The skin covers the body and acts as a protective barrier against the external environment: clothing, wind, sun, water, dust, pollutants... It is the largest organ and due to its protective function it is very important to know how to take care of it. Especially in the case of newborns and babies, as some characteristics of their skin are different from those of adults.
The baby's skin is thinner, more permeable and delicate, as it is more immature. This may lead to some redness or irritation, especially in sensitive areas or natural skin folds. For this reason, it is necessary to follow some guidelines for hygiene and care of baby's skin.
Provided below is an index with the 7 points we are going to expand on in this article.
Time to bathe the newborn
First of all, it is important to mention that more and more people are opting to delay the baby's first bath until 48-72 hours of life, avoiding doing so, at least, in the first 24 hours.
In this way, the protection offered by the vernix caseosa (the whitish, greasy layer that covers the baby inside the uterus and at birth) is extended. In addition, the beneficial skin-to-skin contact with the mother is also favored, as the baby is not taken for bathing immediately after birth.
On the other hand, one of the main doubts about the baby's bath is whether it should be done daily. It is recommended to do it about 3 times a week (of course, always keeping the neck and skin folds clean between baths).
Later, as the baby grows, the onset of complementary feeding and his eagerness to explore everything around him may make it necessary to reduce the time between baths.
How to care for baby's skin during bathing?
In order to bathe the baby correctly and without damaging its skin, some recommendations should be taken into account, such as the following:
- Monitor the water temperature so that it is between 36-37oC and always check it before wetting the baby. A bath thermometer will be very useful for this purpose. The room should be at a comfortable temperature, so that the baby does not get cold, about 24oC.
- Bathe the baby by hand or with a very soft natural sponge.
- Use a mild soap with neutral pH or Syndet type (better known as soap-free soap) for pediatric use, i.e. specifically formulated for babies. If you have decided to bathe your baby daily, it is not necessary to use soap every day.
- Short baths of 5-10 minutes, even shorter if the umbilical cord has not yet fallen off or if the baby is bathed daily.
- Dry the baby completely with light touches with a very soft cotton towel, without rubbing. It is essential to leave skin folds such as the neck, armpits, groin and umbilical cord area dry.
Finally, remember that it is necessary to prepare everything that is going to be used to bathe the baby beforehand, so that you do not have to go looking for it while the baby is in the water, as the baby should not be left alone at any time.
Moisturizing baby's skin
After bathing is an ideal time to moisturize babies' skin, using a moisturizing cream or lotion. In this aspect it is also essential that the product is specific for babies and unscented, because adult creams and cosmetics are not suitable for them.
Moisturizing your baby's skin is a good opportunity to massage your baby. The baby's sense of touch is developed, so it will feel cuddled and will feel safe and secure, which will help strengthen the bond with the parents.
If the baby has atopic dermatitis, daily moisturizing will be essential, but the ideal is to consult with the specialist so that he can recommend a cream that, in addition to moisturizing, can alleviate discomfort and itching.
Diaper area care
The diaper area is an area where diaper rash can occur. The reason is that this area is almost always covered and moist and in direct contact with urine and feces, which causes skin maceration, irritation, itching and discomfort for the baby.
This diaper rash is quite common in infants up to 18 months of age. To avoid it, it will be very useful to follow some recommendations:
- Change the diaper often, to avoid prolonged contact with urine and feces and to keep the area dry.
- Wash the area with water and mild soap (for pediatric use, for babies) rather than with wipes that may dry the skin more. Ideally, it should be done from the front to the back to avoid infection and from the cleanest to the dirtiest area.
- Dry very well with small touches, especially in the skin folds (under the buttocks and groin).
- Do not tighten the diaper too much, to allow some skin aeration. It is even positive to remove the diaper for short periods of time, placing the baby on a towel.
To treat this dermatitis, in addition to following these recommendations, a specific diaper rash cream can be used. It is not necessary to use this type of cream every time the diaper is changed if the baby's skin is not irritated, but it is necessary when it starts to redden or if the baby has these dermatitis on a frequent basis.
On the other hand, some diaper rashes become superinfected with fungi or bacteria. To avoid this, it is essential to always wash your hands before and after changing diapers. In addition, a specialist should be consulted to perform an assessment and indicate the appropriate treatment according to the type of infection.
Moisturizing baby's skin
In the baby, melanogenesis is not yet fully developed and, therefore, melanin is produced more slowly. Melanin is the compound that gives color to our skin and also protects it naturally from the sun. For this reason, the baby's skin can be more easily damaged by the sun's radiation.
Protecting the skin from sun exposure in childhood is essential, as it can reduce the risk of skin cancer as an adult.
However, it is not recommended to apply sunscreen to babies under 6 months of age. Therefore, sun exposure should be avoided and they should be adequately protected with clothing, hats, umbrellas and by staying in the shade.
If the baby is older than 6 months, a pediatric sunscreen, preferably with physical filters, can be applied and reapplied frequently. However, it is advisable to avoid direct sunlight until the child is 3 years old.
Once the child is older than 3 years, pediatric sunscreens with chemical filters and a high protection factor can be used. It should be noted that this type of photoprotective cream (with chemical filters) should be applied half an hour before sun exposure and reapplied every 2-3 hours.
FAQs from users
How to care for atopic baby skin?
Children suffering from atopic dermatitis need special skin care, as their skin becomes drier and hypersensitive. One of the general recommendations is to avoid washing children on a daily basis and, in addition, baths should be short and with lukewarm water. It is also important to use special gels and to moisturize the skin a lot.
At what age does cradle cap usually appear?
Most commonly, babies develop cradle cap about two to three weeks after birth. However, this skin condition usually disappears by the time a baby is about one year old, although it may recur at puberty.
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References
FAQs from users: 'How to care for atopic baby skin?' and 'At what age does cradle cap usually appear?'.
