newborn – Baby Creysi

Become an expert in holding your baby!

Posted on 04/05/2022 - 08:12 by Ligia Oliver

Luis has never had a baby in his arms. A newborn baby seems so fragile that he is nervous and afraid. However, in a couple of months he will become a dad and it will be necessary for him to learn how to hold his baby.

If, like Luis, you are a new mother or father who is experiencing nervousness because you do not know anything about parenting, we have news that will reassure you: it is very difficult for people to drop a baby from their arms. This is assured by Azucena García Pacheco, an expert in baby care at the Prenatal Care Center: I am a Child Carer.

Stop imagining crazy things that won’t happen and start practicing holding your baby. Using a doll or a rolled-up blanket is a good idea to get started, practice makes perfect!

Step by step

To receive and hold a newborn baby, it is very important to do so safely and firmly. You should always hold the head and neck together, as well as the upper back with your hand. At this age they still cannot do it on their own. Head control will be achieved after three months of age.

There are different ways to carry a baby, but the most common is to carry it against the chest. The childcare worker García Pacheco explains it like this:

Identify which is your dominant arm, left or right because you are going to support most of the baby’s weight on it.

Place his neck on your arm.
Support the body with the other hand and arm.

Hold the head and neck with one hand and the body with the other hand.

Let the baby rest its head on your arm to give it stability.

Avoid sudden movements.

A baby needs to be held

There is a myth that if you carry a baby, it will get used to it. However, a newborn needs your arms for relief. Don’t be afraid to hold it! “If a child cries and calms down when you hug him, it is because he needs comfort and feel protected”, emphasizes García Pacheco.

The child development specialist points out that there is a lot of misinformation about it, and not holding a baby when it cries is “emotional negligence“. As adults, we are not only in charge of meeting the baby’s physical and feeding needs, but also the affective and emotional ones. “If you hold a baby and it calms down and stops crying, you shouldn’t hesitate to do it, do it for love and respect”, she says.

“Holding a newborn in the fetal or ‘belly hold’ position with its back rounded and knees dangling will give it peace of mind. This posture reminds it of the womb and will cry less”.
Azucena García Pacheco, expert in baby care.

The baby carrier can be your new best friend

For centuries, mainly women have lifted and carried their young close to them in shawls to keep their hands free. The use of a shawl or baby carrier satisfies the child’s need to feel safe and calm, while leaving the wearer’s hands free.

According to the Spanish Association of Pediatrics, in all cultures, both babies and young children have been baby-carried, so that adults can perform daily tasks or move more quickly, while still caring for them.

Baby-carrying allows a kid to adopt ergonomic postures that are in accordance with its anatomy, that do not hurt it and that favor its physical and emotional development. You just have to be aware that the shawl or the baby carrier does not rub against its skin, concludes the expert.

If a child cries and calms down when you hug him, it is because he needs you and needs to feel protected by someone who loves him.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

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Premature newborn care: what are they?

Posted on 25/01/2022 - 09:13 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

While waiting for the arrival of our baby, many questions and fears invade us. The main concern is health. We fear that the delivery will be ahead of due time and be at risk. What should I do if my newborn is premature? We share these premature newborn care: what are they?

Premature babies are born before 37 weeks. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies them in this way:

Extremely premature: Less than 28 weeks.
Very premature: Between 28 and 32 weeks.
Moderate to late preterm: 32 to 37 weeks.

Rodrigo Osegueda Mayén, a specialist in pediatrics and neonatology at Hospital Ángeles, explains that 25% of all baby weight is obtained in the last trimester of pregnancy; the brain grows 40% during this stage.

In Mexico, 200,000 premature births are registered each year, while the figure is 15 million globally, according to data from the Ministry of Health. Technological advances have increased the survival of these little ones.

“In our country, around 30% of those born before 28 weeks died. Today the mortality has decreased, around 15% and 18%; it depends on the hospital where they are born, it can lower up to 10%”
Dr. Osegueda Mayén

Premature babies will need to be hospitalized for a while. Photo: Pixabay

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Characteristics of premature babies

The specialist explained that premature newborns are not fully prepared for life outside the womb as they are underweight, lose heat quickly, and require help feeding.

In addition, they have respiratory difficulties and are susceptible to infections since their lungs and immune system are not mature.

