You recently just returned from the hospital and the baby you nourished and cared for in your womb is now in your hands. When a baby enters the world, its first line of defence against germs and diseases is its skin but just like you might have guessed, a baby’s skin is as strong as an adult’s.
A newborn baby’s skin is softer, thinner, more delicate, and sensitive. Their immune system isn’t as strong as that of an adult human, which means that there are more likely to fall ill. Taking care of your baby’s skin means protecting your baby from germs and other things that can make your baby fall sick. Do you know little or nothing about taking care of a baby’s skin? Do not worry, because, in this article, I’ll be giving you skincare tips for your newborn baby.
- Natural Skin Care
When a baby is newly born, the baby comes out with wrinkly skin and a protective layer known as vernix. The protective layer is whitish and if you find it on your baby’s skin, do not get alarmed, it’s natural and it peels off its own – it usually takes a week or two for it to completely peel off. This means that you don’t have to rub it or try to treat it using creams or baby lotions. If your baby was born past the due date then it’s possible the process got completed in the womb before the baby was born so don’t get worked up if you couldn’t find the whitish substance (vernix) on your baby’s skin.
- Bathing Tip
Babies do not go out like adults – they don’t have to go to the market to get foodstuffs for the family or hit the gym to look fit for their partners, which means that they don’t sweat or get dirty as we do during the days. Asides from that, a baby’s skin has natural oils that help them fight against germs that cause diseases in newborn babies. Bathing your baby all the time removes the natural oil on their body leaving your baby’s skin dry and vulnerable to rashes and other forms of skin diseases in newborn babies. Hence, for newborn babies, you should bathe them 3-4 times a week.
- Diaper Rash Tip
Diaper rash is one of the most common skin conditions that newborn babies face. Newborn babies face this skin condition where their skin gets irritated due to detergent, stool, or urine. There are times when this skin condition is caused by bacteria infections, yeast infections, and your baby’s skin may be allergic to the material used in making the diaper. Depending on your baby’s skin, any of the above scenarios can cause your baby to have diaper rashes.
Can Diaper rashes be avoided? Of course, they can. You can help your baby avoid diaper rashes by changing their diapers when they are soiled or wet. After removing the wet or soiled diaper ensure that you allow the diaper area to get dry before wearing your baby a new diaper. Additionally, applying topical barrier cream, baby lotion, or ointment on your baby’s skin can help.
