5 Tips On Newborn Skincare
10 Jun 2019 | 4 min Read
Sayani Basu
Author | 607 Articles
A newborn’s skin is premature and soft, thin and delicate. It requires more attention, warmth and gentleness. A proper newborn skincare regimen can help maintain the health and texture of the little one’s skin while providing a pleasant experience for both of you.
Here are some newborn skincare tips on newborn bathing and skincare that will keep your infant’s skin smooth and healthy.
Tips On Newborn Skincare
Skincare in newborns is a concern for all new mums. But the question is, “How to take care of the newborn’s skin?”
- Follow best practices for bathing: Doctors advise keeping bathtime short (between 5 and 10 minutes) as infants have their natural skin oils and bathing them too much can dry out their skin. Therefore, proper bathing is also a part of newborn skincare.
It is recommended to choose a baby wash that has been formulated with natural ingredients to cleanse and maintain the pH and natural moisture balance of your newborn’s delicate skin. Opting for the right baby wash to maintain the pH balance of your little one is also a part of the newborn skincare routine.
The temperature of the water to bathe your newborn should be warm and not too hot. Medical studies suggest that the ideal temperature should be between 37 and 38 degrees Celsius.
For cleaning the newborn’s face, eye, neck and genitals, you can keep baby wipes handy. It is advisable to opt for bamboo water wipes as bamboo water is packed with natural flavonoids and acts as a powerful antioxidant to keep your baby’s delicate skin soft and smooth.
- Keep your baby out of the sun: A baby’s delicate skin is more susceptible to overheating. The soaring temperature can increase the risk of dehydration and irritate your little one. Therefore, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends:
- keeping your infant in shade as much as possible
- using a hat for your baby that covers the neck and ears
- dressing your baby in loose-fitting, lightweight clothing that covers the arms and legs
- limit sun exposure to stay away from the ultraviolet (UV) rays
If you have to take your baby outdoors, it is advisable to use sunscreen on all exposed areas. Applying a natural baby sunscreen is also a part of newborn skincare.
Don’t forget to dress your baby in light-coloured and full sleeves clothes during the rainy season to keep mosquitoes at bay. It is also recommended to opt for a natural mosquito repellent body spray.
- Help prevent heat rashes: The soaring temperature of the summer can also trigger heat rashes in your newborn that can cause irritation and redness. You can use a natural baby powder to take proper care of skin in a newborn and keep heat rashes at bay.
It is advisable to choose the ones that are devoid of talc and enriched with shea butter and rose butter that effectively absorbs moisture and keeps the little one’s skin dry, preventing heat rashes.
It also keeps your little one’s delicate skin smooth, soft, and hydrated.
- Watch out for diaper rashes: A newborn’s bottom is constantly exposed to bacteria-breeding moisture that makes way for diaper rashes that add to the newborn skin problems. Therefore, a diaper rash cream is a requisite of newborn skincare that acts as a moisturiser and creates a layer between the wetness and the little one’s skin to treat diaper rashes.
It is advisable to use a diaper rash cream that’s dermatologically tested, built with Non-Nano Technology and formulated using certified organic ingredients.
- Care for the umbilical cord: When you first bring your newborn home, the umbilical cord will still be attached to the infant’s belly button. It is advisable to keep the area as clean and dry as possible until the cord falls off in about 1 to 3 weeks.
There’s no need to apply any substance to prevent infection or aid in the drying process. Call the doctor right away if you notice pus, redness, swelling, foul smelling discharge from the area.
Skincare for newborns is an important part of the additional responsibility that new mums are endowed with. It is important to follow the best newborn skincare as the little one’s skin is still developing.
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