For this reason, they require specialized attention from hospital neonatology units, where they are given multidisciplinary care involving pediatricians, neonatologists, nurses, and even nutrition specialists.

When can my baby go home?

Víctor Armando Durán Lozada, head of the Pediatrics and Neonatology Service of the Pediatric Gynecology Hospital of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), comments that the stay of a premature newborn in hospital depends on the weeks of gestation with which they are born, their weight and the complications that they present.

“The closer he is born to the 38 weeks, his stay may be one to two weeks. If he is born at less than 32 weeks, he requires mechanical ventilation due to lung immature and hospitalization may be for more than one month”.

He indicates that the follow-up of the little one goes according to the weeks of gestation: neurological, auditory, visual potentials, and early stimulation; in addition, surveillance of the pediatrics and nutrition area is required to monitor the development of babies.

The hospitalization time depends on the week in which the baby was born. Photo: Shutterstock

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Welcome home

A premature baby will require a lot of care, even after leaving the hospital. These are some measures recommended by the National Institute of Pediatrics (INP) for the care of premature babies:

Daily bath: With lukewarm water and, preferably, in a tub. Use soaps with a slightly acidic pH.
Moisturizing: To moisturize the skin, use hypoallergenic cream.
Basic equipment: Have a thermometer and a rubber bulb to extract boogers from his nose. If your little one has pulmonary dysplasia, you will need oxygen at home and an oximeter.
Sleep on his back: Lay your baby on his back; in this way, we prevent the little one from suffocating and causing crib death.

In addition to these recommendations, the organization Nemours Kids Health advises:

Avoid public places and visitors: Because his immune system is not fully mature, contact with other people should be avoided.
Skin-to-skin contact: Place your baby on your chest so that he listens to your heart to bond with your little one.
Cleaning: Before touching the baby, it is essential to wash your hands.

Placing the baby on her chest will help bond. Photo: Pixabay

Premature baby follow-up

Dr. Osegueda Mayén explained that the premature baby must have a close follow-up with a neonatologist to monitor his development during the first two years of life.

“Up to two years old, the age is corrected, it means that if a baby was born in week 28, he is 12 weeks old, so until he is two years old, the specialist should see him. Not because we see that he has already gained weight, but we should not stop taking him to the doctor and provide an adequate follow-up”.

The follow-up of the premature baby should last up to two years. Photo: Pixabay

With proper care, your little one will grow up healthy and strong.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

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7 Basic garments for the newborn

Posted on 21/01/2022 - 16:51 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

Whether we’re about to be moms, aunts, or grandmas, choosing baby clothes gets us all excited. The trips to the stores become endless days in which we do not decide on anything, everything seems so adorable to us. Do you know what the basic clothes of the newborn are?

The day marked on the calendar is approaching, we will finally see the face of our little one. We have been preparing for the arrival of our baby for months, so it is super important to have everything ready before going to the hospital.

Karin Carpizo Lugo, specialist in dermatology and member of Top Doctors Mexico, explains, “The skin of newborns is very delicate, so we must take great care of it. In the first months of life, cotton clothing is very important to keep it healthy”.

The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that synthetic fibers or wool irritate your baby’s skin, while cotton clothing will keep your baby warm and fresh.

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We have prepared this checklist of basic clothes for your newborn:

Baby bodysuit

This garment has passed through generations, our mothers and grandmothers knew it as onesies. They should be in your hospital bag! Baby Creysi bodysuits have snap fasteners, making them easy to put on and take off.

Bodysuits are basic for your baby. Photo: Baby Creysi

Rompers

It is a must in the wardrobe of our newborn, it is the first garment that he will wear. Many of us still have the first ones we put on our children. The snap fastener of these Baby Creysi garments will make it easier for you to manipulate it when you dress your little one.

T-shirts and pants

They will give variety to your baby’s look; you can combine them to make them perfect for any occasion.

With this set your baby will look great. Photo: Baby Creysi

Socks

They will keep his feet warm. Remember that, like all his other clothes, they should be cotton.

These garments will keep your baby's feet at a good temperature. Photo: Baby Creysi — These garments will keep your baby’s feet at a good temperature. Photo: Baby Creysi

Hat

It’s still winter, so covering your baby’s head with a hat will prevent it from getting cold. In the Baby Creisy boutiques you will find very colorful and warm designs.

