Your baby’s skin plays a critical role in his or her overall health. The skin serves as a protective layer that helps shield the rest of the body.

It holds in vital water while keeping out potential infections and irritants, keeping your baby healthy and strong. And while it may look perfect, proper skincare is important for your baby as his or her skin is much more vulnerable than your own.

Very early in pregnancy, the outermost, waterproof protective layer of your baby’s skin forms. Later, the oil glands (sebaceous glands) develop. Small secretions from these glands create one of the greatest things about babies … the sweet, new baby smell.

Although your baby’s skin appears to be similar to an adult’s skin in both structure and function, it’s actually much thinner. This is because after birth, your baby’s skin is still developing. In fact, it takes time for the protective barrier of a baby’s skin to develop. So, in the beginning, the skin is highly permeable, allowing substances applied to the skin to be more easily absorbed. Since newborns have a greater skin surface to body weight ratio, there’s higher water absorption and loss. This can cause your baby’s skin to become dry, especially during cleansing. Therefore, it’s important to only use the gentlest of products on your baby’s skin and regularly apply moisturizer after each bath.

1. Give your baby approximately 2-3 warm (not hot) baths per week
2. Use soap-free, tear-free baby wash products. Do not use products formulated for adults.
3. Generously apply baby lotion to help seal in moisture, especially after a bath
4. Avoid using harsh laundry detergents as they can irritate baby’s sensitive skin
5. For babies over six months, minimize exposure to the sun and always use a sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 30. It’s recommended that babies under six months of age avoid the sun as much as possible.
6. Do not overheat your home, as this could dehydrate your baby’s skin

Related Article

Recommended Products