Baby Skin Care 

Are you a new parent and looking for the best method for your baby skincare? Here we are going to guide you on everything about your baby’s skincare. It is most important to take proper care of your baby's first line of defense to keep them overall healthy. If you provide your child with good food to be internally healthy, it is equally important to provide them good nourishment physically. 

Babies' sensitive skin needs special care, and parents should be aware of some basic terms. 

A Brief Introduction to pH of Baby's Skin

Your baby's skin has a pH level of 5.5, which is slightly acidic than adults. This pH level protects the baby's skin and helps it fight against germs and bacteria. So, you must keep this acidic pH maintained for the healthy skin of your baby. 

If a baby's skin pH gets disturbed, it can cause infections, dryness, or even skin diseases. Normal adult soaps are basic or alkaline in nature. You cannot use them on your baby's skin as it can disturb the pH level of their skin. So, always use organic products with a pH level neutral to the skin of your baby. 

Water Temperature for Babies

Don't use hot water for your baby as the baby's tender skin is highly sensitive to heat. Your baby has much thinner skin than yours. Hot water causes dryness, tightness, and rash on the skin. Also, the tiny blood vessels in the skin of the baby get dilated. Always use water of 37 to 38 degrees Celsius temperature to ensure the healthy skin of your baby.

Always wash your hands properly before touching skin your baby. Dirty hands carry germs to the baby's delicate skin, and their skin shows an allergic reaction immediately. 

New Born Baby's Skincare

When babies are just born, their skin pH level is close to 7, almost neutral. Then it quickly changes to 5.5. During this change, don't use any kind of product on their skin. Just use simple water to give them a bath. Consult your doctor first before applying any soap, shampoo, or moisturizer to their skin. Otherwise, use just lukewarm water for a bath or just sponge your baby.

Avoid a lot of kissing your baby. It is true you want to kiss your cute little baby very often but if your baby has an oversensitive skin, then avoid directly kissing the baby's face for some weeks. You can either kiss them on their hands. It is very common that some babies have extremely thin skin and get allergic to kissing.

Premature Baby's Skincare

A premature baby's skin is only a few cells thick, making it highly sensitive and vulnerable. Their skin pH is neutral or slightly acidic, which is not prepared to face the direct environment. So clean your baby with mild hands. Don't wipe the body of a premature baby, it would be harsh for their delicate skin.

Use a soft cotton wool cloth and simple water to sponge your baby. It is better not to use any baby product during the initial days as your baby's skin would not tolerate it. Consult your doctor for a specific organic product for premature babies in the market. 

Petroleum jelly or some natural oils are recommended to use after consulting with your doctor.

Children's Skincare

When children grow up a little, they play a lot and continuously get exposed to a high amount of dirt and germs. Choose the products which protect your baby's skin from germs and dirt, plus retain the essential oils of their skin. 

Don't use common bar soaps in the market as they have basic pH, which washes away the protective acidic oils of the baby's skin. This can cause dryness and acne on your baby's skin. Use a light moisturizing lotion for your baby's body after a bath to avoid dryness and itching. 

Use organic shampoo and lotion for babies to keep their skin naturally healthy and away from harmful chemicals.

While bathing, avoid using a lot of shampoo for your baby. A small amount is enough to clean your little baby. Use all other products too in a small amount as sometimes over usage can irritate your baby's skin.

How Many Times to Moisturize Baby's Skin Daily

You should moisturize your baby's skin about two times daily on average. It also depends on the weather and the type of your baby's skin. If your baby's skin seems very dry, then you can use moisturizer even 3 to 4 times.

Aromatherapy

Massage on the skin using essential oils is called aromatherapy. You can use different mild natural oil mixtures specifically created for babies' aromatherapy. There are numerous advantages of aromatherapy or massaging your baby with essential oils. Mostly edible plant oils are used for it, including unscented coconut oil, sweet almond oil, and sesame oil. You can add aromatherapy to your child's skincare. 

Advantages of Aromatherapy

There are a lot of advantages of aromatherapy for your baby:

• It relieves stress and anxiety

• Improves the quality of sleep of your baby

• It reduces pain and relaxes your baby

How Often is Perfect Bath Time for babies

Giving a bath 2 to 3 times a week is enough for the good hygiene of your baby. Daily baths can cause dryness of the skin, so don't choose an everyday bath for your delicate baby. 

Wrap up your baby in a soft towel and dry them gently. Don't rub a towel on the baby's body because their skin is too sensitive to rub. After a bath, immediately moisturize their skin with an organic moisturizer to regain the essential oils of your baby's skin and keep their body hydrated.

