Formulated Exclusively for Pure Laboratories Inc., USA

5 Tips to make bath time fun for both mum and baby

bath time 1

Bathing could be a scary experience, especially for very young babies. They have water running down their delicate little bodies and mommy rubbing soap all over. And the bubbles, it takes a while for them to appreciate those, especially when these get into their eyes and ears.  So how do we make bath time fun instead of scary for the baby? Here are a few mum-tested tips and products you can use.

bath time 2

  • Use creamy and foamy soap to make lather time fun and relaxing. Try Pureen Baby Head to Toe Wash or Baby Yogurt Head To Toe Wash (Blackcurrant & Plum or Peach & Cherry).

This one’s for a foamier bath time to make rubbing and scrubbing gentle and soothing on baby’s delicate skin. It’s creamy and feels good on the skin. Lather on baby’s skin gently with water. Enjoy this bonding moment and let your baby relax with mum’s powerful and healing touch. 

 

bath time 3

  • Use bath-time water-proof apron and let baby splash you with water!

Most moms get a little too careful in the bathroom while giving baby a bath, trying to avoid their clothes from getting wet. We all know this is close to impossible, so why not let your little one enjoy splashing in water and wear a water proof apron to protect you instead. Remember that kids, even babies, learn while they’re playing (and yes, making a mess)  because this is how they experiment with different textures, temperatures, tastes, and colors. Make bath-time a daily learning experience by playing with water. Better yet you can even join in on the fun.

 

bath time 4

  • Share the tub with your little bub

Create precious bath time memories with your baby. Sharing bath time with the little one also gives you an opportunity to do more skin to skin bonding. And this is the best solution for babies who seem to be scared of the water. Joining them during the first few times will reassure baby that you are and will always be with her. Products like Pureen Baby Bath with Vitamin E is safe for use in babies and is ideal for use by adults too! So mum and baby can share. 

bath time 5

  • Introduce bath time friends

Make the little one look forward to bathing by keeping cute toys in the bath. These ones he will use and get to play with only in the bathroom so he can associate the experience with fun playtime.  Chose ones that can float in water or maybe your baby can use to scoop up and spray water for added water fun. There are babies who hate being rubbed and scrubbed so while he’s busy and distracted with his bath time friends, you can use this time to clean him up.

 

bath time 6

  • Show him his crazy shampoo hair in the mirror

Bring a little mirror in the bath you can use to show him his crazy and outrageous shampoo hair. Try shark-fin hair, goat hair. And all other shapes you can play with using a foamy shampoo like Pureen Baby Shampoo 2 in 1 with Vitamin E. It’s creamy and foamy perfect for shaping your child’s hair during bath-play time.

Pureen products can be conveniently purchased online from Qoo10, Lazada and Shopee.

Washing baby’s clothes: powder or liquid detergent?

When it comes to a detergent, you may have your own choice. However, how to choose a powder or a liquid detergent for your baby’s clothes? Let’s find out.

washingbaby clothes image 1

When it comes to laundry, everyone has their preferences. While some prefer liquid detergents, others prefer the powder ones. When it comes to washing baby clothes, which one is better, and why? Let’s find out.

What is needed to wash baby’s clothes

Before we enter the debate, let us first understand the process of washing. Most of the households in Singapore use washing machines to wash baby clothes. They are either top load or front load washing machines. Each one has its merits, but it changes the type of soap you use.

Generally, for regular adult clothes, you get specific types of soap for specific machine type. So why you should not use the adult detergent for baby clothes? The answer lies in the types of stains typically found on adult clothes vs. those found on the baby’s.

Adult clothes are generally moderately soiled. They often do not have any stains and just need a good wash to clean them. When it comes to babies, their clothes tend to have more stains. These could be food, grease, dirt as well as baby’s own poop and vomit. The variety of stains require a detergent that is strong enough to remove these and at the same time keep the clothes soft to suit the baby. Also, bleach is not recommended on baby’s clothes.

