Bringing home a baby is full of joy, but it can also be a very stressful time. You may find yourself wondering about all kinds of baby issues like how to take care of their delicate skin.
When it comes to a baby, knowledge is power even for experienced parents so to deal with a baby’s skin and issues like cradle cap, rashes, eczema, dryness, and other problems one needs to be prepared to take care of their grooming needs.
Babies don’t come with manuals, fortunately, these simple and practical tips are easy enough to master in no time that will help your care for your baby’s delicate skin.
Bathing
Babies don’t need a bath every day, two or three baths a week with lukewarm water is good. Too many baths might dry out their tender skin, plus babies don’t have many activities to do so they don’t get dirty enough to require baths every day until they’re eating messy foods, crawling or running around. In between, simply spot-clean your baby’s diaper area and mouth with a cotton ball or a gentle cleanser every day.
Before giving your baby a bath test the temperature of the water by dipping your elbow in. To prevent your baby from getting cold, pour cupfuls of water regularly over their shoulders. Use a mild gentle cleanser to clean the body, for the scalp dip a washcloth in soapy water and gently clean it with baby shampoo.
Once done, wrap your baby in a super soft bamboo terry hooded towel and dry them in a room where all fans or air-conditioning is switched off. Immediately apply baby lotion to seal in moisture. Slip on a fresh nappy and dress your little one in clean clothes.
Watch out for dry skin
Babies often develop patches of dry skin in the first few weeks after birth. These patches often don’t need treatment and go away on their own, but it’s best to use a gentle moisturizer every day if your baby has dry, cracking skin, or, eczema that looks like an itchy red rash on the skin, most common in children with a family history of allergies or atopic dermatitis.
Eczema may start as a small rash on your baby’s skin which may become dry, thick, and scaly with time. It might also be visible on the arms, chest, or the area behind the knees. Find any triggers and stay away from them to treat them. Use mild detergents and soaps, and use ceramides and oat complex-based products like the Aveeno baby Dermexa range. It is an excellent choice for eczema and is free of perfumes, dyes, lanolin, and cortisone. Prescription medication should be used to treat more severe eczema.
If your infant has dry, peeling skin even after using a moisturizer regularly you shouldn't be alarmed; this is a common occurrence if your kid is born a bit late. The skin that lies beneath is flawlessly healthy, supple, and moist.
Use products made for babies
Use skincare products that are made specifically keeping babies’ gentle skin in mind such as tear-free shampoos, fragrance-free bath wash, body gels, and lotions. When you introduce a new product, keep an eye on your child’s reaction in case they’re allergic to some product.
Avoid antibacterial, and deodorant body wash and soaps—they might be too harsh for your baby’s skin. A gently baby wash is best for your little one.
Avoid irritants
Anything can cause an allergic reaction to your baby’s delicate skin so taking good care of it is very important. Allergic reactions may appear in many ways such as swollen skin, redness, or cracked and peeling skin. The most common things that can contribute to allergic reactions such as contact dermatitis are:
- Urine
- Harsh soaps
- Detergents
- Lotions
- Saliva
- Perfumes
- Cloth dyes
You can treat these allergies with some simple home remedies and recommendations such as:
• If your baby has an allergic reaction give them a bath every day with luke-warm water and baby soap until the rash goes away
• Use unscented, cortisone-free moisturizers on the skin
• Dress your baby in super soft clothes like ours which are as soft as silk making them ideal for baby's with sensitive skin
• Find out the cause of the rash and avoid it
Baby diapering
Diapers are beneficial for keeping the baby clean and fresh. But some diapers can also irritate a baby's skin and lead to infections or rashes. The diaper should be changed as soon as it gets wet or soiled. If the skin around your baby’s diaper area is red, your baby has diaper rash. The most common reasons for diaper rashes are:
- Tight diapers
- The brand is not suiting the baby
- Diaper wipes are irritating the skin
- Wet diapers are left on the skin for too long.
Choose a different variety or brand of diapers if you discover that the skin around the diaper area is inflamed. Keeping a dirty diaper on your infant for too long might lead to infections and rashes, so don't forget to change it as soon as you can.
Even though most babies are prone to rashes, there are certain steps you can take to prevent them in the first place. Here are some recommendations for caring for your newborn baby's skin.
• Keep an eye on the wetness indicator. Change the diaper as soon as it’s wet
• Wash the diaper area with plain water or a mild cleanser. If the rash is severe, clean the area with a squirt bottle without rubbing
• Use cotton balls or water wipes. The perfume or alcohol in some wipes can further irritate the skin and make the rash worse so look for wipes with that are perfume free.
• Keep the diaper area open and allow to air dry fully
• Don’t use baby powder because it can sometimes irritate a baby’s delicate skin.
• Apply a thick layer of protective rash creams or petroleum jelly.
Clothing your baby
In warm weather, clothe your little one in one light super soft bamboo fabric layer with short sleeves, and a wide-brimmed hat to protect their skin from the sun. You can cover any exposed skin with sunscreen and, if your child will allow it, put on a pair of sunglasses that offer 100 percent UV protection.
For bedtime, a soft, light, and loose bamboo sleepsuit is paramount. It’s best to stick to OEKO-TEX Certified clothing for your baby’s skin as this certification guarantees that no harmful chemicals from the production process remain on the clothing. In cold weather, layer your baby and use a bamboo sleeping bag for bedtime. We've included our sleep clothing guide below to help.
