When To Put Lotion On Newborn

How Often Should I Put Lotion On My Baby

So long as a lotion is gentle and made with safe ingredients, you can apply it to your babys skin whenever and wherever the skin is dry.

Keep in mind that less is more and most babies dont need lotion, to begin with. If you decide to use lotion on your baby, you may want to consider applying it after bathtime to maximize their skins ability to retain moisture, according to Solomonian.

If your babys skin is consistently dry or irritated and the lotion youre using isnt easing the discomfort, she recommends scheduling a visit with your pediatrician.

How To Apply Lotion On Your Newborn Baby

Applying lotion to a newborn baby may seem like a daunting task, but its actually quite simple. Just follow these easy steps:

When To Use Baby Lotion On Newborn

Are you wondering when to use baby lotion on newborn? Well, youve arrived at the right place. You may apply lotion or other moisturizer product on the baby if necessary. Usually, newborns dont require much product on their skin. Babies naturally have that mesmerizing baby skin feel. Yet, there is a thing or two that you ought to know if you want to take the right care for your baby.

When the baby arrives, it becomes the first and most priority all day. Newborn babies have delicate skin. When do you bath them? What products do you use? What products are the right ones? It can all become a little puzzling.

Read Also: What Does A Newborn Seizure Look Like

When Can You Start Using Lotion On A Newborn Baby

With phrases like as soft as a babys bottom being something to strive for, you may be surprised that babies can get dry skin too! Although your baby has coveted soft skin due to vernix, which coats the babys skin from birth and acts as a barrier helping with overall moisture, skin care for babies can still include dryness. This can include skin conditions such as diaper rashes, eczema or baby acne. Its normal for babies to experience dry skin, but when can you put lotion on a newborn?

We recommend consulting your physician before starting any skin treatments with your baby. But once you get the go-ahead, you will find safe moisturizing lotion options for your babys soft skin when needed. You can use a lotion on a newborn formulated with safe PH balanced ingredients and with a babys sensitive skin in mind.

For Avoiding Any Potential Harm To Your Newborn Baby It Is Vital To Take The Following Safety Measures While Applying Lotion To Them:

• Wash your hands thoroughly before and after applying lotion.
• Apply the lotion in a slow and even manner.
• Apply only a little lotion at a time.
• Keep the area where you applied lotion clean, dirt, and dust free.
• Keep your baby close to you while applying the lotion.
• Apply the lotion liberally, using a light hand.
• Use less lotion at one time.
• Leave the lotion on for a few minutes or until it has absorbed into the skin.

Recommended Reading: Is My Newborn Lactose Intolerant

What Are Some Other Ways To Keep Your Babys Skin Moisturized

While lotion is a super important part of your little ones skin care routine, youll also want to take other measures to prevent their skin from drying out.

For one, if your baby has eczema, try to steer clear of the environmental triggers for their skin. Common triggers include certain detergents, soaps, lotions, and shampoos, especially those with fragrance and harsh chemicals. Some other common triggers vary from allergens to heat or dry air. Even drool can invite dry, flaky patches to form.

For two, pay attention to the way youre bathing your baby. If their skin seems dry, irritated, and red after a bath, the water may be too hot. Test the water with the inside of your wrist it should feel warm to the touch. Also, use gentle motions when youre cleaning your little one. Abrasive rubbing can weaken their skin barrier and lead to dryness and irritation.

Finally, if youre doing all the other things right avoiding triggers, moisturizing frequently, and bathing your little one correctly but still notice dry skin, the air in your home may be to blame. Dry air in the home slowly sucks moisture out of the skin, no matter what the weathers like outside. Consider investing in a humidifier to place in your babys most frequently visited spaces, like their nursery, your room, or the living room.

Always Use Specially Curated Baby Lotions

Before you nourish and moisturise baby skin, choose a good baby lotion like Baby Dove Rich Moisture Lotion thats specifically designed to nourish your babys microbiome the living layer that protects your babys skin. Go for pediatrician-approved lotions as they are safe for newborn skin.

Now, isnt this something you can easily keep in mind! So, go on, pick the right baby lotion, and keep your babys skin soft, supple and happy.

Recommended Reading: How Much To Feed A Newborn Baby

How Soon Can You Take A Newborn Out In Public

According to most pediatric health experts, infants can be taken out in public or outside right away as long as parents follow some basic safety precautions. Theres no need to wait until 6 weeks or 2 months of age. Getting out, and in particular, getting outside in nature, is good for parents and babies.

Tips When Applying Lotion On Newborn

Some tips can prove to be quite helpful when you decide to start applying lotion to your newborn. These tips, if remembered, can prevent different kinds of rashes from developing on your newborns skin.

