Play Time!

‘Protecting my baby from infection is one of my greatest responsibilities,’ says Celebrity Mum, Esther Wahome

How old is your baby?

My baby, Eldad Mureithi, is now 11 months old, and is at the stage of picking anything and putting it in the mouth.

Do you allow him to go outside the house?

I allow the baby sitter to take him outside, but she has to watch him very keenly. I know it is inevitable for children to touch things, but I always encourage my baby sitter to make sure that he does not put his hands in the mouth. In case he does, she is supposed to clean his hands immediately with soap and water, or antiseptic wipes.

What do you do when he gets bruises?

Eldad has never gotten bruised; however, his first fall happened two weeks ago. The baby sitter had left him in the hands of someone else. As he was pushing his walker, the person thought that the baby knew how to walk on his own so he left him alone and he fell.

If he got bruised, what would you do about it?

If it is not serious, I would wash him with some Dettol but if it is serious, I would rush him to the hospital.

Is your baby still breastfeeding?

No. I breastfed him exclusively for six months. At seven months, I was separated from him for one and a half months because I had a musical tour in America. He has never had a cold or a sneeze, and I think it is because I breastfed him exclusively during his early age.

What do you do to ensure that it is safe for you to hold Eldad when you get home?

Immediately we get home—that is, his dad and I—we take a shower and change our clothes just to be sure that we are clean enough to hold him. We also, politely of course, tell our visitors to wash their hands before holding the baby. At first, it was not easy but now everyone seems to understand…. and we are happy. We always ensure that there is some antiseptic hand wash at the sink. I also have a very cautious baby sitter, who ensures that she takes a bath before she begins handling the baby. She also washes her hands as many times as possible, for as long as she is dealing with the baby.

What do you use to bathe the baby?

Whenever I bathe the baby, I put some Dettol antiseptic in the water. I also ensure that I clean his basins with antiseptic.

What about his toys, how do you ensure that they are clean?

He always puts them in the mouth, so we wipe them repeatedly with antiseptic wipes. If there is anything that he needs to bite or gnaw at, we boil it in water.

How do you take care of his feeding utensils?

One time, I bought something from a baby shop where they advised me to add a few drops in water, and then dip in the utensils. Unfortunately it had an unpleasant smell, so I stopped using it and reverted to boiling them.

How do you ensure that the floor is safe for him?

I use some disinfectant when cleaning all the rooms, including the baby’s room. In addition, the carpet is swept a number of times each day, and cleaned at least once a week.

What is your favourite baby soap and oil?

I use Cussons Baby soap, and Vaseline petroleum jelly.

END: BL09/62