When you gently rub your newborn’s face, it’s so soft. But they may be prone to irritation and rashes because their skin does not have an established barrier yet. Products absorb into their skin much more easily than they do on yours. Ultimately, caring for your newborn’s skin is a delicate task, but our providers at Health Care for Children, serving Kansas City, MO, can help with personalized newborn care advice.
Opt for Soft Washcloths and Clothing Only
When you wipe their face after a meal or bath, only use soft washcloths that won’t aggravate their skin. When you choose clothing, make sure the materials are soft. If not, they may irritate your infant’s skin.
Choose Hypoallergenic Products
When selecting skincare products for your child, choose hypoallergenic, meaning they don’t contain ingredients known to cause an allergic reaction. Even if the product is hypoallergenic, you may want to avoid it if it has any type of fragrance.
Make Bathwater Lukewarm
Your infant’s thin skin is more sensitive to temperatures than yours. Water that is too warm can dry out their skin and also put them at risk for burns or injury. Always test the water on your own skin before placing your baby in the bath.
Regulate How Often You Bathe Your Newborn
Until the umbilical stump falls off, sponge baths, as needed, are adequate for your little one because you won’t be able to submerge them in water safely. Ultimately, once the cord falls off, you can give your baby full baths. Though it may be tempting to give your infant a bath daily to bond with them, it’s unnecessary and may irritate their skin. An important rule of newborn care is that your little one only needs a bath one to two times weekly for the first year because baths can be drying for their skin.
However, make sure you wipe their face, hands, and the rest of their body as needed between baths to remove milk and other substances that could lead to a rash.
Avoid Soap on Their Face
Our Kansas City, MO, practitioners recommend starting with a wet washcloth without soap for your infant’s face. Once you’ve cleaned that area, apply hypoallergenic soap to the rag to clean the rest of the body.
While these tips give you some general recommendations for newborn skincare, our team at Health Care for Children, serving Kansas City, MO, can provide even more newborn care advice at appointments.