The hats will protect your baby's head and give it a very cute look. Photo: Baby Creysi — The hats will protect your baby’s head and give it a very cute look. Photo: Baby Creysi

Bed sheets

Keeping our babies warm is very important. Having a light blanket will allow you to protect your newborn from temperature changes.

Remember not to cover your little one too much. “By covering babies excessively, their sweat glands are blocked, which generates the eruption of small blisters”, explains Dr. Carpizo Lugo.

Sheets are an option to cover your baby. Photo: Baby Creysi

It may interest you: How to take care of your baby’s skin in winter

Newborn kit

If you are going to become an aunt or a grandmother, we recommend the Baby Creysi kits that contain: a romper, a onesie, socks and a hat (some include a blanket). Thus, you will surprise the new parents and give a beautiful gift.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: Here

Vaccines for your newborn: Which are they?

Posted on 21/01/2022 - 09:55 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

The feeling of holding our baby in our arms is unique. When we lull him to sleep, we think about how fragile he is and that we would always keep him away from any danger. One of the ways to protect your little one is with vaccines. Vaccines for your newborn: Which are they?

Isis Adriana Moctezuma Rebollo, a pediatrician member of the Mexican Association of Pediatrics, highlighted the importance of vaccinating babies in the first days after birth since these are a mechanism for controlling many infectious diseases common in the past.

“There are diseases that can cause death; they can be transmitted to people who are not protected. These diseases have a tremendous economic impact and cause medical consultations, hospitalizations, and premature deaths”.

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UNICEF points out that vaccines constitute one of the most significant advances in health and development worldwide since they have reduced diseases such as polio, measles, and smallpox for more than two centuries, thus avoiding 3 million deaths per year from these conditions, according to the international organization.

Vaccines prevent diseases like polio. Photo: Shutterstock

When and which vaccines should my baby receive?

The United States National Library of Medicine explains that newborns are under four weeks old. According to the Ministry of Health, the vaccination schedule for this stage is made up of:

BCG: Prevents meningeal tuberculosis (brain infection), which can cause death and must be applied when your baby is born. It is injected into the right arm.
Hepatitis B: It is also applied at the time of birth. This infection is transmitted from mothers to children and is used to prevent the child from getting sick. You should receive two booster doses: at two and six months old.

The BCG and Hepatitis B vaccines have to be given right after birth. Photo: Shutterstock

Vaccination in the first year of life

Protecting your baby against diseases is very important; here, we explain the doses established by the Universal Immunization Program for your little one’s first 12 months.

Two months old

HepB: The first boost against this condition is applied.
DTaP: It protects against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (whooping cough). Boosters are applied at 4 and 6 months of age.
RV: It is the leading cause of severe diarrhea in young children. At 4 and 6 months of life, reinforcements are applied.
PCV13 (Pneumococcal conjugate): It prevents the development of diseases such as pneumonia caused by pneumococcal bacteria. At 4 and 12 months, the baby receives the booster doses.

Four months old

Reinforcements of the DTaP, RV, and PCV13 vaccines.

Six months old

Third dose of DTaP, HepB, and RV.

Influenza: The first dose of this vaccine corresponds to this age. It is the virus with the most circulation in winter; it produces respiratory disease.

Seven months old

Second dose of influenza.

12 months old

MMR: It is the 3-in-1 that prevents measles, rubella, and mumps.

PCV13: Third dose.

Vaccines in the first 12 months of life. Photo: Screenshot of the Ministry of Health.

Vaccination can save lives, don’t forget to protect your kids.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver

Spanish version. Here

How do you put to sleep a newborn?

Posted on 20/01/2022 - 15:07 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

The harmony we feel when we hold our baby in our arms is broken when we hear him cry in the middle of the night. We try a thousand things like lulling, singing to him, but nothing seems to work. We tell you what sleep is like at this age and what to do to put to rest your newborn.

After childbirth, we feel exhausted. Adapting to being mothers and taking care of a life that depends on us drains our energy. At nightfall, we want to go to bed and have sweet dreams, but the crying of our baby stops us.

Getting the baby to sleep through the night has become mission impossible. The Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) indicates that newborns sleep between 18 and 22 hours; they wake up when hungry, have colic, are cold, or feel discomfort due to a wet or dirty diaper; some sleep less without being sick.

We recommend: Newborn: basic care

Getting our newborn to sleep through the night seems impossible. Photo: Shutterstock

How do babies sleep?

