Simple Skin Care for Your Newborn

There are many skin care products that are being marketed as essential for your newborn. However, you might be surprised to learn that many doctors think these baby skin care products might actually be detrimental to your newborn. This is due to the chemical content of many of them.

You want to avoid exposing your baby to chemicals as long as possible. Leave your baby’s skin to develop unimpeded. This discourages the emergence of skin irritations such as eczema and allergies.

Babies only require the basics of skin care. So avoid any kind of chemicals for the first month of your baby’s life. 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.

When your baby is born you may notice a white substance on your baby’s skin that is sticky in texture. Don’t remove it, because it’s a natural skin moisturizer. Allow it to be absorbed into the skin naturally.

If your baby is premature then it is even more important that you hold back on using any 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.

If your baby is premature or sick then the skin care routine you should follow for keeping the cord clean may be different. You might require the use of an antiseptic to keep infection at bay. Ask your doctor for advice when it comes to skin care for your premature or sick baby.

Don’t use baby wipes until your baby is at least one month of age. Make sure that the baby wipes you use are free of alcohol and fragrances. They need to be very mild. Your newborn will do best with moisturizers containing a base of emollients.

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