When our children enter this world, we are armed with equipment that took much care and consideration to select. The same care and consideration needs to be taken for your child’s skincare products,” says Su-Marie Annandale, Krayons’ brand manager
Expect Bumps, Spots, and Rashes
There’s nothing quite like the soft, delicate skin of a baby. And nothing like a cranky infant irritated by diaper rash, cradle cap, or another skin condition. While your baby is perfect, her skin may not be. Many babies are prone to skin irritation in their first few months. Here’s what you can do about it.
What to Do With Pimples & Whiteheads
Baby “acne” is not really acne like the kind teenagers get. Research suggests it may be related to yeast, not oil. Pimples on a baby’s nose and cheeks usually clear up by themselves in a few weeks. So you don’t need to treat baby acne or use lotion.
Grooming a newborn can be a nerve-wracking experience, especially for first-time parents. From caring for the umbilical cord to trimming tiny nails, parents have a lot to learn when it comes to keeping their little ones “baby fresh.” Liz Drake, a clinical nurse specialist in the neonatal intensive care unit at CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital, offers these simple tips to help parents master the basics:
1. Bathe your baby no more than three times a week. More than that can dry out your infant’s skin.
2. Give your baby sponge baths until the umbilical cord stump falls off, which can take up to three weeks. Gather all of your supplies—washcloths, basin of water, mild soap and towel—ahead of time, before placing your infant on a flat surface in a warm place. Keep your hand on your baby at all times and keep your baby wrapped in a towel. Expose only the parts of the body you’re washing. Gently clean the eyes first. Using only a damp cloth, work from the inside to the outside corners. Use separate ends of the wash cloth for each eye. Next, wipe your baby’s face, followed by the head. When it comes to cleaning the body, pay special attention to the skin behind the ears and around the neck, creases under the arms and legs, and, of course, the diaper area. Don’t forget to wash between the toes and fingers.
3. After the umbilical area is healed, you can try bathing your infant in a newborn tub or plastic basin. Lined with a towel or rubber mat, a kitchen or bathroom sink may also be an option. Don’t fill the tub with more than two to three inches of warm water. Always test the water before placing your baby in it.
4. To wash your newborn’s hair, cup your hand under warm water and gently pour it over your infant’s head. Gently rub in a circular motion a small amount of mild soap or baby shampoo. Use a small cup or your hand to rinse it off.
5. Don’t use clippers or scissors to trim your little one’s nails. Use a buffer or nail file to gently file them down.
6. Baby acne can be normal. Don’t pick or squeeze. If the acne worsens on the face and turns into red pustules, call the pediatrician.
Caregivers may be tempted to do bath time scrubbing for their children in order to speed up the process. However, this is not necessarily a good idea in the long run, as kids need to learn for themselves how to thoroughly clean their own body parts. Instead of doing the work for children, caregivers can encourage scrubbing thoroughness by teaching their children a cleaning routine, perhaps keyed to a silly song, so as to help ensure that important body areas are not overlooked.
At this age, young girls tend to enjoy bath time, while young boys often resist it. As is the case with other aversive tasks, adding songs and games to the task can help all children to look forward to bathing. Bubbles, soapy body paint, washable bath crayons, pouring and measuring containers, character bath “stickers” (that adhere with water) and other water-resistant toys can tempt otherwise reluctant children into the tub. Some children even enjoy wearing snorkels or goggles for pretend “swimming” sessions (supervised, of course).
Hair care is an important aspect of bath time that may need to be handled on a different schedule from general bathing needs. While regular hair washing will reduce the chance of scalp infections and other health problems, over-washing can strip too much oil from delicate scalps and cause dry, flaky heads. As is the case with general bathing, children vary in how often they need to wash their hair. Some young children may need to have their hair washed every day, while others can wait two days between washings. Children in the latter category may benefit from bathing without washing their hair on some nights, which is especially good news for parents whose children hate getting their heads wet.
No matter the frequency of hair washing, many young children will need an adult’s help to lather up and rinse their hair thoroughly, especially if their hair is long or thick. Rinsing well is especially important, as shampoo residue remaining in children’s hair can cause itching and irritation. Caregivers should use a tear-free formula shampoo that will lessen the risk of eye irritation. As well, adults can buy a special bath hat for young children that funnels rinse water run-off away from the eyes. After little ones get out of the tub, caregivers can use a light conditioner or specially-made detangling spray to help a comb glide through children’s hair with fewer snarls and knots (and less painful tugging).
Young children can definitely begin to brush and comb their own hair at this age, and should be encouraged to do so several times a day. To make hair grooming more fun, children can be allowed to help style their own hair. It’s especially fun for young girls to put barrettes, combs, or other decorations in their own hair.
