Look Out For Infant Sunburn
The sun may feel great, but it could be exposing your baby’s skin to the risk of damaging sunburn. You can use baby sunscreen on infants at any age. Hats and umbrellas are also good ideas. But for the best protection from sunburn, keep your infant out of direct sunlight during the first 6 months of life. For mild infant sunburn, apply a cool cloth to your baby’s skin for 10-15 minutes a few times daily. For more severe sunburn, call your child’s pediatrician.
Cut Out Unnecessary Chemicals
Many chemicals in skincare and cleaning products are harmful to the skin, so, its best to avoid them as much as possible.
Perfumes and scented products can especially irritate your babys skin and trigger a flare-up. Try using special soaps or laundry detergent, which are milder for your babys skin.
If your baby has sensitive skin but soap is really necessary, try Dr. Bronners Pure-Castile Liquid Soap. As it isnt tear-free, I suggest keeping it away from babys eyes, but it will soften and moisturize the skin without harsh perfumes.
You could also try washing your clothes with the Puracy liquid detergent, which is plant-derived and contains no harsh chemicals. If you prefer unscented products, try Mollys Suds, a natural powder detergent, gentle on clothes for sensitive skin.
Burts Bees Baby Nourishing Lotion Best Natural Baby Lotion
Features:
If you prefer a more natural lifestyle and are looking to find great natural products for your baby, Burts Bees Baby is a wonderful company to go with. Their Baby Nourishing Lotion easily won our spot for the best natural baby lotion!
Our Favorite Ingredients :
Aloe Aloe has so many incredible uses. It is amazingly mild and safe while also retaining a powerful ability to soothe and heal. Burts Bees Baby has included this remarkable plant in the best natural baby lotion. It is very affective at adding soothing and healing properties to the best natural baby lotion for your babys skin.
Shea Butter Another wonderful ingredient that can help bring healing to your babys skin in the best natural baby lotion is shea butter. This is another powerful ingredient derived from mother nature. Not only does it have wonderful anti-inflammatory and healing properties, but it is also incredibly moisturizing and nourishing for your babys skin.
99% Natural Ingredients:
Being that this is the best natural baby lotion, it can be expected that it costs a little more. This is very close to the top of the list when it comes to cost. Of course, it is very high-quality and full of natural ingredients, so you are definitely getting what you pay for. The only other downfall is that it does come in pretty small tubes, so you will have to buy more often, and you dont have the convenience of a pump like with many of the other options.
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What Is Cradle Cap
If you notice that your infants scalp is flaking, your baby may have cradle cap, also known as seborrheic dermatitis. It is common in the first three months of life. Like peeling skin, it usually resolves on its own without any treatment. If it starts to get worse or lasts longer than a few months, talk with your pediatrician.
Proper Bathing And Skin Care For Your Newborn
A newborn’s skin is soft and delicate. Proper skin care and bathing can help maintain the health and texture of the baby’s skin while providing a pleasant experience for both of you.
Contrary to popular thought, most babies don’t need a bath every single day. With all the diaper changes and wiping of the mouth and nose after feedings, most babies may only need to be bathed 2 or 3 times a week or every other day.
Baths can be given any time of day. Bathing before a feeding often works well. Many parents prefer to bathe their baby in the evening, as part of the bedtime ritual. This works well especially if bath time is relaxing and soothing for the baby.
Sponge baths are needed at first. To prevent infection, bathing in a tub of water should not be done until the baby’s umbilical cord falls off, and a baby boy’s circumcision heals.
