One of the most important things you should do for your newborn is, support the development of her microbiome. Never heard of microbiome? Help us explain. The microbiome is the microscopic ecosystem that covers our body’s surfaces including mouth, gut, skin and genitals. All these places are sterile before a baby is born so establishing a healthy bacterial environment becomes an essential part. As parents, you can help cultivate this process by keeping the harmful microbes at bay and letting the good bacteria thrive.

1. Pay Attention to Your Baby’s First Skin Coating

During birth, a baby is born with some potent microbiome boosters. In case of vaginal birth, it is coated with vaginal secretions filled with healthy bacteria which helps manifest the newborn’s brand new skin microbiome. Plus, the white coating vernix on a newborn’s skin is full of immune peptides and healthy oils. Always use eco-friendly, green products on your baby. 

2. Use Breast Milk as a Moisturiser

In terms of skin products, a few drops of breast milk can be the best baby lotion. Full of healthy fats and oils, it can act as the perfect moisturiser. So ditch those baby products and apply some breast milk on your baby’s dry, irritated skin.

3. Use Only Water to Bathe Your Newborn

For the first few weeks, use only water to bathe your new-born. Remember that your baby’s skin glands are working hard to create necessary oils and peptides, so let it do its work. Just using clean water can be enough if an area is getting smelly or irritated.

4. Breastfeed Your Baby

Many of the good bacteria found in store-bought infant supplements are naturally present in your breasts. So just let the act of nursing seed the necessary probiotics in your infant’s mouth and gut. A recent study also found that breast milk contains specific sugars that are digested by good bacteria in the baby’s gut. So by breastfeeding, you are not only feeding your baby but also the good bacteria in her microbiome. Here's why breast milk is the best food mothers can give  their babies. 

5. Eat More Probiotics

Boosting your microbiome is also crucial as it will allow you to feed healthy bacteria to your baby. So it can be a great idea to add probiotics like sauerkraut and yoghurt in your diet. Probiotics can not only replenish your gut but can also allow the skin microbiome to thrive.

6. Hug Your Baby

Hugging can also pass the good bacteria that live on your skin to your baby. So hold your new baby close and do what you can to ensure that she develops a thriving microbiome full of healthy, beneficial bacteria and a strong, savvy immune system.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 10, 2019 03:00 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).