Newborns do not have a set bedtime. The Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford points out that they tend to confuse day with night at this age so that they can sleep between eight and nine hours and approximately eight hours at night.

This institution explains that most babies do not sleep through the night until they are three months old or until they weigh more than 5 kilos; however, this varies in each little one; some sleep continuously until they are one year old.

“Newborn infants have a small stomach and must wake up after a few hours to eat. In most cases, they will wake up to eat about every three hours”.
Lucile Packard Children´s Hospital Stanford

Most babies don't sleep through the night until after three months old. Photo: Pixabay — Most babies don’t sleep through the night until after three months old. Photo: Pixabay

Baby sleep states

Joaquim Bosch Castells, pediatrician and member of Top Doctors Spain, commented that the little ones wake up after 3 or 4 hours in the first months of life mainly because they need to eat, require a diaper change, or want to be talked to.

Once fed, “active sleep” begins; the little ones move their eyeballs with their eyes closed, their breathing is irregular, they make faces and movements. They may appear restless, but this behavior is entirely normal and should not be interrupted.

“When parents or caregivers are not aware of this situation, it is common for them to cover the child or hold him, interrupting his normal sleep and interfering with his maturation”.
Dr. Joaquim Bosch Castells

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Approximately half an hour after this phase, they enter a deeper sleep known as “quiet sleep”. During this period, the baby is relaxed and breathes deeply.

“The baby combines both sleep stages for 3 or 4 hours until he wakes up; he follows this routine practically during his first two months of life”.

We must know the cry of our baby. — Babies often wake up because they are hungry. Photo: Pixabay

Tips for sleeping the newborn

Bosch Castells comments that the first two months of a baby’s life are challenging for parents; it is essential to establish a routine for the little one to sleep continuously at night.

Here are some of his recommendations:

Keep the baby awake while he eats.
Breastfeed in half-hour intervals on each breast.
Hold him awake for 15 minutes after each meal.
It is recommended that the mother follow the baby’s same sleep schedule.
After changing the diaper, put him in his crib, always awake. He will learn to fall asleep by himself..

Establishing a sleep routine is essential for the baby to sleep through the night. Photo: Shutterstock

Sleep habits since we are babies

The Mayo Clinic organization gives the following tips to help your little one sleep:

Establish a bedtime routine: Try bathing him, snuggling him, singing to him, playing quiet music, or reading to him. Try to do these in a quiet room with little light.
Put him to bed when he is sleepy but awake: doing this, your little one will associate the bed with sleeping. Remember to place the baby on his back so that he falls asleep and remove blankets or other items from the crib or bassinet that may impede his breathing.
Give him time to settle in: He may be restless or cry before finding a comfortable position and falling asleep. If the crying doesn’t stop, talk to him and leave the room. He may require your presence to feel calm and go back to sleep.
Keep a quiet environment: If he wakes up at night, speak quietly, keeps the lights dim, and move slowly. This will indicate that it is time to sleep and not to play.

Remember that you are getting to know your baby in the first months of life, and he is getting to know you, so the fact that you have difficulty putting him to sleep is very normal, but soon they will establish a routine.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

6 Books for new fathers

Posted on 11/01/2022 - 17:55 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

Waiting for the arrival of our baby is full of joy and enthusiasm, but also of many doubts in which the question “will I be a good father?” spins around us over and over. No one is born knowing how to be a parent. These books for new parents will help you in this new stage.

Facing fatherhood can be terrifying, since we will support a life that will depend on us, we want to be perfect, or at least we do not want to repeat what we don’t like about our own parents.

Nobody is perfect, but we can give our best to that little one who is on the way. This selection of books for new fathers, which we have made for you, will guide you in your introduction to fatherhood.

