A baby’s health and his healthy skin are on the top of a mother’s list. Newborn’s skin is five times more delicate and excessively sensitive than ours. We cannot stop ourselves from touching his new skin or nuzzling his new facial curves and his soft hair. However, this newness and innocence can be stolen by sun, pollutants and even the process of living. Therefore, it deserves extra- special care and protection. But, with babies, less is best. Here’s how to keep your infant’s skin healthy and alive.
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10. The Bath
Babies are born with soft and wrinkly skin, covered with a cheese like biofilm called vernix caseosa or simply vernix. Vernix possesses several anti-bacterial properties, which is the reason infants should not be bathed just after their birth and not even frequently in their early months. Twice a week is much for his sensitive skin. Use luke-warm water; fill the tub upto 2-3 inches only. To prevent him from cold avoid long time baths and pour some water from the tub on his shoulders regulary.
If the umbilical stump has not fallen off, give your baby a sponge bathe instead.
9. The Bath Products
Chemical products on your infant’s skin can make it allergic and several forms of skin diseases can encounter him in the early weeks. Go natural for your baby and avoid all types of baby products you found in the super market. Layer of vernix falls off naturally in the early weeks, which is known to us by the name of –cradle-cap. Don’t try to be smart by peeling off your baby’s dandruff manually, wait until it goes on its own. You can also use olive oil or almond oil to massage your infant’s hair and can give him a milk bath, whatever you do, keep his skin clean and moisturized.
If you choose to wash your baby with bathing products then go for organic ones much recommended by your pediatrician.
8. The Weather
Once your baby is 6 months old, you can take him for a sunbath, but after applying a sunscreen with minimum of SPF30 all over his body 30 minutes before the exposure. You can add a hat to protect his eyes and loose clothing would do well. His underdeveloped sweat glands are more prone to heat rashes, so don’t forget to apply some fragrance free talcum under his pits, fragrance can be allergic.
In winter, give him a lot of water and save him from dry atmosphere, otherwise lack of moisture content in his body can cause eczema.
7. The Clothes
Laundry of your dear one should be washed with fragrance and dye free detergent regularly and should be washed separately from the family clothing. Try to dress up your little prince or princess in layers so that you could manage them easily. Don’t forget to keep a check on the clothes time to time especially diapers, because wet and dirty clothes can inflame your baby’s skin and can cause skin blisters, rashes and other forms of dermatitis.
6. The Food
When a baby starts eating or drinking foods other than his mother’s milk, he can get diaper rashes and even mouth blisters. With a sudden change in food, baby’s stool and saliva also changes which can react with the skin and cause rashes and mouth sores. Diaper rashes can be severe if they come with blisters which can ooze liquid and can be more painful. So, better keep your baby’s bums and mouth clean and dry. Mother should avoid oily and spicy food because what you eat is what your infant drinks, this can cause neonatal acne on your tiny angels face.
5. The Nail Art
Your little babe often scratches his face and body leaving severe marks and scratches all around. So better cut his nails twice a week because the growth of nails is really too fast in infants and you surely don’t want him to hurt his own soft and sensitive skin. Don’t forget to wash his fingers after the process.
4. The Bed
You must be having a separate bed for your tiny angel. If no, then rush to make one. Infants should have their own place to sleep, as the dust particles and even the heat of our body can make their skin allergic. Their bed sheets should be washed regularly to avoid fungal infections.
3. The Toys
We are very fond of putting various soft toys around our little one even while sleeping, but this may be a real risky task to your baby’s skin. Soft toys are made of fur and clothes on which dust particles can be collected and bacteria can make their homes, while regular washing can reduce the chances of allergy but why to take the risk?
2. The Wipe
Regularly wiping off the mucus from the nose or the saliva from the mouth can cause skin irritation around the nostrils or lips. Skin can become hard and scaly and can also cause cracks exposing blood around the surface. Best way to reduce its chances would be saving your babe from cold and breast-feeding him for at least 6 months. You can also use wet cotton instead of wiping his skin with cloth and can also try putting a clean honey nipple in his mouth.
1. The Diaper
The materials, which keep diaper from leaking also, prevent the circulation of air that is the perfect environment for a rash to occur. Give your baby a diaper free time on a towel every day, and before putting a diaper again, make sure he is completely dry. Also avoid putting moisture-blocking creams with zinc oxide; instead try checking his diaper in every one-hour or two.