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Why Newborns And Older Babies Have Peeling Skin
A newbornâs skin is delicate, especially right after birth, and it’s likely that your infantâs skin may be peeling. Flaky or peeling skin is normal at this stage and doesnât require any special treatment.Basically, in your newbornâs first few days and weeks, the top layer of skin sheds. This skin peeling tends to be more common for babies who were born past their due date.Itâs not just during the early newborn phase that you may notice peeling skin. Childrenâs skin is typically thinner and more delicate than adult skin and this means that it can lose moisture faster and dry out more quickly. Therefore, donât be surprised if at some point you see dryness, flaking, or peeling skin in your older baby or toddler. If your baby has a skin condition like atopic dermatitis , you may also notice more frequent dryness, flaking, or peeling.
What Should I Know About Baby Eczema
Its pretty normal for babies to have dry skin on their faces and have dry skin patches. But its important to know the difference between dry skin and eczema. Eczema is usually considered as a baby dry skin rash. It shows up as red, itchy, and rough patches on your babys skin, and usually rears its head during the first few months of a newborns life. Eczema occurs when the body makes too few fatty cells called ceramides. Without enough of these cells, your skin becomes dehydrated and dry. It can run in families, so if you or your partner had eczema, chances are your little one might have it too.
The good news is its totally normal and most infants outgrow it by school-age if not sooner.
Baby eczema is different than cradles cap, which is just a cute term to describe a baby with dry skin on their head. Cradle cap is normal for newborns to have and is characterized by rough, crusty bumps that sit on top of your babys scalp. It isnt painful or itchy, though, and usually goes away within a few weeks to a few months with the help of a mild shampoo.
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Discover Newborn Dry Skin & Diaper Rash Care Below
Newborn babies have incredibly delicate skin, so a little extra care may be needed to help keep their skin looking and feeling healthy. You may notice from time to time that your baby has developed dry skin around their bottom. Always speak to your pediatrician for the best ways to manage dry skin at home.
There are some skin characteristics1 that are common in newborns, for example dry, flaky skin. The sensitive nature of a babys skin as it adjusts to the world outside of the womb means it can easily be irritated by soaps, the weather, and the contents of their diaper, which can sometimes lead to diaper rash.
If youre wondering what to do for diaper rash, and newborn skin issues, like dry skin and dry lips here are some tips that may be useful. Also, its good to remember that many of these tips can be great to use as part of your daily skin care routine for your baby, even as they grow out of the newborn stage.
How Should Cradle Cap Be Treated
Cradle cap will go away on its own and does not need to be treated. If you want, you can wash the hair with a mild baby shampoo and gently brush out the scales to help control it. However, shampooing your babys hair too often will also cause dry scalp.
Baby oil or mineral oil may help soften the scales. When applying the oil, rub only small amounts into the scales. Then shampoo and brush out the oil about an hour later to avoid more build-up.
If your baby has dry, scaling, thickened skin over the forehead, cheeks and behind the ears, this is called seborrheic dermatitis. An unscented moisturizer can be used 2 to 3 times a day on the skin. A mild hydrocortisone cream is safe and usually effective. If this doesnt help, see your doctor. This will usually improve by 4 months of age.
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Newborn Skin Soaks Up Calming Touch
Giving your newborn a massage is important one-on-one time. Like cuddling, a massage is a way to convey your love and affection for your baby. In fact, research shows that a baby’s very survival depends on being touched by others — as touch triggers hormones, boosts immunity, and helps fight disease. Also, massaged babies are calmer, sleep better, and cry less — every parent’s dream!
There’s no special technique to massaging a baby. Find a carpeted floor in a warm room. Simply lay baby on a soft blanket or fabric. Get a little baby oil or a gentle lotion. Warm it in your hand. Then gently massage baby’s chest and tummy — using a gentle yet firm touch. Try to make eye contact and talk to your baby. Sing softly.
If there’s any fussing, baby may not be ready for a massage. Or the massage may be too forceful, so use a gentler touch. It’s the time spent together that’s most important.
What Does Dry Skin In Babies Look Like
Roughness, flakiness, ashiness and fine lines or cracks are all signs that your sweeties skin needs more moisture. Dry spots can strike anywhere, but theyre especially common on the hands, feet, face and lips.