Powder detergents

So, when it comes to detergents, the powder type has some advantages. It is easy to use and store, and is often cheaper to purchase than the liquid type. According to the Soaps and Detergents handbook by the SDA, USA, powders are better at cleaning clay and ground-in dirt.

There are a few disadvantages of using powder detergents though. A few powder detergents, especially the more inexpensive ones, have a lot of fillers in them. So, they might not dissolve completely leaving behind residues. When used with a few new-generation eco-friendly washing machines that use less water, even good powder detergents may not dissolve completely.

Thankfully, there are baby detergents like Pureen’s A-B-D (antibacterial detergents) that come handy.

It has a potent anti-bacterial action that is effective even on nappies. It is tough on stains, gentle on skin and contains Perborate, a chlorine-free bleach that keeps the white nappies white. What’s more, it is bio-degradable!

Liquid detergents

Liquid detergents are generally a bit more expensive than the powder ones. However, they are handy, easy to use in even the front load machines and may often double up as a pre-soak laundry aid for tough stains. According to the handbook, the liquid formulations are useful on oily stains and oily soils.

There is no particular disadvantage to these. So, try Pureen’s Antibacterial liquid detergent with softener. 

4 multifunction lead 4

It is equally effective in cleaning the clothes as the powder formulation. It has added enzymes that remove stubborn stains. And the anti-depository agents prevent the washed dirt from resettling on the clothes.

washingbaby clothes image 3

For sensitive skin

If your child needs sensitive products for her skin, use Pureen’s Hypoallergenic Detergent. Use it if your child is suffering from atopic or contact dermatitis or even nappy rash.

It is a fragrance-free detergent that is devoid of harsh chemicals that may cause your baby’s skin conditions to worsen. It does not leave a residue on the cloth and thus limits the allergens on the clothes. It is available in liquid form and can be used on all fabrics.

Verdict

It seems that one does not have an upper hand over another. Both the formulations are equally effective when it comes to taking care of your baby’s clothes. If you want to use a softener separately, use Pureen A-B-D Powder. Else, you can use the detergent-softener combination – Pureen A-B-D Liquid.

Shop for Pureen products at Q0010, Lazada, and Shopee.

4 Multi-function products for the super busy mum

Busy mums deserve intelligently designed products to make their life easier. Here are 4 multi-function products that any mum would love.

If there is one thing that all can agree with, mums in Singapore are busy! Take the case of Michelle. Michelle has three kids. Her day starts at 5 am. She gets up, gets the house in order, drops the kids at school and takes the MRT to office. After work, she rushes back home, takes the kids to the enrichment classes and by the time she is back, it is quite late.

 4 multifunction lead 1

Imagine the things that go on in her head. She is worried about her childrens’ grades, if they eat properly, about savings, just to name a few things. Mums, can you relate with Michelle? Thankfully, when it comes to taking care of the children, there are a few products that could be useful for more than one purpose.

Here are 4 handy products that a busy mum could use:

1# Pureen liquid cleanser

4 multifunction lead 2

Do you find it frustrating that you need to buy a different cleanser for bottles, a different one for fruits and vegetables? The Liquid Cleanser for Feeding Bottles, Nipples, & Vegetables is a one stop solution to all your feeding-related cleaning needs!

Made from plant based ingredients, it is effective in removing milk fats and stains. It is safe for babies! Use this to save those 5 precious minutes and catch a coffee break!

2# Head to toe wash

Some kids love taking bath and some don’t. But when you are involved in giving your child a bath, you want something effective that gets the work done fast! What better product than a head to toe wash that also doubles up as a shampoo and a conditioner? You can save the shampoos for the weekends! On school days, just use this and you are sorted.

With the yogurt sweet scents, be assured that everyone is going to enjoy the bath time!

What’s more, it can be used by adults too! So, don’t worry if some day you run out of your soap.

3# Sterilising tablets

4 multifunction lead 3

Do you find it frustrating that you have a lot of things to sterilise and it takes forever in the morning to do so in batches? On top of that, a few things cannot be steam sterilised. For a one stop solution, you can use the Pureen sterilising tablets for chemical sterilisation of all your products.

