Natural Skin Care for the Newborn
These days, there are numerous products available that claim to be important for the skin care of a 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. This is due to the chemical content of many of them.
You want to avoid exposing your baby to chemicals as long as possible. Don’t interfere with the natural growth of your baby’s skin. Allergies, eczema, and other irritations are less likely to occur this way.
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. If your baby has thick hair, you can use a baby comb to clean it while bathing.
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.
It’s doubly important that you stay away from these products if your baby was born prematurely. 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.
Cleaning the Cord Area
Be sure to keep the region around the cord clean and dry until it falls off. There is no need to use any powders or lotions on it. If the area gets dirty simply use a soft cloth and water to wipe it clean before patting 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 may need to use antiseptic wipes in the area to help prevent infection. 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. Any baby wipes you use should be alcohol and fragrance free. They need to be very mild. Emollient based moisturizers are the best for your newborn.