We recommend: Newborn: basic care

Guía del papá primerizo, by Jonas Weidner (First–Time Dad)

How can I lose the fear of being a father? How can I build a bond with my baby? These are some of the questions that this book tries to decipher, it will also try to guide you to reconcile your new facet as a father with other areas of your life, such as work, your partner and sexuality. Publisher: Books on Demand

Cover of the book Guía del papá primerizo — This book addresses different questions that dads ask themselves. Photo: Editorial Books on Demand

Qué se puede esperar, el primer año, by Heidi Murkoff (What to Expect, the First Year)

Each chapter corresponds to the first months of your baby’s age; this book will guide you on basic newborn care, crib safety, breastfeeding, sleep, and even provides topics such as effective and ecological parenting (changing the use of disposable diapers for cloth diapers). Publisher: Planeta

Cover of the book Qué se puede esperar, el primer año — Basic baby care and effective parenting issues are some of its contents Photo: Editorial Planeta

Mi recién nacido: La guía definitiva y más completa de ayuda a padres ante el nacimiento del bebé, by Pedro Camacho (My newborn: The definitive and most complete guide to help parents before the birth of the baby)

This book is written by a Neonatology nurse at the hospital Ntra. Sra. del Prado de Talavera de la Reina, in Madrid, Spain; he advises new parents on issues such as colic treatment in nursing babies, cleaning the umbilical cord and the nose, among others; these topics are explained with illustrations. Publisher: Pedro Felipe Camacho Garcia.

Cover of the book Mi recién nacido: La guía definitiva y más completa de ayuda a padres ante el nacimiento del bebé — This book provides basic tips for baby care Photo: Taken from Amazon

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El factor papá: Un libro sencillo y revelador que deberían leer todos los padres, by Richard Fletcher (The Dad Factor: A Simple and Insightful Book Every Dad Should Read)

The importance of the father being involved in his baby’s life from the time of pregnancy is the central theme of this book. The author delves into the benefits for the emotional and mental development of his son, of having a close relationship with his father. Publisher: Sirio

Cover of the book El factor papá: Un libro sencillo y revelador que deberían leer todos los padres — The importance of the father in the life of his child is the central axis of this book. Photo: Editorial Sirio

Guía urgente del padre primerizo, by Rafael Esteve Lloret (Urgent Guide for the First–Time Father)

Through illustrated pages, the author recounts his personal experiences and gives advice to new fathers, with a touch of humor and irony, to face this new stage. The book covers different situations in daily life, from the difficulties of sleeping the newborn, to the couple’s relationship. Publisher: Larousse

Cover of the book Guía urgente del padre primerizo — Through the illustrations, the author tells his experience as a father Photo: Editorial Larousse

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Padre no hay más que uno… y ese soy yo: Anécdotas de cómo ser padre te cambia la vida, by Óscar Martínez (There is only one father… and that’s me: Anecdotes of how being a father changes your life)

The television presenter in Spain narrates his experiences becoming a father and how his life changed completely. Martínez says that, although men are usually afraid of everything that represents a commitment, embarking on the adventure of being a father is absolutely worthwhile. Publisher: Grijalbo

Cover of the book Padre no hay más que uno… y ese soy yo: Anécdotas de cómo ser padre te cambia la vida — The Spanish presenter tells his experiences as a first-time father Photo: Editorial Grijalbo

We hope that this selection of books be a support for this new stage. What did you think?

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

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Newborn: primary care

Posted on 05/01/2022 - 15:44 by Ligia Oliver

The arrival of a baby brings us a lot of joy, but it is also a challenge, especially if we are new parents; anything our baby does makes us nervous and alert. Do not panic; this is the newborn primary care you must consider.

When our baby is born, everything is new. If he cries, we worry; if he doesn’t, we worry too. It is a stage full of doubts and fears. This is normal because it is a new experience in which you are getting to know your little one; however, you must consult your pediatrician frequently to monitor your baby.

Horacio Reyes Vázquez, a pediatrician at Hospital Español and a member of Top Doctors México, explained that the most important care for the newborn has to do with feeding him every three or four hours, cleaning his navel, and protecting his skin to prevent irritation.

Feeding

Dr. Reyes Vázquez explained that food is essential for the newborn; he recommended breast milk.

“It is recommended to offer breast milk. Mom offers one breast for 10, 20, 30 minutes on one side, makes the baby burp, changes his diaper to wake him up, and then offers the other breast for 10, 20, or 30 minutes”.

Mom feeding her baby Photo: Pixabay — Mom feeding her baby. Photo: Pixabay

The specialist pointed out that at mealtime, do not overdress the baby because it makes the baby fall asleep and not finish eating, which results in constantly asking for food.

Ricardo Jaimes Jiménez, a pediatric surgeon, advised cleaning the breasts before and after breastfeeding to avoid fissures or infections. Feed the little one every three hours if the mother decides to use formula, slightly tilting the bottle.