Cleaning the Umbilical Cord of Babies

It is extremely important to attentively take care of babies in the early weeks until their umbilical cord falls off.  

• Give Sponge Bath

Take a cotton swab, dip it in lukewarm water and just sponge the umbilical cord of your baby with it. Avoid giving a tub bath to your baby until their umbilical cord gets removed. Make sure to dry their umbilical after a bath

• Keep the Umbilical Cord Dry

Make sure that the umbilical cord of your baby remains dry. It will strip off and heal faster by keeping it dry.

• Don't Try to Pull the Stump

Don't apply pressure or don't even try to pull it off by yourself. The umbilical cord strips off naturally after 1 to 2 weeks. 

• Products to Apply on Umbilical Cord

Previously Pediatricians recommended applying Alcohol to the umbilical cord. But now, researchers say that it can cause skin irritation and slows down the drying and healing process, so avoid using Alcohol. Just keep the base of your baby's stump clean with a water sponge bath. Before using any product, consult your doctor first and make sure the product has organic ingredients.

Safe Ingredients for Baby's Skin

Before buying any product for your baby's skin, make sure you read the labels of these products. All products should be organic and baby-skin friendly. If you see some chemicals or non-natural ingredients, then don't ever buy that product for your baby. Your baby's skin doesn't have as many layers as your skin has, so their delicate skin cannot tolerate these ingredients.  

Some organic and baby skin-friendly ingredients include:

• Cocoa butter

• Coconut oil

• Shea butter

• Colloidal oatmeal

• Olive oil

• Sweet almond oil

• Natural orange wax etc.

These ingredients keep your baby's skin moisturized and soft. These retain essential oils of your baby's skin and enhance the overall health of the baby's skin.

• Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is also the best ingredient and is widely used in baby soaps, lotions, and shampoos due to its beautiful mild natural fragrance. This natural fragrance does no harm to sensitive baby skin, so you can get the products having cocoa butter in the ingredients.

• Coconut Oil

Coconut oil especially contains antioxidants that improve skin health, and the best thing about this oil is that it contains natural anti-bacterial properties which protect your baby's skin from bacteria.

• Shea Butter

Shea butter not only makes skin healthier but also contains some beneficial compounds which treat skin inflammation.

• Colloidal Oat Meal

Colloidal oatmeal softens the baby's skin, providing the retaining oils to the skin. You can use this method also at home.

• Olive Oil

Olive oil keeps your baby's skin healthy, shiny, and smooth. It retains the natural oils of the baby's skin.

• Sweet Almond Oil

It soothes and nourishes your baby's skin without any negative or reactive effects. It heals dry skin and keeps your baby's skin moisturized and healthy.

• Natural Orange Wax

Natural orange wax is an amazing ingredient in baby skincare products as it has wonderful skin-soothing properties. It is anti-irritant, so your baby's skin won't get irritated by it. You can buy a product with this natural ingredient. 

Precaution 

Never apply some of these ingredients directly to your baby's skin. Always use them according to expert advice in the form of mixtures. It is better to get purely organic baby products from the market.

Harmful Ingredients for Baby's Skin

Some baby products contain toxic chemicals that can damage your baby's skin. Baby products containing Alcohol, Dyes, Sulfates, Parabens, unnatural Fragrances, phthalates, peroxides, synthetic colors, Formaldehydes, etc., are much harmful to a baby's skin. 

Strictly avoid these ingredients; otherwise, your baby's skin may suffer dryness, irritation, rashes, allergies, or skin infections. Whenever you want to buy any product for your baby must check out its ingredients label and always pick up the one with totally natural ingredients.

• Alcohol 

Alcohol in skincare products for babies is not a good thing as Alcohol causes dryness, itchiness, and irritation to a baby's delicate skin. Avoid the products listed with any kind of Alcohol on them like ethanol or ethyl alcohol.

• Dyes  

Research has shown that some dyes used in the products are carcinogenic, causing skin cancer and allergic reactions. Straightly reject the product containing any type of dye if you are buying it for your baby. Don't take the risk of exposing your baby's tender skin to such toxic ingredients. 

• Sulfates

Sulfates cause irritation to sensitive skin and increase penetration of the skin. Never use any product for your baby on which written any kind of sulfate on its ingredients label. 

• Parabens 

A study has shown that some parabens cause allergic reactions and even contact dermatitis. So, reject all products containing this ingredient.

