Baby skin to baby care, there’s so much more to bathing your baby

MANILA, Philippines – Just like all the firsts, your baby’s first bath is a special event. But did you know that there is so much more to bathing your baby than cleansing his skin?

To create awareness and inspire parents on healthy and happy baby care rituals and talk about the benefits of bath time on the overall sensory development of babies, Johnson’s launched a global campaign called "So Much More."

In the Philippines, it was found out that while 96% of parents in the Philippines believe that bath time is so much more than just getting their child clean, 45% do not see that it is extremely important for cognitive development.  This could be the reason why the Philippines has the shortest bath time duration for babies —15 minutes vs. the global average of 23 minutes.

Beyond giving parents precious moments to bond with their little ones, bath time can actually have a powerful and long-term impact on a baby’s development. Research has shown that bath time is actually a great opportunity to stimulate baby’s senses because it is a time when babies’ senses are very much alive. Further studies prove that multisensory stimulation can strongly aid in promoting happy and healthy baby development.

To help you bring out the best in your baby, here are some tips shared by the experts during the Johnson’s “So Much More” campaign launch:

Mr. Arun Viswanath, Asia Pacific, Science & Technology head at Givaudan Fragrances.

“Apart from massage, other ways the senses can be activated especially during bath time include the playing of music and games, and the use of fragranced products. Pleasant smells, particularly, when paired with the loving interactions of a parent, can create positive and lasting memories that children will remember for a lifetime. Fragranced products are known to increase infant engagement, helping mothers bond with their babies, and helping babies stay calm and relaxed for a more prolonged period of time.”

Dr. Didoy Castañeda, Asia Pacific Medical & Clinical Affairs Director.

“Bath time can be so much more than getting clean. Multisensory stimulation rituals can aid in promoting happy and healthy baby development leading to specific benefits such as increased weight gain and bone mass, reduced stress, crying and better quality and quantity of sleep.”

Dr. Theresa Hilario-Jimenez, President of the Perinatal Association of the Philippines.

“Dramatic growth in a child’s physical, motor, cognitive and social-emotional development is very much dependent on the stimulation a parent provides in the first several years of a child’s life. Touch is a powerful tool to maintain alert state in babies, to calm them or as an attention-getting stimulus. Touch is also a good reinforcer for positive infant behavior and learning.”

To know more about Johnson’s and how you can enhance your baby’s bath time experience, visit www.johnsonsbaby.com/somuchmore.