• When choosing a lotion for your baby, dont just apply any lotion. Choose a lotion specifically made for babies as it consists of soothing ingredients keeping in mind the delicate skin of newborns.
• Just because a lotion smells nice doesnt mean you should apply it to your newborns skin. Avoid using any scented lotions and stick to baby lotion.
• Clean your hands thoroughly before applying lotion.
• Make sure you have patted dry your newborn from everywhere. You might want to get in the folds to avoid any wet spots.
• Make sure your nails are trimmed as they can easily scratch your newborns delicate skin.
• You dont have to use different skincare products on your newborn, and going overboard can harm your babys delicate skin. Dont use baby powder on them yet, and wait till they turn a couple of months old to start using other baby skin care products.
• Make sure youve washed the clothes before your newborn wears them. Many people prefer using old clothes of other older children in their family to avoid skin irritation or allergies.

Also Check: What Does Pku Test For In Newborns

Find The Cause If You Can

If you can, avoid giving your baby too many baths and ensure that the ones they have are short, this may help by allowing your baby to retain natural oils. Sometimes, for a little mess, a baby wipe can even often do the trick! You can read more about bathing and skincare for your newborn, and make sure to use PH balanced baby shampoo and soap. You can also try to pat your babys skin dry rather than rub their sensitive skin. If you find your baby needs lotion, after a bath is an excellent time to lock in moisture. Be mindful of your babys bath products to make sure they are natural, safe to use, and non-drying.

How Can I Treat Diaper Rash

• When you change your babys diaper, wash her bottom with mild soap and warm water or unscented baby wipes, rinse and pat dry. If the skin is really sore and red, it may be less painful to wash the area in a warm bath.
• Use an unscented barrier ointment, such as petroleum jelly or a cream with zinc oxide, to protect and lubricate the area after each diaper change. Wipe off any stool-contaminated cream with soap and water after each change and reapply.
• Do not share creams and ointments with other children and dont touch the affected skin and then put your fingers back into the jar. Use a different finger if you need more ointment.
• Do not use baby powder or talc.
• If possible, keep your babys diaper off for short periods to expose her skin to open air. This can help your baby feel better and heal the rash faster.
• If the diaper rash is severe, contact your doctor.

You May Like: How To Break A Fever In A Newborn

Caring For Your Baby’s Skin

A new-borns skin is much more sensitive compared to the skin of adults. It is much thinner and its natural protective layer is still developing. Many parents wonder whether they should moisturise their baby’s skin or not. In general: Regularly applying baby cream can indeed help to better protect babies skin from environmental influences and shield it from disorders and nappy rash. However: Less is more! Too much care can be harmful. But don’t worry, you will find the right level of skin care as you will quickly see whether your baby has dry skin and therefore needs more care.

Whats Making My Childs Skin So Dry

Babies and children can get dry skin just like adults do. In fact, because young skin is more delicate, its more susceptible to becoming dry.

Cold, dry outdoor air and indoor heating can rob skin of its natural moisture in the winter. And if your child is prone to dry skin, hell break out in dry patches in the summer as well, because the summer sun, air conditioning, salt water, and the chlorine in pool water can all be drying.

Recommended Reading: What All Do You Need For A Newborn

Lotions Vs Ointments And Creams

When shopping for baby lotion, you might come across some products that are called creams or ointments. Lotions are the thinnest, lightest type of moisturizer because they contain the highest percentage of water, so they are absorbed quickly, says Brendan Camp, MD, a dermatologist at MDCS.

Creams contain more oil than lotions, and as a result feel heavier but are still easy to spread on the skin, and ointments contain the most oil by concentration. Ointments, Camp explains, are best for targeting areas of extremely dry skin.

When creating this list, we relied heavily on the advice of board certified dermatologists to ensure that we were selecting lotions containing the most beneficial and non-harmful ingredients.

We also considered Environmental Working Group ratings, as well as customer reviews.

Will Baby Lotion Cause Acne

While many people can apply baby oil to their face without increasing their risk of acne, you should avoid using it if you have acne-prone skin. Even though baby oil itself wont clog your pores, the barrier it creates over your skin could trap dirt and oil that gets into your pores and makes your acne worse.

When can I start using baby products on my newborn?

Until your baby is about 1 year old, use products designed for babies or very mild soap only on the parts of his body that really need it.

Recommended Reading: How Can I Apply For Medicaid For My Newborn

Also Check: How To Feed Gripe Water To Newborn

When To Consult A Doctor

Dry skin is not an unusual condition, and regular moisturizing could keep it healthy. But if your babys skin turns red accompanied by flakiness and itchiness, it could be a sign of eczema, for which you should visit your babys pediatrician or dermatologist . The dermatologist will prescribe you medication and suggest the right home remedies for baby skincare .

