Newborn Skin Care: Keep it Simple

There are many skin care products that are being marketed as essential for your newborn. But it might surprise you to know that some experts believe that these baby skin care products may actually do more harm than good. The reason for this is the chemical ingredients they often contain.

It's important that you keep chemicals away from your baby for as long as you can. Don't interfere with the natural growth of your baby's skin. This discourages the emergence of skin irritations such as eczema and allergies.

Basic skin care is generally enough for your baby. For the first month, keep your baby safe from any type of product containing chemicals. Indeed, in the first month of your baby's life you really only need to use a soft cloth and some water. You can comb thick hair with a baby comb to get it clean during bath time.

The Natural Way

Natural is the best way to go when approaching baby skin care. Natural care means not interfering with your baby's skin as much as possible.

After your baby's birth, you might see a white, sticky coating on your baby's skin. This is a natural moisturizer so don’t wipe it away. It should be allowed to penetrate the skin on its own.

If your baby is a preemie, it's even more critical to completely avoid using these types of baby care products. The reason for this is that preemies have even more fragile skin than a full term baby. Don't use any skin care products at all on your premature baby until after the original due date has passed.

Keeping the Cord Clean

Until the cord falls off, it's important that you keep the area clean and dry. You don't have to use lotion and powder on it. Just use some warm water and a soft cloth to clean it if it gets dirty, then gently pat dry.

You might need to follow a different routine for cord care if your baby is sick or premature. An antiseptic product might be needed if there's a risk of infection. Ask your doctor for advice when it comes to skin care for your premature or sick baby.

Hold off on using baby wipes until after your baby's first month. Make sure that the baby wipes you use are free of alcohol and fragrances. They need to be very mild. Moisturizers containing emollients are the best choice for a newborn.