Summer is not the only time of year parents need to worry about caring for their babies’ skin. So if you’re a parent, here are 5 tips to care for your baby’s skin.
by Troop Atomic Mommy
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Being a parent of a little one comes with plenty of uncertainties, but skincare for your baby doesn’t have to be one of them. Your baby’s skincare routine is a vital part of their health.
As adults, we have routine skincare regiments that became habit with practice. But when it comes to taking care of a little one and their skin, you’re going find yourself picking up a whole new skill set.
You’ll start understanding niche areas of knowledge when it comes to your baby’s skin, whether that means understanding how topical steroid withdrawal (known as tsw) can affect yours and your baby’s skin, or understanding how diaper rashes can be cured with all natural ingredients. Naturally, it’s important that you know the different products a baby’s skin requires in order to stay healthy. Understanding the differences of each baby skin product is taking your knowledge to the next level.
To help guide you, we’ve listed a few tips that can really help guide you. Here’s 5 ways to care for your baby’s skin!
#1 Sun Care
We all know that direct, unprotected sun exposure isn’t good for anyone. Chances are, at some point in your life, you’ve experienced sunburn and, chances are, you remember it being a pretty unpleasant experience. This is something you want to avoid for your baby at all costs.
This is why you should take care to keep your baby out of the sun at all costs. While adults can use sunscreen with SPF to protect themselves from the sun’s rays, the Food and Drug Administration (also known as the “FDA”), recommend that you don’t apply sunscreen to a baby under 6 months of age. Instead, you need to take precautions that prevent sun exposure. There are countless ways that can help you can do this.
You can keep your baby indoors on particularly sunny days, or during peak times of a sunny day, such as midday. Have your baby wear a lightweight sun hat, whenever outdoors. You can dress your baby in lightweight and loose clothing that allows ventilation, but protects from the sun. If you absolutely have to bring your baby outdoors, say to a beach or park, you can purchase a baby tent that will allow them to be outdoors with your while also being protected from the sun. Remember to also make sure your baby is well hydrated during these sunny days – this is separate to skincare, but still a good point to keep in mind.
#2 Recognize Skin Concerns
Many babies experience skin concerns such as cradle cap, eczema and more. If you notice any changes to your baby’s skin, or signs of irritation, make sure to visit your doctor. They will be able to diagnose any skin issues that your baby may be experiencing.
If your baby ends up being diagnosed with eczema, the doctor will recommend treatments such as Bodewell Eczema Daily Calming Cream, which can soothe the skin and relieve irritation. Just make sure that any products you intend to use on your baby’s skin are age-appropriate and non-toxic. And remember to check with your physician for any side effects of any medications prescribed.
#3 Choose Soft Clothes
Baby clothes come in all sorts of fabrics. Some babies are fine wearing any fabric, whereas others will have more sensitive skin and may need looser or softer garments that reduce irritation. For example, some babies will be fine with skirts that are made out of netting for a tutu effect, while others may require soft, muslin or cotton babygrows for comfort. This will generally be a process of trial and error where you will slowly discover what works for your baby and what doesn’t.
#4 Dry Your Baby Properly
Following a bath, you should make sure that your baby is fully dry. Use a soft towel, designed for babies, and make sure to dry all the areas between their fingers, toes, arm pits, behind the ears, groin area, and any where that bacteria can grow. You may remember talc-based baby powder as the go-to option for speeding up the drying of a wet baby. These days, the safer and healthier options are the corn starch based baby powders as they do not contain asbestos fibers.
#5 Consider Wipes
Babies need to be changed regularly, which can lead to irritation and issues like diaper rash. Make sure to consider the wipes you’re using on your baby. Some babies are fine with baby wipes, which are soft and gentle. But others may require something even softer–perhaps cotton with warm water. In case you’re not sure which brands are safe, you can check out this review of the best baby wipes!
The Takeaway
Every baby is different, but hopefully, some of the suggestions above will help you care for your baby’s skin as best possible.