Baby Care: Caring Properly for Your Baby’s Sensitive Skin
Things to note in baby care
Baby skin is naturally wonderfully soft and smooth. This is because it is much thinner than adult skin. Because baby skin is so thin, it is particularly permeable to water. This means it absorbs moisture better but is also unable to store it for as long as adult skin.
Furthermore, the protective film of oils that covers the top layer of skin is not sufficiently developed in infants. Baby’s skin is therefore more sensitive and needs extra gentle care.
If the skin is too dry, it can lead to uncomfortably itchy areas, for example. Many parents are not fully aware of the best way to protect their baby’s skin. There is so much advice, some of it contradictory, and this makes it difficult to select the right products and care routine. Here are a few tips for ideal baby skin care:
1. Bathing - Gentle baby care
Bathing is often gentler for sensitive baby skin than simply washing with a flannel. The water should be a pleasant, warm temperature (37–38°C). If the water is too hot it dries out the skin, while water that is too cold can lead to hypothermia. When bathing your baby, it is also important to think about the temperature of the room. If the air temperature is too low, your baby could cool down quickly. The bathroom should therefore be pleasantly warm. Bathe your baby twice a week at most and use mild bath products.
2. Baby care with mild washing gels and bath products
Baby skin is not generally very dirty. Bathing with plain water is therefore usually enough. To remove light soiling, such as the residue of old creams or soiling caused by urine and faeces, you can use a mild wash gel or another gentle bath product. Only use bath products that have been specially developed for babies.
3. The right barrier cream for your baby
After bathing, rub a barrier cream into your baby’s skin. Again, only use products designed for babies. Adult skin is a lot more robust than baby skin, which means that adult products often contain products that could irritate their sensitive skin. To protect your baby’s skin, particularly in the nappy area, protect this area by gently applying barrier products designed for this purpose, such as Linola Protective Balm. This will help prevent skin irritation. Learn more about what you can do to stop your baby developing a sore bottom with our 5 tips to prevent nappy rash.
By following these three tips, you will know the most important things for caring for your baby’s skin. Sensitive baby skin should only receive gentle care. It is very easy to develop a loving care routine for your baby. Simply use products designed for babies, a good barrier cream, soap-free wash gels and lukewarm water, and your baby will be happy and well cared for.
Read more here about: Nappy rash