How To Care For My Newborns Skin

Dry skin in newborn babies can be caused by their new skin being exposed to dry room air. Newborn dry skin is actually quite normal and not uncomfortable to the baby. If you feel the need to use a lotion on your baby, try to pick a very mild lotion that is free of fragrance or dyes. Some pediatricians even advise using plain petroleum jelly on your baby.

When you notice that your newborn baby has cracked skin, you may need to consider using some type of moisturizer at this point. Most often, pediatricians will suggest something natural such as olive oil. It is also recommended to limit soap use. Soap is very drying to babys skin.

Follow these tips using the less is more theory to help keep babys skin healthy and prevent skin allergies or development of a rash:

1. Do Not Bathe Your Newborn Frequently

If you bathe your baby too often , it can take off babys natural skin moisturizers that are there to keep your babys skin healthy and supple. Taking these oils off can open up your baby to skin reactions such as eczema.

Newborn babies dont get dirty with the exception of dirty diapers and saliva. They dont get sweaty or play in the dirt yet. Just give your baby a light sponge bath at first and wash the diaper area. Babies with dark skin should only be bathed once weekly because they have a bigger tendency to have dry skin.

2. Avoid Baby Products in the First Few Months

3. Wash Any New Clothing Before Baby Wears It

Also Check: Is It Normal For Newborns To Sleep A Lot

How To Give Your Newborn A Tub Bath

Once your baby’s umbilical cord has fallen off and after a boy’s circumcision has healed, you can give your baby a tub bath. This can be a pleasurable experience for you and your baby. However, some babies may not like to be bathed, especially the first few times. Talk softly or sing and try some bath toys if your baby protests.

When Can I Use Lotion On Baby

As a rule of thumb, if the skin is getting red after a shower or bath, the water is too hot! You can also combat the dryness and keep the skin moisturized by applying a gentle baby lotion after the shower. For easier absorption of the product, apply it immediately right out of the bath while the skin is still wet.

Also Check: What Causes Sids In Newborns

Also Check: How Do You Adopt A Newborn Baby

Care For Mommy And Daddy

One final note. I see a lot of new mom and dad hand-dermatitis. This is due to frequent hand washing when caring for young children. Its important to take care of your hands as well when you have a young one at home. Here are a few simple tips:

1) Minimize hand washing. If you just changed a pee diaper do you really need to wash with soap? I would argue no. You could use a baby wipe or nothing at all. If you really wanted you could use an alcohol hand sanitizer on yourself . I recommend Avagard. Its the best hand sanitizer that Ive ever used. Its what we use at our office as well. However, make sure you DO NOT apply it to your child.

2) Keep lotion by every sink. Keep a bottle of bland lotion by each sink. When you do wash your hands you should make it a habit to immediately dry them and then apply a thin coat of lotion to your hands.

3) Keep lotion in the baby bag. A small container of Vanicream Lite is a great option. Again, this isnt for baby, but its for you everytime you think about it. It should be the final step after changing a diaper and washing up: apply lotion to your hands.

A Common Misconception About Baby Skin

Many new parents make the mistake of assuming that their babys skin is hydrated enough because its so soft. But without proper skin care, babies are susceptible to a myriad of different skin problems, like dry, flaky, sensitive skin.

Baby skin loses moisture faster than adult skin because the epidermis isnt as attached to the dermis . Babies skin is also thinner, which makes it more sensitive, often reacting to the slightest environmental stressors.

Thats why experts recommend moisturizing baby skin every single day. If your babys skin is extra dry, moisturize twice a day, especially after a diaper change. Try a baby lotion for sensitive skin like Cetaphil Baby Ultra Soothing Lotion with Shea Butter. Dont just target the dry spots make sure you cover as much surface area as you can because babies tend to move around a lot.

You May Like: What To Do If My Newborn Has Diarrhea

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.

When Should You Use Lotion On A Newborn

Now that you know why its important to use lotion on a newborn, you may be wondering when the best time to apply it is.

In general, you should lotion your baby every time you change their diaper. This will help to prevent diaper rash and keep their skin hydrated.

You should also consider applying lotion to your babys skin after baths. This will help to lock in moisture and keep their skin from becoming dry or irritated.

In the Philippines, bungang araw or prickly heat rash is a common occurrence in babies. So, apart from using lotion, heres how to get rid of bungang araw in case your babys skin is showing those terrible red bumps.

Read Also: When Can You Bathe A Newborn Baby

Also Check: How Often To Give A Newborn A Bath