There is nothing more gentle and beautiful than baby skin, and similarly nothing more delicate. Baby skin is very vulnerable during the initial three years and tends to lose moisture as its functions are not completely developed.

It is three times thinner than the adult skin, therefore less resistant and highly susceptible to dryness, irritants and several skin problems. Hence, you must give special attention towards caring for their skin and keeping it healthy and soft.
Important tips on how to give that extra loving care for your baby

1. Oil massage and bathing tips

i. Use oil that has been boiled and then cooled, which can even be your cooking oil or some special baby oil, ensuring to apply on the creases of buttocks and thighs as well.

ii. Since the PH level of babies is much higher than that of adults, use special baby soaps that are mild and high in fatty content, and mild shampoos that do not make their scalp dry

iii. Dry the skin properly after bath.

2. Healthy eating habits. Following a healthy and natural diet will ensure that the skin of the baby grows well and remains healthy

3. Avoid use of talc. Avoid use of talc as its abrasive nature can cause skin irritations

4. Use appropriate clothes. Use cotton clothes that are light and soft

5. Be diligent about baby products. Make sure you check with your pediatrician before using any baby product. Also check to see if the baby develops allergies to a particular product by applying a small sample on the skin and looking for any reaction a few hours later.

6. Use of mild detergents. Use only mild detergents for washing baby clothes. To test if your baby is allergic to the product touch the skin of your baby with the product and see if any reaction occurs a few hours later.

7. Avoid overexposure to sun. The skin of the baby has very less melanin and therefore exposure to sun for a long period can result in sunburns.

8. Check and Change the nappy quite often. To prevent repeated exposure to wetness and irritants such as faeces that can damage the skin in the nappy area, make sure to check the nappy often and also change them as required

9. Use moisturizers and lotions appropriately. To keep the skin healthy it is necessary to keep it well hydrated. For this purpose, use mild baby lotions and creams that come highly recommended and meet the following fulfilled criteria

i. Safe, Gentle, Mild

ii. Tested for allergies and proven negative towards formation of allergies

iii. Alcohol free

iv. Soothing and comforting without any irritant qualities

10. Visiting the doctor. If you notice any allergy reactions, or skin problems in your baby, always consult your doctor for good, sound medical advice. Do not put it off as some reactions could be indicators of serious conditions.

A happy baby is a healthy baby, so give the best care you can for your little ones, tending to their skin care, food habits and emotional as well as physical upbringing.

By: Louise Forrest

Today, one in every four or five babies and toddlers suffer from dry skin. This makes them prone to more serious skin conditions such as eczema. Since their skin is more delicate than adults’ skin, it is important to know the ins and outs of skin care for them.

Causes of Baby Dry Skin

When the baby is born, she is initially covered in a slippery coat of amniotic fluid. During the first several days, her skin may still not be used to such a dry environment and develop patches of dry skin and redness. Dryness in the air, such as during winter and inside heated homes, can also strip her skin of moisture.

Doting parents may be tempted to give the baby daily baths to make sure she stays clean. What most people don’t know is that daily baths are unnecessary, and may actually harm and dry the skin even more. Summer is also a time for swimming in the pool and the ocean, especially for active toddlers. The salt and chlorine have drying effects on the skin and can cause rashes.

Prevention and treatment of baby dry skin

Adding a humidifier or vaporizer in the baby’s room will help control the moisture content in the air and help hydrate her dry skin. When the temperature gets too cold, it is often a better idea to give the baby more clothes to wear instead of turning the heat up; doing so will lower the humidity. During the summer, take steps to protect the baby from sunburn. Give her gloves or mittens during the winter, both to protect against dropping humidity levels and scratching.

When it comes to washing the baby, a bath every three or four days is actually enough to give her a measure of protection against dry skin. As the baby grows and begins to crawl and get dirty, a bath scheduled every other day is reasonable; just make sure to avoid bubble baths as much as possible, as soap and lather tends to dry the skin. It is often enough to simply sponge areas that look dry during the day.

While giving baby a bath, it is advisable to use warm water instead of hot, as hot water dries the skin. It is also a good idea to cut down the bath time to ten minutes or so-any longer will sap most of the moisture from her skin. Don’t use soap on the baby. Instead, use a soap-free, fragrance-free cleanser. Soap, as in every other possible case, dries the skin. Within a few minutes after the bath, pat her dry and apply a moisturizer, lotion, or emollient. This will lock in the moisture her skin took in from the bath and keep her skin supple until the next bath time. Make sure the moisturizer has no dyes and heavy perfumes, as these can irritate and dry skin.

When washing the baby’s clothes, wash them in a batch separate from the clothes of other members of the family. Do not use laundry soap and fabric softeners on her clothes, as the detergents can irritate her dry skin and cause allergies. Tea-tree oil and baking soda has been advised in the past as a substitute for laundry detergents. During the day, make sure the child isn’t dressed too tightly, and try to avoid any wool or nylon in her wardrobe. Wool, as well as other synthetic materials, has rough edges which easily causes irritation, especially on the baby’s delicate skin. Disposable and cloth diapers are both fine and acceptable for babies. There is only one rule to remember about diapers: if it’s wet, change it. Many parents leave disposable diapers on their babies for too long, until the core bursts and exposes the baby’s skin to more than just wetness.

Toddlers love to play in the water, and trips to the beach or the pool are often in order during the summer. To protect against dry skin caused by salt and chlorine, rinse the child completely in tap water after swimming, then apply a good moisturizer. As a general rule for children, the thicker the moisturizer, the better.

Consult your doctor

Regularly check your child’s skin for any dry skin and redness. While eczema is often treatable with regular applications of moisturizers, it is often best to see the child’s doctor if the redness does not disappear or if the child is always uncomfortable. Red, dry skin may also be an indication of icthyosis, a genetic medical condition. As dry skin gets worse, it may break, swell, or get infected.

It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor if your child’s dry skin problems worry you. Schedule a visit if her dry skin does not respond to home treatments.

By: Della Franklin