So now, you can sterilise bottles, pump parts, nipples, sippers all in one go!

4# Antibacterial liquid detergent with softener

4 multifunction lead 4

Kids run through a lot of clothes in the course of a day! For a mum who has to do laundry almost daily, a product that works both as a detergent and a fabric softener is a boon! It has a special antibacterial action that ensures that the clothes are fresh and clean every time they come out of the washing machine.

Mums, if you use these products, you can save up to half an hour each day! Isn’t that a treat? Get them at Q0010, Lazada, and Shopee.

3 dreadful diseases that kids can get from mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are one of the largest group of insects that spread diseases to humans. Here are three serious infections spread by mosquitoes.

 mosquitoes article image

Everyone agrees that children should play outside. It is good for their development, and physical and mental wellbeing. However, these are also the times when they are the most vulnerable to diseases spread by vectors like mosquitoes.

Knowing about these diseases will help a parent understand the need to protect the children from these vectors.

Diseases spread by mosquitoes

Female mosquitoes feed on the blood of humans and other warm-blooded animals to lay eggs. While they do that, a virus or a parasite might enter the body of the mosquito. It may remain dormant or could grow inside the mosquito; in either case, that turns the mosquito infective. This is the reason that some mosquitoes spread diseases while others don’t.

Some of the diseases spread by mosquitoes include Malaria, Dengue, Chikungunia, Yellow fever, West Nile Fever, various types of encephalitis, not to forget the dreadful Zika. In Singapore, you see cases of Dengue, occasional cases of Malaria and recently, some cases of Zika.

Unfortunately, there is no way for a parent to differentiate which particular mosquito is infective and which isn’t. The best way to protect your children is to follow a few steps described later on in the article.

1# Dengue

Dengue is a viral disease spread by the mosquitoes of the Aedes family. It is rarely fatal, but can cause severe discomfort to the patient. The mosquitoes bite during the day, either at dawn or dusk. They breed in stagnant water near the house, so make sure there isn’t any at your house.

Symptoms include a high fever, splitting headache, nausea, and a rash that appears two to five days after the fever. Treatment is hugely symptomatic and prevention is the key.

2# Chikungunia

It is not seen that often, but the symptoms are similar to Dengue. This is also a viral infection spread by mosquitoes of the Aedes family. It is self-limiting, with symptoms resolving on their own. The disease, however, is painful for the patient.

3# Malaria

It is a parasitic infection almost exclusively seen in Singapore in those who have come from abroad. This is not a self-limiting condition and it needs treatment. The culprit is Anopheles mosquitoes.

The symptoms include fever accompanied by chills. There might be a body ache and a prompt diagnosis and treatment is needed in some cases.

TIP: How to protect the children from mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are particular about the feeding times. Most feed at dawn and dusk, while a few others feed at night. As parents, we need to take this into consideration and follow these steps.

          A. Prevention of breeding of mosquitoes

It is in our hands to restrict the breeding of mosquitoes near our surroundings. So, do no let any stagnant water accumulate in your community. Here is how to have a mosquito-free home according to the National Environmental Agency, Singapore.

          B. Preventing the bite

This is something parents need to do every day. Here is a checklist for prevention of mosquito bites

  • €            Recognise the clusters. Dengue is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in Singapore. See if you stay in one of the clusters or your children end up visiting any
  • €            Keep your house clean, especially the children’s room
  • €            When your children go to the playground in the evening, use a good quality mosquito repellant. Rekito is a DEET-free mosquito repellant for children older than 12 months
  • €            If your house is in a dengue cluster, consider using a mosquito-net, at least for babies
  • €            Wear light-coloured clothes covering limbs as much as possible while playing and sleeping.

Parents, these are some of the precautions that you can take in order to prevent mosquitoes from reaching your children.

You can find Pureen mosquito repellants and mosquito nets at Q0010, Lazada, and Shopee.