• Unnatural Fragrances

Unnatural fragrances cause redness and rashes to the skin, so always get the product having no artificial fragrance. A mild fragrance of natural ingredients or cocoa butter fragrance is enough for a baby care product.

Keep these highlighted ingredients in your mind, and always approach organic baby skincare products.

Laundry Detergents Causing Skin Rash to Babies

Some babies have oversensitive skin, so they get rashy and irritated skin very often. Parents get confused about these rashes and red patches on the skin. If you see your child gets rashes after about an hour of changing clothes, then this is definitely signaling towards detergents' allergy. There are some chemicals in detergents that cause such allergic reactions on sensitive skin. 

You should wash your baby's clothes in plenty of water and let them soak in water for a few minutes after washing. This will remove all the detergent completely from clothes and protects your baby from getting these rashes.

Organic Baby Detergents

The best way to deal with these rashes is to get organic baby detergents. These detergents include all-natural ingredients and essential oils that ensure cleaning as well as protection of the baby.

Common Baby Skin Conditions

When you see a rash or red spots on your baby's delicate skin, you get a bit worried about it. But don't panic; you simply need to know some common baby conditions and how to deal with them as a responsible parent. 

• Spots and Baby Acne

• Milia

• Eczema

• Rashes 

• Cradle 

• Spots and Baby Acne

When hormonal changes occur in a baby's body, it stimulates the oil glands on their skin, which causes acne. There is no need to get tensed about it, as acne can go on its own. Just keep the skin of the baby clean and hydrated. Use a natural chemical-free baby soap and a light moisturizer to keep your baby's skin healthy. 

Avoid scratching these patches, and cover your baby's hands to avoid rubbing that area.

• Milia

Small white bumps appear on your baby's skin are Milia. Milia occurs due to clogged pores of your baby's skin. There is no need to worry about them as they are not contagious and go away on their own. 

All you need to do is take proper care of your baby's skin hygiene. Give a daily bath to them with organic baby soap and use a gentle moisturizer.

• Eczema

The condition in which skin becomes itchy, red, and dry is called Eczema. It is mostly inherited and run in families, but environmental conditions can also affect a baby's skin. 

Eczema can occur due to some allergic chemicals in baby products or detergents. To avoid these skin flareups, use organic and natural baby products. 

Always apply a good baby lotion gently on your baby's skin after washing their face and after a bath. Clothe your baby in soft clothes to avoid itching and give comfort to your baby.

• Rashes 

Rashes are the most common skin condition in babies. It can be an allergic reaction to the products you are using for your baby. Some babies' skin is sensitive to certain chemicals used in the products, so their skin gets irritated when you use that product. If your baby is getting rashes very often, try using natural and organic products. You can change the diaper's brand and get a breathable diaper. 

Change the diaper immediately when it gets dirty and keep the skin of your baby dry. In case of many rigorous rashes, seek your doctor's advice and use napkins for a while instead of diapers.

Many anti rashes baby creams are available on the market but choose the one containing all-natural ingredients to avoid any complications later.

• Cradle

Yellowish crusty and scaly built up on your baby's skin is a condition called Cradle. Mostly they appear on the head and faces of babies. 

To avoid this condition:

1. Do a gentle massage on your baby's head and other places where Cradle is developed with good natural baby oil before bath.

2. Use organic baby shampoo and gently rub your baby's head while giving a bath.

3. After the bath, apply a soft organic baby lotion gently to your baby's skin.

Keep doing this for one week every day, and you will see a prominent difference. 

Which Product to Choose for Children's Skin?

Before buying a product for your baby, keep these points in your mind. 

• Choose a product with 5.5 pH.

• Choose a gentle liquid product that is not hard on the baby's skin.

• Friendly to baby's eyes.

• Retain moisture on your baby's skin.

• Best for sensitive skin.

• Get alcohol-free products.

• Avoid the products having Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Because Sulfates strip off essential oils from the skin and increase the baby's skin penetration.

• Avoid other toxic ingredients like Alcohol, formaldehyde, isopropyl, and peroxides. 

• Use the organic products having natural ingredients like coconut oil, sunflower oil, cocoa butter, etc.

Final Verdict

Skincare for babies is as essential as internal care, so you should need proper attention to ensure your baby's skin hygiene. You should take special care of your baby's delicate and sensitive skin. Your baby has thinner and more sensitive skin than yours, so always check the label of ingredients on the product whenever you buy any product. If you see any chemical, Alcohol, or artificial ingredient, reject that product immediately. Just choose a completely organic and natural product for your baby.