When selecting appropriate hair styles for young children, remember that shorter and less complicated (i.e., that don’t have to be blown dry or curled every day) cuts are easier to care for. Frequent hair cuts can help reduce tangles, knots, and daily grooming time. However, some children (especially little boys) may not enjoy trips to the hairdresser or barber shop. Caregivers can make hair cuts more pleasant for children by packing special toys and books for children to play with while they are waiting. Schedule hair cuts for times when the salon or shop is less crowded, noisy and busy. Ask around to find a stylist or barber who is experienced and good with children. Finally, consider taking your child to a shop that specializes in children’s hair cuts. Some salons offer child-friendly seats (e.g., shaped like fire engines) and show movies especially for their young customers.
The best way to cover a clean little body is with fresh, clean clothes. Caregivers should teach young children to change their clothes every day, especially when it comes to socks and underwear. As well, young children should be taught where to place their dirty clothes, such as putting them in the dirty clothes hamper. This task can be included in the nighttime routine in order to help it become habitual.
Battles over what children should wear can be a frustrating aspect of parenting. Children often have firm ideas about what they want to put on, and they may insist on wearing certain items even when they are dirty or inappropriate. Sometimes early morning clothing choice battles can be avoided by having children help pick out what they will wear the night before. However, some children are too tired at night and will react negatively to this exercise. Caregivers should experiment with the timing of clothing choice so as to determine the best time to select clothes for their particular children.
Applying the simple choice strategy to clothing selection can be helpful in reducing conflicts. Caregivers can offer children 2 or 3 weather-appropriate clothing options to choose between. Too many choices may be overwhelming, but a couple of options can provide children with a sense of control over how they look. Once children have decided on their outfits, they may still need adult assistance in the dressing, undressing, and shoe-tying process. Behaviors such as tying shoes and buttoning buttons require good fine motor control that children in this age group may not master immediately.
Until baby starts getting down and dirty on the ground, a daily bath isn’t needed. In fact, your newborn baby will only really need a bath two or three times a week — at first a sponge bath, until his umbilical cord stump heals (about one to four weeks after birth), then a baby tub bath, and eventually a tub bath, when baby can sit up on his own and outgrows the infant tub). There’s nothing cuter than seeing a baby splashing in the bath, soapy suds dotting his chubby folds and dimples.
Adding bath time to baby’s routine is something you can begin shortly after your baby is born.
Some pediatricians recommend delaying a baby’s first bath until they are a few days old. That’s because after birth your baby is covered in vernix, which is a waxy substance on the skin that protects baby from germs in the environment.
If you have a hospital delivery, hospital nurses or staff will clean off the amniotic fluid and blood after your baby is born. But you’ll likely have the option to tell them to leave excess vernix if you choose.
Once you bring your baby home, you can give them a sponge bath. You can clean their head, body, and diaper area. This is the safest way to bathe your baby until their umbilical cord falls off.
Once the cord has fallen off on its own, you can begin bathing your baby by submerging their body in a shallow bath.
Read on to learn how to bathe your baby and other things you need to know about bath time.
Your newborn should be bathed with a sponge bath for the first few weeks of life. This is the simplest way to clean your baby before the umbilical cord falls off.
Sponge baths are also the best way to bathe boys who were circumcised while the circumcision site heals.
You can also give your baby a sponge bath anytime you want to wash one part or all of their body without getting them soaking wet.
Before giving your baby a sponge bath, make sure you have all the supplies you need within easy reach. You’ll also want to warm up the room to keep your baby comfortable.
Supply list
padding for hard surfaces, such as a blanket or towel
bowl of warm, not hot, water
washcloth
mild baby soap
clean diaper
baby towel
Once you’ve gathered your supplies, follow these steps:
Choose a warm room, around 75°F (23.8°C) for the bath, remove your baby’s clothes and diaper, and wrap them in a towel.
Lay your baby on a flat surface, such as the floor, changing table, counter next to a sink, or your bed. If your baby is off the ground, use a safety strap or keep one hand on them at all times to make sure they don’t fall.
Unwrap the towel one part at a time to expose only the area of the body you’re washing.
Start at your baby’s face and top of their head: First dip the clean cloth in the warm water. Use only warm water without soap for this step to avoid getting soap in your baby’s eyes or mouth. Wipe the top of the head and around the outer ears, chin, neck folds, and eyes.
Add a drop or two of soap into the warm water. Dip the washcloth in the soapy water and wring it out.
Use the soapy water to clean around the rest of the body and diaper area. You’ll want to clean under the arms and around the genital area. If your baby was circumcised, avoid cleaning the penis to keep the wound dry unless otherwise directed by your baby’s doctor.
Dry your baby off, including drying between skin folds. Put on a clean diaper. You can use a towel with a built-in hood to keep their head warm while they dry off, too.
If you have a newborn boy who was circumcised, follow your doctor’s instructions carefully for keeping the area clean or dry until it has healed. This usually takes about a week to heal.