Mild dryness probably wont bother your baby much. But very dry skin can get itchy, which can lead her to scratch and irritate skin further.
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Give Your Newborn Plenty Of Fluids
On average, newborns need to eat every 90 to 120 minutes. And the only thing babies can consume in their first few months of life is breast milk and/or baby formula. These liquids contain all the nutrients your bundle of joy needs to stay healthy and continue growing.
That said, make sure youre feeding your baby often enough. This will not only keep your baby healthy and happy, but it will also ensure that theyre hydrated. A well-hydrated baby means well-hydrated skin, which can help clear up any peeling.
How To Care For Newborn Dry Skin
You only just got home from the hospital, and already your little one is developing newborn dry skin. Whats going on? Is it something you did? Could this have been prevented? The experts at Mustela are here to put your mind at ease and tell you everything you need to know to keep your baby happy, healthy, and comfortable during those first few days, weeks, and months.
In this article, well answer the following questions:
- What is newborn dry skin?
- What causes newborn dry skin?
- Can you prevent newborn dry skin?
- Is newborn dry skin permanent?
Well also give you 10 tips to help you care for your newborns dry skin.
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Caring For The Umbilical Cord
Water is all you need to clean it. Do not pull on the stump even when it starts to come off. It will fall off on its own. Prevent the babys diaper from rubbing the area by folding it over.
Contact your doctor if your baby has a fever or if the umbilical area:
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appears red and swollen
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oozes yellow pus
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produces a foul-smelling discharge or
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bleeds. A small amount of bleeding is normal, and you may find a few spots of blood on the babys undershirt or sleeper.
What Should I Use On My New Babys Skin
Baby-friendly shampoos are also beneficial for your new little one. Make bath time a little less drying by adding a drop or two of bath oil to the water before getting started. Mustelas bath oil preserves the skin barrier to help keep babys skin hydrated. Plus, you can also use it as a cleansing oil when their body is wet.
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What Causes Dry Skin In Babies
Almost every baby will deal with the occasional bout of dry skin from time to time. And many of the same things that make your skin dry can also leave your little ones skin thirsty.
Exposure to cold temps and dry air especially common in winter can sap skin of its usual moisture. Spending too much time soaking in hot baths, though soothing and cozy, can have the same effect. And your babys thin, delicate skin makes it extra prone to becoming parched.
Moisturize Your Babys Skin
Applying a moisturizer is one of the most important steps you can take to care for your newborns dry skin. Moisturizers like Mustelas Nourishing Cream With Cold Cream and Nourishing Lotion With Cold Cream are designed to lock moisture into your little ones skin and prevent it from evaporating. This helps to keep your babys skin soft and supple and reduce itching.
We recommend applying a moisturizer at least twice per day: once during the day and once after bath time. If your babys skin looks and feels dry even with two applications per day, dont be afraid to add a third or fourth. And for busy parents and babies on the go, pack Mustelas Hydra-Stick with Cold Cream in your diaper bag.
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Dont Bathe Your Baby Too Often
Adults often need daily showers or baths to remain healthy clean. So, we have this idea that daily baths are the norm for all ages. That could not be farther from the truth, though! It is actually recommended to only bathe your baby about 3 times a week, but even that may not be necessary in many cases.
Babies really dont get very dirty other than in the diaper area and from eating. As long as you are cleaning well at diaper changes and anytime milk drips or spit up occurs, there isnt much to worry about. Occasionally, give your baby a full bath, but remember that they dont do a ton of sweating or playing in the dirt at a very young age.
The problem with over-bathing your baby is that you are stripping the natural oils from their skin. Daily baths will do this over and over without giving the skin the chance to replenish these natural oils that keep babys skin healthy. It can also negatively impact your babys immune system if you keep them too clean because you arent giving them a chance to appropriately interact with the bacteria and pathogens in their environment which is actually a very important part of building a healthy immune system.