Umbilical cord cleaning

Stanford Children’s Hospital recommends this care for the navel area:

Keep it dry.
Expose it to fresh air.
Give sponge baths (keeping the cord dry) until the cord falls off.

To keep the umbilical cord clean, Dr. Horacio Reyes Vázquez highlighted the importance of bathing using a mild soap. When you finish bathing your baby, dry the navel very well and apply white Merthiolate, which will prevent the umbilical cord from becoming infected.

Skincare

The skin of newborns is super delicate, so we should avoid soaps, both for the body and laundry, and creams with fragrances, as they can irritate our baby.

As for clothing, we must use cotton garments to keep them cool and warm; it is crucial not to cover them in excess because we can cover their sweat glands causing the appearance of rashes, advised Rossana Llergo Valdez, president of the Mexican Foundation for Dermatology.

The skin of babies is very delicate. Photo: Pixabay

It may interest you: Should I bathe my baby daily?

Crying

Babies can only communicate by crying. As parents, we must know when they cry because they show if they are cold, hot, or if something hurts.

“Little by little, parents must identify the baby’s crying; it is only a process of getting to know from the parents to the child and vice versa”.
Dr. Ricardo Jaimes Jiménez

Warning signs

In addition to this care, the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) recommends that parents become aware of the following symptoms. If your baby presents any of them, visit your doctor.

Refusing food
Frequent vomiting
Diarrhea
Bleeding from any part of the body
Difficulty for breathing
Yellowish skin color
Discharge from the umbilical cord
Purple nails and lips
Fever

Don’t forget this primary care for your newborn, and periodically visit your pediatrician to monitor your baby’s development.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version: here

Baby names that will be trending in 2022

Posted on 29/12/2021 - 19:54 by Astrid Rivera Reynoso

The New Year is about to begin and it is full of plans to carry out. If among those plans is the arrival of the stork, these baby names that will be a trend in 2022 will help you. Get inspired and choose the one you like best!

Whether you choose a more traditional option, but not out of style like Mateo and Karla, or those that have become popular in recent years like Thiago and Mila; these names have beautiful meanings and are a perfect choice for your little one.

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For girl

From Aitana to Sofía, this selection of names will help you name your little girl.

A

Abril: The Romans named newborns according to the month in which they were born, the most popular wasApril, from the Latin “aprire” which means “open”, since it refers to the arrival of spring.
Aitana: It derives from the Basque word “Aitzane” which means “glory”.
Alba: It comes from the Latin “albus”. It means “the woman of dawn” or “the woman in white”.

C, E, J

Chloe: It means “grass” or “green shoots”, it is of Greek origin.
Emma: It means “the one who is strong”, its origin is Germanic.
Jimena: It means “the one who knows how to listen”, its origin is Hebrew.

K, L, M

Karla: Of German origin meaning “brave and strong” or “the one who is strong”.
Lara: It comes from the Latin “lar, laris” which means protector of the home.
Lola: It is a derivative of Dolores, it comes from the Latin word “doloribus”, which means “pains” or “the mourner”.
Lucía: It means “the one who carries or is born of light”, it comes from Latin.
Mía: It comes from Hebrew, its meaning is “the chosen one”.
Mila: It is of Slavic origin, it means “loved by the people”.

O, P, S

Olivia: It means “the one who protects peace”.
Paula: It comes from Latin and means “the smallest”.
Sofía: Its origin is Greek and means “the one who has wisdom”.

V, Z

Valentina: It comes from Latin, it means “courageous”, “vigorous”, “she is healthy”.
Valeria: Its origin is Latin and means “healthy and courageous”.
Zoé: Its meaning is “full of life”, it is of Greek origin.

It may interest you: Original Nahuatl Names for Boys and Girls

For boys

A, B, D

Alex: Derived from Alexander, it means “defender or protector of man”.
Asher: It means “lucky, happy”, its origin is Hebrew.
Bruno: Of Germanic origin, it means “shield, breastplate”.
Diego: It comes from the Greek word “didachós”, its meaning is “educated, instructed, wise”.
Dorian: It means “gift”, it comes from Dorus, a character from Greek mythology who belonged to “The Dorians” tribe.

E, G, H

Elm: It is a derivative of Erasmus, it means “protection”; it is of Italian origin.
Enzo: It is a derivative of Heinrich, of Germanic origin, it means “prince of the lands”.
Eros: In Greek mythology he is the god of love.
Guido: Also of Italian origin, it means “jungle, forest”.
Hugo: It is of German origin, it means “man of great spirit”.

