat’s milk instead. Food should be given after bathing.

Kid’s Room

Room for the child should be maintained neatly without dust, insects, and humidity and with proper ventilation. Dhupana (Fumigation with medicated herbs) can be done with herbs like Sarshapa (Brassica juncea), vacha (Acorus calamus), Nimba (Azadirachta indica) etc. to purify air before staying.

“Dr.Gupta’sIAFA provides genuine guidelines to follow the practices of Ayurveda in daily life from birth itself.IAFA is conducting several programs that ensure over all baby care. Follow Ayurveda through Institute of Applied Food Allergy® and succeed in assuring your child a natural friendly and healthy life”.

IAFA, acompletely natural Ayurvedic child care solution !!!

– Dr. Sahil Gupta (B.A.M.S., M.H.A.)

Ayurvedic Allergy Specialist

CEO & Founder of IAFAⓇ

General Immunity and Wellbeing

Ayurveda advises use of various medicines and medicinal herbs for the prevention and cure of pediatric ailments and also to improve general immunity and skills. Ghee is proven to cross blood brain barrier in humans. Cow’s ghee is the best among all types of ghee and can be given to children mixed with rice. Medicated ghee like SaraswathaGhrta is depicted to improve general intelligence. Vachadichurna can be given with ghee to improve speech. Rajanyadichurna is a classical Ayurvedic medicine with Haridra (Curcuma longa) as the main ingredient for many of the debilities of the baby. IAFA also follows, the Swarnaprashana Sanskaar method, which is an Ayurvedic preparation with original gold as one it’s constituents. This formulation helps in the mental, social, emotional and physical development of the child.

Diaper rash is one of the common discomforts that most of the children come across. Ayurvedic preparations like Murivenna, Shathadouthaghrta, Triphalachurna, singleherbal powders etc. have found to be very effective to cure Diaper rash completely depending on its condition.

Single herbs for Baby Health

Single drugs like Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Mandukaparni (Centella asiatica), Vacha (Acorus calamus) etc. can be given with proper adjuvants to increase intelligence and brain activity.

References

Shloka No. 6, Balopacharaneeya, Utharasthana, AshtangaHrudaya by Acharya Vagbhata.
Tewari P.V. Chaukhambha Visvabharati Oriental Publishers; Varanasi: 2008.
Kaviraj Ambikadutta Shastri. Chaukhambha Sanskrit Sansthan; Varanasi: 2014. Sushruta Samhita of Sushruta, Sutrasthana; Chapter – 1, verse – 8; p.6.
Child Health and Ayurveda, Edition 2021, by Sahil Gupta, Baby Care Chapter No.1, Page No. 12-14.

Article Written By: Dr. Sahil Gupta (B.A.M.S., M.H.A.)

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Does Ayurveda have norms on baby care?

Answer: Yes, Ayurveda explains systematic customs for baby care in different stages of growth

Question: What food can be given to babies in case of insufficient breast milk?

Answer: If the breast milk is insufficient goat’s milk will be the best substitute as per Ayurveda

Question: What can be done to improve general health of baby?

Answer: Ayurveda suggests use of various herbal preparations like Saraswathaghrta for improving general health and wellbeing of child.

Question: Can oil massage be done on a new born baby after a week?

Answer: The skin of a new born baby is very soft and there is no need for a massage at least for initial 1-2 months. After 1-2 months, based on doctor’s advice, a gentle oil massage with a few drops of coconut oil or sesame oil can be done.

Question: What is the best food for infants?

Answer: Mother’s milk is the best food for infants. Nothing can substitute it as it has all the nutrients essential for the optimum growth of the baby.

Question: How Ayurveda can help in dealing with pediatric ailments?

Answer: Ayurveda advises the use of various medicinal herbs for the prevention as well as cure of pediatric ailments and to improve general immunity and skills of the growing baby.

Question: What are the herbs useful for baby’s health?

Answer: Some herbs such as Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri), Mandukparni (Centella asiatica), Vacha (Acorus calamus) etc. are quite useful which can be given along with their adjuvants.