A brush with danger: 3 baddies that shouldn’t be in your child’s toothpaste

Let’s take a look at 3 ingredients found in some toothpastes that aren’t safe for kids and then find out what we can do.

Pureen Toiletries 1

Kids largely depend on their parents to keep them safe from harm – but who would’ve guessed that something as mundane as toothpaste could contain harmful substances? If you’re finding the idea hard to swallow, let’s take a look at 3 ingredients found in some toothpastes that aren’t safe for kids and find out what we can do.

Flouride

Fluoride – it’s a good thing… right? Fluoride is a popular toothpaste ingredient because it’s good at preventing tooth decay. Unfortunately, there can be too much of a good thing.

Pureen Toiletries 2

Too much fluoride in the body leads to a condition called fluorosis. At a mild degree, it can cause cosmetic but permanent changes to enamel, making teeth look mottled. In more severe cases, pits start to develop. While most cases are mild, dental practitioners are observing more and more children with the condition.

As a public service, the Singapore government fluoridates tap water at 0.6mg/L. To prevent fluorosis, it is therefore important to use non-flouride toothpaste when a child is still unable to spit out the excess.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)

When we brush our teeth, many of us like toothpaste that foams, perhaps because we think it’s more effective or because it hides the icky stuff that got stuck in between our teeth (try brushing without toothpaste or with a non-foamy one then watch what happens when you spit out after brushing).

Pureen Toiletries 3

The chemical that gives regular toothpastes the ability to foam is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). It is also used in laundry products, shampoos and floor cleaners. It shouldn’t then be surprising that SLS irritates our mouths’ protective mucus lining[1]. The irritation leads to mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores.

Saccharin (SHN)

Saccharin was created more than 100 years ago as a sugar substitute and is 300 to 500 times sweeter than sugar[2]. Since then it has been used to improve the taste of sugar-free desserts (cookies and candies), diet drinks and, believe it or not, toothpaste although it’s known to leave a metallic aftertaste.

Scientists continue to debate if saccharin (SHN), derived from coal tar, is harmful to humans. Conflicting results of studies have changed regulatory requirements (warning labels and bans) in different countries over the years. The most controversial study showed that it causes cancer in rats but other studies argue that human organs do not react in the same way.

Nevertheless, just 3 years ago, an investigation published in the Research Journal of Chemical Sciences[3], concludes, “The concentration levels of SHN in the toothpastes


[3] http://www.isca.in/rjcs/Archives/v4/i6/10.ISCA-RJCS-2014-75.pdf

(they sampled) are unacceptable when compare [sic] to the daily acceptable intake (according to the World Health Organisation and Food and Drug Administration).” It mentions that children are particularly vulnerable because they are smaller and cannot control how much toothpaste they ingest.

Alternatives exist!

Of course, we cannot just stop brushing our kids’ teeth. Here are some alternatives to chew on:

If you’re worried about your child not receiving enough fluoride, a dentist or pediatrician can recommend a fluoride supplement, which makes it easier to measure the fluoride intake. They will also be able to give the correct dose based on your child’s diet and water intake.

As for toothpaste brands, kid-friendly ones definitely exist. Pureen Kids Toothpaste (SGD2.20/75g) is fluoride- and SLS-free, and even come in different flavours. Instead of fluoride, Pureen uses xylitol, a natural sweetener that helps protect against tooth decay. Study has shown toothpaste with xylitol led to a decrease in Streptococci mutans colonies in saliva and the increase of pH value5 to neutralize plaque acids.

Pureen Toiletries 4

For better oral hygiene, Pureen Kids Toothpaste also contains triple calcium and phosphate and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate. Calcium phosphate children’s toothpaste had the highest efficacy (effectiveness) in remineralising teeth enamel compared to other types[1]. On the other hand, sodium lauroyl sacrosinate is a safe foaming agent that doubles an agent that prevents bad breath by inhibiting the growth of bacteria.

Pureen products can be conveniently purchased online from Qoo10, Lazada and Shopee. Let’s keep dangerous ingredients away from our little squirts and keep their teeth in tip-top shape!


Top