I, J ,L, M

Izan: Derived from the Hebrew name Eitan means “strong, permanent” or “constant”; it became popular first in England, English-speaking countries, and later in Spain.
Jasper: It is of Persian origin, its meaning is “the guardian of the treasure”.
Lúa: It comes from Latin, it means “it shines”.
Lucas: It comes from the Greek “loukas”, which means “luminous, the one that shines”.
Luka: Derived from Lucas, it has become very popular in recent years; it also means “luminous”.
Mateo: It means “the great gift of God”, it is of Hebrew origin and a biblical name since it was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus.
Matías: It is a derivative of Mateo, and like that name it also means “the great gift of God”.
Miles: Derived from the name of Germanic origin Milo, which means “gentle”; in England it was popularized as Miles.

N, S, T

Nuño: It means “the ninth son”, its origin dates back to medieval times.
Silas: It is a derivative of Silvano which means “forest”. In the New Testament, Silas was a missionary companion of Paul and Timothy.
Thiago: Of Hebrew origin, it means “God will reward us”.

I hope these names inspire you and help you choose one for your coming child.

Translated by: Ligia M. Oliver Manrique de Lara

Spanish version

I should circumcise my son, shouldn’t I?

Posted on 20/04/2021 - 09:30 by Ligia Oliver

One of the dilemmas that arises when a son is about to be born is about circumcision. To do it or not to do it? That’s the question. In many cases, the decision depends on factors that have nothing to do with the medical one: there are families that circumcise by religious tradition and, in other cases, it has to do with the custom of the father’s family.

The practice of circumcision varies considerably from country to country. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in Nigeria, for example, 95% of men are circumcised while in Latin American countries it is around 11%. The world average, according to the same organization, is 30%.

What is circumcision?

“Circumcision is a medical procedure that consists of surgically removing the foreskin, which is the skin that covers the glans”, explains pediatrician Jaime Rodríguez, with a private practice in Mexico City.

This practice is usually carried out a few hours or days after the boy’s birth, when their families decide it. It is not recommended to do it immediately in babies who are premature or who have a problem with the penis that would require later surgery.

Last decades

Throughout the last decades there have been -and still prevail- various debates around this practice in the medical field. Some pediatric and health organizations recommend it; others speak against it, except in cases where it is necessary to solve a specific problem (for example, in patients the foreskin does not retract naturally and they present infections and discomfort).

According to the WHO, on average, 30% of men in the world are circumcised.

Pros:

One of the organizations that has spoken out most frequently in favor of circumcision is the American Pediatric Association. For years, these experts have studied the scientific evidence around this practice in newborns and concluded that the main benefits are:

Helps prevent urinary tract infections.
It is one of the factors that could reduce the possibility of suffering from penile cancer.
It helps reduce the spread of sexually transmitted infections

Another group of experts that has spoken out in favor of circumcision is the World Health Organization (WHO); they have ensured that it is an important measure to prevent HIV and recommends it especially in countries where the disease is an epidemic, as it happens in several African nations.

Cons:

“Although organizations such as the American Pediatric Association have spoken in favor, they only recommend it for families who want it, they do not suggest that circumcision be mandatory for all newborns. This is because the evidence on its benefits is not definite enough”, explains Rodríguez.

For other organizations and expert groups, circumcision is an unnecessary practice, since healthy tissue is removed from the body, mainly for social, religious or aesthetic reasons.

“The foreskin is very tight during the first months of life. It is not tight just for the sake of it, this helps protect the glans, for example, so that it does not come into direct contact with the fecal matter that babies leave in their diapers”, says the pediatrician.

According to Rodríguez, some of the benefits of circumcision proposed by certain medical groups can be achieved in other ways.

“It is believed that without the foreskin, infections are prevented; however, with the correct hygiene of the area infections are not possible to happen. On the other hand, recommending it to prevent the transmission of HIV could misinform and motivate many men to have sex without a condom, a measure that is absolutely essential to avoid this disease”, says Rodríguez.

In Mexico, public health institutions do not practice circumcision on a mandatory basis.

The policy says that this should not be done, unless the boy presents a medical problem that requires it. In the end, the decision is yours. Don’t hesitate to ask your child’s pediatrician for guidance.