Baby Product
There is a whole range of baby products - many of them time-tested. Personal care products for the baby can be broadly classified under pre-bathing, bathing, and post-bathing products.
Pre-bathing Products
The practice of massaging the body and scalp of babies with oil dates back to the ancient times. Derived mostly from mineral oils these oils are light and non-greasy and are said to keep the skin smooth and supple by reducing moisture loss. Some of the brands have natural ingredients like aloe vera, avocado, almond oil and other plant material that are believed to have a nurturing effect on the skin and scalp.
Baby products include soaps and shampoos that are perceived to be gentle on the skin and eyes. There is also a wide range of post bathing luxury products for babies. Creams and lotions are believed to offer a protective barrier for the skin and prevent chaffing. They serve as a lubricant in the diaper area. Creams are also used as lip balms in winter to prevent cracking and excessive drying of lips. Although, meant exclusively for babies, creams and lotions have for long enjoyed wide patronage among adults for its mild and soothing qualities. Baby powders prepared from special talc are used particularly in warmer climates since they effectively act as sweat absorbents. They are thought to be non-irritants and help to keep the skin around the genitals smooth and rash-free.
Baby Food
Earlier, babies who could not be breast-fed were provided milk by a wet nurse or fed home-prepared food. With the advent of the industrial revolution came the growth of the commercial baby food market based on infant formulae and weaning foods and this has, over the years, grown into one of the largest segment of the convenience food industry. Although some of the brands have continued to maintain a high standard of quality and have an FDA approval, many have also been criticized for its exorbitant pricing and poor nutritional quality. Furthermore, the issue of whether or not babies are better off with just breast feeding and wholesome food of natural origin will remain a highly controversial one.
There are a whole range of baby products, both dry and ready-to -use that can be fed to the infant using a baby bottle and teat (nipple) or a cup and spoon. This has also given rise to a huge subsidiary market for all kinds of bottles, teats, pacifiers, sterilizing equipment and warmers, to name a few. Weaning food, fed in conjunction with breast milk when the infant is around 6 months, also boasts a huge market through out the developed world. Made of partially digested food including cereals, vegetables or fruit, these are sold in dry or frozen form. The latest innovation in baby food has been the introduction of organic food and the demand for this has steadily grown since the seventies.
