A baby’s skin can be very delicate, and as such, you must be looking after their skin in the most natural way possible. But with so many products on the market, it can be hard to tell what type of products are good for your baby’s skin and what isn’t.
Knowing what is normal and what isn’t can help you decide on the best way to treat your baby skins. This is more important if, as they get a little bit older, their skin appears to be more sensitive to different products and displays symptoms of eczema or becomes inflamed and irritated regularly.
Normal skin conditions for babies include;
- Rashes from heat, drool, or spit up
- Baby Acne is very common in babies from 2 to 4 weeks after birth.
- Milia. Milia are white bumps that appear on a baby’s face from birth, often called milk spots. Around 40% of babies get this.
- Erythema toxicum. A harmless rash that appears right after birth. It appears as red blotches in babies aged 1-2 days old and usually has a white or yellow stop in the center.
How can you best care for your baby’s sensitive skin to avoid irritating it?
Avoid Over Bathing
New-born babies need little bathing. Aside from diaper changes and spit up; they don’t really get dirty. It is recommended that newborns with their cord still attached are bathed once a week unless they become overly dirty due to messy diapers, and older babies are to be bathed no more than three times a week. You can still give them a little wipe down if they need it, but over bathing removes some of the natural oils found in a baby’s skin and can cause it to dry out quicker.
Bathwater should be between 36.8 and 38.6 degrees Fahrenheit, and babies should have fun quick baths as them being in the water for too long can dry their skin out.
No Scented Products
Your baby’s skin is too delicate to be adding scented products to their skin. Instead, look at using hypoallergenic shampoo for babies and toddlers as well as hypoallergenic skin care products as this will be better for their skin overall.
Choose products made naturally and via organic processes to remove adding irritants to their skins and reduce the likelihood of dry skin breakouts or flare-ups.
Use Products Sparingly
While the overuse of products isn’t advised in newborn skincare, using the right products when needed is a must. Suppose your baby shows signs of a skin rash, diaper rash, or chafing, then using emollients that are safe for babies is recommended. For diaper rash, you can buy a barrier cream that protects the skin from rubbing from diapers, reduces the risk of diaper rash, and helps calm any skin that becomes inflamed. Avoiding the use of harsh chemicals when treating skin conditions means looking for soothing, natural products to help rectify any skin complaints your baby might have.
Wash New Clothing
Always wash baby’s clothing after buying it and before they wear it. Clothes manufacturing processes can use many chemicals. The items can then be stored and transported in different environments, meaning it can help com contact many other irritants or allergy-inducing factors.
Remove these from new clothing items by washing them before putting them on your baby, so they are clean and free from anything that will upset their sensitive skin.
Choose a laundry detergent that is tested as suitable for baby skin and wash their clothing separately in this or use it for the whole family until they are older.
Choose Organic
Try to resist buying clothing that isn’t made of natural materials. Organic cotton can be the best option for a newborn baby as it won’t irritate the skin as other materials can. Especially if your baby is born during warmer months or you live in a hotter climate. You need to allow your baby’s skin to breathe to avoid sweat rashes or irritated skin due to friction from the fabric they are wearing.
If you have any concerns over dry skin or skin rashes on your baby, then you must get the right medical advice from your doctor or pediatrician to help you get the right course of treatment to resolve this use before it causes any upset to your baby or develops into a bigger problem. Skin rashes can be quite common in babies but know what is normal and ensure you get the problem resolved swiftly.
