Disposable Nappies

Which are better, cloth or disposable nappies?
For childcare centres and childminders, as well as for parents, disposable nappies and disposable training pants are much easier to use and more hygenic.

Disposable nappies require less handling than cloth nappies, and, therefore offer less chance for contamination of other items.

What about nappy rash?
Infants who wear disposable nappies generally develop fewer nappy rashes.

What about the effect of disposable nappies on the environment?
For the first time in New Zealand, degradable nappies are available to our customers. Degradable nappies

What should be done with dirty disposable nappies?
You may dispose of any bulk stool in a toilet and flush away. Gather the disposable diaper with the absorbent side inward, and use the tapes to securely close it before placing into a sealed plastic bag or container with a tightly fitting lid. (Cloth nappies should be put in a nappy bucket with a tight lid.) Nappy Bags

Should I use nappy liners?
Use of liners reduces soiling of the changing area, makes disposable of stools simpler and protect cloth nappies. Nappy Liners

What is the best way to clean the nappy area of baby girls?
Gently lift her legs, remove the soiled nappy, and wipe her bottom, then lower baby to the changing table. Wipe using a baby wipe, use long strokes to clean the genital area -front to back- paying attention to creases and folds.

Using the front to back motion will decrease contamination of the urinary opening with faeces.

How is an uncircumcised baby boy cleaned?
Wipe bottom as per previous question. Using a wipe, gently move the testicles aside and clean underneath them. Wipe under the penis and over the testicles toward the rectum.

In the first few months of life or even longer, the foreskin may adhere to the head of the penis (the glans) and does not need to be forcefully retracted. The child's doctor will give guidelines to the parent as the child ages and the foreskin separates from the glans.

Should I wash the child's hands as well?
Wash the child's hands with soap and water for at least 10 seconds. Children are never too young to begin to associate toileting activities and hand washing.

How much does maternity care cost in NZ?

Maternity care is available free of charge to the woman. Access to specialist maternity care is also available free of charge unless the woman chooses to go to a private obstetrician. Non New Zealand residents must pay the full costs of their pregnancy care, but birth and postnatal care is provided at no cost to the woman. If your GP says there is a charge for the maternity care he/she provides ask them to refer you to one that does not charge. Please note that some GPs in the Auckland region are charging for care. The Council does not recommend women using their services as our organisation is committed to all women having access to free maternity care.

Poisons

What if my child gets poison on his skin?
Remove clothing and rinse skin with lukewarm water. Continue rinsing for at least 15 minutes. Call the poison centre for more advice. 
Toxic substance in child's eye?
Flush the eye with lukewarm water. Wrap your child tightly in a towel or a blanket to minimise movement hold under one arm. Flush the eye by pouring lukewarm water gently into the inner corner. Try to hold your baby's eyelids open or get him to blink. Reassure your child while you continue flushing the eye for 15 minutes. Then call the poison centre. 
Toxic fumes?
Get your child into the fresh air as quickly as possible. If your child isn't breathing, start resuscitation, call 111 and continue resuscitation. 

Vaccines

What are vaccines?
Vaccines contain a weak form of the virus which fools the body into thinking it has the infection and it then works hard to build up resistance to it. 
How do they work?
When a virus enters the body for the first time the immune system takes some time to learn how to fight it during which time the body becomes ill. When the body has learned how to control it and fight it using antibodies and the body becomes well again. During this time we become ill, but if the antibodies can control the organism we recover. The immune system remembers the organism that attacked us, and if it enters our body again antibodies are produced more quickly preventing illness.
Why is it necessary?
If your child has the antibodies for many childhood diseases in their systems when they are exposed to a virus they stand a better chance of fighting the disease and if they do get sick they only get a mild form of the disease. This means the number of children that die of infectious diseases is reduced.
Is immunisation safe?
Vaccines are rigorously tested before being used and are an effective solution to the problem of infectious diseases. Some children may have a minor reaction to immunisation, in rare cases severe allergic reactions can occur but your doctor is trained to deal with situations such as these. The risk of catching the disease is far greater than the risk of immunisation.
When is immunisation not appropriate?
In some cases immunisation is not advisable. If baby is having treatment for a medical condition. If baby has a serious diseas. If baby has had allergic reactions to immunisations before If baby has recently had other vaccinations or blood treatments. Also if baby is unwell on the he day scheduled for immunisation delay for a couple of days until baby is better as they will need their strength to build up the antibodies.