Since a baby's skin is thinner and more delicate than an adult's, your little one's skin requires a certain level of pampering and protection. You need to use baby-friendly products on your baby's skin since lotions and soaps designed for adults can irritate his skin. Proper skin care begins at home with a bath and continues with good habits like applying sunscreen and staying hydrated.
Step 1
Wash your baby as needed with warm water and a mild, hypoallergenic soap. Avoid using hot water and bubble baths, which can dry out your little one's skin. The Nemours Foundation recommends bathing your baby two to three times a week during his first year.
Step 2
Pat your baby dry with a soft, fluffy towel after a bath. Vigorous rubbing of the skin can cause irritation. To avoid chafing, carefully dry areas that come in contact with each other such as the underarms and the groin area.
Step 3
Apply a fragrance-free baby moisturizer to your little one's skin while his skin is still damp, which will help to lock in the moisture.
Step 4
Apply a baby-safe sunscreen each time your child is outside and reapply it every two to three hours or more often if he is sweating a lot or playing in water. The second edition of "What to Expect the First Year" recommends a sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of at least 15. According to the National Cancer Institute, having at least one severe, blistering sunburn as a child can increase the risk of a serious type of skin cancer called melanoma later in life.
Step 5
Prevent diaper rash by changing your baby's diaper as soon as it is soiled, avoiding the use of wipes that contain alcohol or fragrance, and rinsing the baby's diapered area with water during each diaper change and then patting it dry with a towel. If your baby is prone to diaper rash you can regularly apply diaper rash cream or petroleum jelly to the groin area with each diaper change Tight-fitting diapers can not only cause chafing, but can restrict the airflow into the diaper ,which can contribute to diaper rash by creating a moist environment.
Step 6
Give your baby plenty of fluids each day in the form of breast milk, formula and water, which will hydrate his skin from the inside. According to the National Institutes of Health, a properly hydrated infant will produce six to eight wet diapers in 24 hours.
Tips and Warnings
- The Nemours Foundation recommends a sponge bath until the umbilical cord falls off, and the naval and circumcision completely heal.
- Avoid using baby powder on your baby's skin or diaper area because it can irritate his respiratory tract.
Things You'll Need
- Soap
- Towel
- Moisturizer
- Sunscreen
- Diaper rash cream
- Petroleum jelly
- Breast milk
- Formula
- Water
References
- "What to Expect the First Year: Second Edition"; Heidi Murkoff, Sandee Hathaway & Arlene Eisnberg; 2003
- Nemours Foundation: A Guide for First-Time Parents
- National Cancer Institute: What You Need to Know About Melanoma
