Spic and Spica Span!

This post is being written in hopes that one day... someone, out there somewhere... will benefit from a few of my tips on keeping the spica cast clean!

I was inspired to write this thanks to my sister.  She came over to hang out last night, and she said to me, 'oh my gosh, this is more than a full time job just keeping her clean!'  Yep.  

For those who know me, or sort of know me via the internet groups, you may know that I am a tad bit type A personality.  (Just a little...)  The thought of what bacteria is under that cast gives me nightmares!  BUT... we are 2 weeks into the cast, and so far so good.  (We should be FOUR weeks, but that's a whole other story!)  

Anyways, I live in sunny Arizona where it's HOT.  It's pretty much HOT all the time.  Right now we are in the 80's, but soon will be 90's, and then the famous 100 plus degrees for about 6 months straight.  Hopefully the baby will be out of her cast by the time the hot weather comes.  In Arizona, sweat happens.  All the time.  Morning, noon and night.  It's mid-March and my air conditioner is already on.  I can't stand heat and feeling hot, so I can't imagine how my baby feels in a body cast!

In the hospital, they gave us a few tips and tricks, but you don't really have a clue until you jump in and do it yourself.  Baptism by fire.  

A few things I have learned: Grooming/Cleaning edition!

- Rubber hair bands.  I use them to tie the back of her shirt up tight so food doesn't drop down in her cast.  She refuses to keep bibs on somedays.

- A little desktop fan.  I have heard of people using blowdryers to put in the cast to cool them down, and even the cast cooler, but a small fan has worked wonders for us.  I put it 'right there!' after each bath and let her air out.  The sound of the blow dryer freaks her out, so a fan is a much better option.   The 'Cast Cooler'

can't work through a plaster cast, which most spica casts are... **darn it!** If you are lucky enough to get a 'breathable' cast such as all fiberglass, that would be a great choice.

OK, on to the grooming... this area seems to be at least half our day, so I feel pretty confident about these selections!  I hope this helps someone out there!

I am a hairstylist of almost 12 years... so I refuse to have a baby with ratty hair!  Since the baby is on her back all the time now, she has developed a total rats nest back there after each nap.  I have tried baby detanglers, conditioners, nothing worked except MY favorite hair product for ME!  

'It's a 10' Miracle leave in spray conditioner.  Whenever her hair is a ratted mess in the back, 1 spray of this little gem and easy brushing and PERFECT baby hair again!

I love giving her after bath massages with this stuff. 

Another GEM of a product.  I found this ONE pack at CVS pharmacy.  I need to find more!  It's a baby anti-bacterial wipe!  I wipe all around the cast with it, and go as far down as I can by her tummy and down her back.  I am sure it's sweaty in there, so this kills germs!  It's not as wet as a normal baby wipe either, so it won't soak the cast. 

Duck Tape. (Of course in adorable colors!)  We have used this on the areas that the fiberglass is getting rough.

Another MUST and something I found at CVS pharmacy.  I use a little on her every day.  She doesn't smell at all, but this keeps her baby fresh all day!

3M micro foam tape.  KEEP ON HAND!  It's what they petal the cast with at the hospital. Make sure you get some to take home.  It's thick like foam, easy to wipe clean and very thick.  A MUST for around the diaper area.  Problem is it doesn't stick to the cast very well, so I use duck tape over it on the edges to keep it down.

Dun dun dun DUN!!!!  THE BEST PRODUCT ever made.

I swear by this stuff.  My Lucy has NEVER...yes, I said NEVER had a diaper rash in her 14 months of life thanks to A and D ointment.  I use it on her after every bath/sponge bath before her diaper goes on.  I even go up a tad bit in the cast with it (still by the tape, though) to get all creases.  The best part about this product is this.  It creates a barrier on the skin to wetness, but is a drying agent as well.  So diaper rash doesn't stand a chance.  I have also used this on my bulldog's wrinkles for years!

Pampers Swaddlers.  The only way to go, in my opinion.  It has the built in line in the front that changes color when it's wet.  Since diapering is a pain in the butt (haha) you only have to open the top diaper, peek in, and if it's a blue color, it's wet.  If it's not, you are good to go!

They are worth the extra money.  I rip the tabs off, open the diaper up ALL the way.  All of the elastic on the sides is open and flat... Haven't had a leak yet.

We use size 1 on the inside, and a 6 on the outside.  The hospital suggested Newborn on the inside, but no way.  At night I even use a size 2 on the inside!!!!

I hope some of these grooming tips have helped someone!  

I am sure I will add more at some point, but for now, this is what is working for us. :-)

I start her bath routine at 6:30, and finish around 7:30.  It's insane, I know. It takes awhile, but it's worth it!  She gets her feet massaged, her fan on, and feels nice and cool.  :)