The feel of a baby’s skin! Every mom loves to hold her baby close and feel the softness of their skin. But remember, a baby’s skin is very delicate and requires extensive care.

The first thing to remember of course is to always wash your hands thoroughly before holding your baby. You can also use a sanitizer to clean your hands.

A newborn just needs to be sponged, not bathed. This is recommended so that soap and other chemicals do not damage the vernix present on baby’s skin. Simply clean your baby’s skin using warm water and cotton wool.

Your baby is born with a covering called vernix caseosa. The vernix protected your baby when he was in the womb and once outside, the vernix helps your baby’s skin retain its moisture. Let your baby’s skin absorb whatever vernix is left over. It is the best moisturizer in the world.

You can bathe your baby using soap after a few weeks. Choose soaps which are meant especially for babies. Mild soaps which contain olive oil or coconut oil are also fine. After bathing your baby, make sure that you replenish the skins oil and moisture using soothing lotions.

A good baby lotion should be free of petrochemicals and other irritants. Lotions can help relieve itching and drying of your baby’s skin. Look for baby lotions which contain natural extracts from aloe or chamomile. They have good soothing and moisturizing properties and should benefit your baby’s skin. Avoid products which contain chemicals like DEA or TEA.

Whether or not, you shampoo your baby’s hair depends upon how much hair your baby has. Babies with thin sparse hair do not need to be shampooed often while those with thick hair can be shampooed more frequently. Use shampoos which are formulated especially for baby’s gentle hair and scalp. A good baby shampoo should be free of harmful chemicals like colorants and fragrances.

Although giving your infant a bubble bath might seem tempting, refrain from doing so at least for the first year of her life. Most bubble baths contain detergents which damage a baby’s skin.

You can use baby powder to keep your little ones skin fresh and dry. Use powder in the creases along your baby’s neck, armpits and genital areas. This will prevent water from accumulating in the folds and causing infections. Your baby’s powder should not contain talc or fragrance.

Wash baby’s clothes and napkins using mild detergents. These days, detergents specially formulated for babies are available in the market.

Diaper rash is the most common skin problem a baby faces. Every baby develops diaper rash at some point or the other. It is caused by irritants present in disposable diapers or by the bacteria from urine and stool. Scented baby wipes have also been indicted of causing diaper rash since they contain strong chemicals. To prevent diaper rash, change your baby’s diaper often. Clean the skin around baby’s bottom using warm water and cotton. If you must use wipes, make sure they are scent and alcohol-free. Apply creams containing zinc oxide to prevent rashes from forming. You can also try using cloth napkins instead of disposable plastic diapers. Although more tedious, they will help prevent incidences of diaper rash.

Feeding schedules, late nights and wet diapers may be keeping you busy, but remember to care for your baby’s skin so that it stays baby soft.

Jason Ladock

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