Baby Skin Care
Is there anything more perfect than your baby’s skin? You can’t help but touch and caress him. Your baby will enjoy it as much as you do. Protecting this sensitive skin from harmful effects is an important task for a parent. Here’s what you need to know and do.
Soft Touch
While your baby’s skin is impressively soft and smooth, it’s also tough and durable. The skin is the body’s largest organ; It is a thin but strong barrier formed by a group of cells coming together. The skin constantly renews itself throughout life; In fact, the renewal process begins before birth.
Still, the newborn’s skin is initially far from perfect. Significant peeling, redness, or flaking in the first few days after birth, especially around the wrists, knees, and feet, should not cause you concern. All this is normal.
Your baby’s skin fills and expands in the first few weeks and becomes smoother.
Moisturizers
It is necessary to preserve softness and strength of your baby’s skin in order to keep it healthy. It can be useful to use moisturizers even if it is peeled.
You can buy odorless products containing components such as mineral oil or pure Vaseline. You can consult your health professional if you need recommendation.
Whichever product you choose, continue to use the same product; thus your baby’s skin will not need to adapt to mixtures of different components in various products.
Protecting Babies From The Sun
Babies of all ages should be far from direct sun light. A baby could suffer from sunburnt within a short period of 10 to 15 minutes even on cloudy days.
- The first measure that you could take to decrease exposure to sun is related to garments. The best option is shading garments with 50 degrees UPF.
- You should attire your baby in light and cotton garments covering his feet and legs on hot days.
- Have him wear a wide peaked hat whenever you go out.
- Avoid going out from 10:00 A.M. to 03:00 P.M. when the sun light is the strongest.
- Keep your baby under shadow when he is out.
American Academy of Pediatrics recently changed its policy on babies and sunscreen. It is now said that there is no evidence proving that the sunscreen applied in small quantities to babies could entail many risks. It is the best solution not to rely on sunscreen instead of using protective garments and avoiding the sun. You can use sunscreen to protect your baby’s face, hands and feet.
Nail Care Of Babies – Protecting The Skin Against Scratches
Your baby’s tiny nails are very thin and sharp and they are grown amazingly fast! You may need to clip them as frequently as twice a week. This is important because the newborns can scratch their faces with their own nails.
Clues for nail care;
- Use a soft nail file and nail clippers for babies to clip the nails. (It can be easier when the baby is asleep).
- In order to avoid peeling the skin on the fingertip while clipping the nails, hold the finger tightly and keep the finger away from the nail you clip pressing on the inner part of the finger.
- Toenails grow much more slowly and they are generally very soft. It is not necessary to clip them as frequently as the finger nails; it is sufficient to clip them once or twice a month.
- Toenails could appear to be ingrown toenail but babies seldom feel pain because of this.
- If the skin around the toenails appears red, infected or hard, call your health professional.
Clues For Washing The Baby’s Clothes
Detergent: Your baby’s skin may be sensitive to the chemicals in the new garments and the soap and detergent remaining after laundry.
- Wash all new garments and bedclothes before your baby uses them.
- Wash your baby’s clothes separately from other laundry for the first few months.
- Use soft detergent and full rinsing program.
- The baby’s skin is sensitive and needs special care; these clues help it being protected.
