Five simple ways to care for your baby’s skin
Your baby's skin may be delicate but the truth is it doesn't need several different skincare products. Here are the bare facts to know when it comes to caring for your newborn's super-sensitive skin.
Until birth, your baby had everything she needed, tucked up and protected in your womb. However, all that changes after birth when her delicate skin needs extra special care. There are so many baby skin care products on the market that claim to do this or that for your baby. As a new mom, it is easy to fall into the trap and find yourself buying different products. Don’t be fooled by smart marketing -babies need very little after they are born.
- Mother Nature’s perfect moisturiser
Fresh out of the womb, babies are covered with the most wonderfully thick, creamy, moisturising substance called vernix caseosa. Do not wash this coating off. Vernix is Mother Nature’s perfect moisturiser. It provides protection for your baby’s skin when it encounters the outside world’s harsh climate for the first time. Scientists have studied the components of vernix and have identified lipids, amino acids, proteins, and several other beneficial microbes.
- You don’t have to bath the baby every single day
The World Health Organisation advises delaying your baby’s first bath for 24 hours. When you are ready to give your baby her first bath, use clean water or a completely natural wash. Babies need very little after they are born. Harsh, synthetically fragranced soaps strip the body of its natural oils.
- Trouble skin
Baby acne is different from that of adult acne. It does not need any special treatment and will usually disappear on its own. These tiny pink bumps on your baby’s face, neck, and chest occur in a fifth of all newborns in their first month of life. They must never be squeezed or covered with drying lotions. Aside from being patient, there’s nothing much you can do as baby acne is often related to the mother’s hormones in the baby’s body after birth.
- Look at the contents, and don’t let the baby smell fool you
A newborn’s skin is extremely delicate, so it is important to avoid any products with the words ‘parfum’ or ‘fragrance’ in the ingredients list. Exposing your precious bundle of joy to harsh ingredients is one of the leading causes of skin allergies and irritation. Whenever you are ready, introduce products with pure essential oil fragrances as they’re safer alternatives.
- Anticipating nappy rash
The most common skin ailment one can expect in a newborn is the dreaded nappy rash. Unfortunately, the materials that keep disposable nappies from leaking also prevent air from circulating, combined with the fact that a baby’s skin barrier is not fully formed. This creates the ideal environment for a rash to develop. When it comes to your newborn’s little bottom, the cleaner and drier the skin, the better. Dermatologists recommend that mothers use natural wipes and a bum cream to create a thick barrier on your baby’s bottom. If a rash does develop, treat the affected skin with a bum cream that contains natural plant oils as it allows the skin to breathe rather than petroleum bases. For a few minutes each day, give your baby some nappy-free time. Following these healthy skin care tips will give you peace of mind so that you spend less time worrying and more time cuddling with your baby.
