Skincare For Babies

When a baby is born, we find ourselves in a rush to wash their skin and make them nice and clean, a kind of inauguration to caring for our baby. However, in some cultures they leave the sticky white waxy coating known as the Vernix on their babies for days, as a measure to keep the skin moisturised and protected. To optimize the benefits of this wonder coating, they even massage it gently into their baby's skin.

Vernix is one of nature's best defenses against dryness and bacterial infections for your new baby's skin. It is rich in anti-microbials that are active against certain strains of harmful bacteria such as E.coli and group B streptococcus, so it offers excellent protection from nasty bugs that may be floating around the hospital.

An instant moisturiser and protectant, Vernix is comprised of both skin oil and dead skin cells that the baby has shed in the womb and is the ideal substance to protect your baby's skin from dehydration. Without the Vernix the baby would be born dry and wrinkly from constantly being exposed to amniotic fluid. For those not partial to its appearance on their baby's skin, it usually disappears within a couple of days.

Another common misconception about caring for the skin of a newborn is that they need soap.

Soap is very dehydrating and drying to an adult's skin, so you can imagine how depleting it is to a little newborn's skin. It's very important to help preserve baby's natural oils and not strip them away with harsh cleansers.

Many people choose body washes for babies, thinking they are gentler. While they may not be as dehydrating, there are many undesirable chemicals in most body washes,such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, that you may not want to expose your new baby to. As an alternative, look for baby washes that use natural and gentle surfactants such as Yucca and Soapwort and Decyl Glucoside. This also applies to shampoos - although baby's don't really need them - water works especially well on their thin tufts of hair.

If you would like to use soap, look for those that have retained the glycerin or soaps that are known as being "superfat", made with extra moisturizing fats and oils. You'll find them in health food stores or markets where they have been handmade. These kinds of soaps are somewhat less drying than the host of commercially manufactured soaps on the market.

A wonderful and time-honored moisturiser for baby's skin is unrefined vegetable oil.Employed with a flannel or muslin cloth, natural oils are very effective for lifting dirt, nourishing the skin and leaving the skin's barrier intact. You do need to be careful however, as it can make both the baby and the bath very slippery! These oils are ideally massaged into your babies skin directly after a warm bath and also provide the perfect way to connect and bond with your new little friend. Some of the most loved and gentlest oils for babies are: Virgin Coconut oil, Apricot Kernel oil, and Jojoba oil.

Lipid rich butters and waxes can also be helpful. African women are known for gently massaging Shea butter into their baby's skin to keep it strong, but soft and supple.If your baby's skin is irritated, place some oats in a muslin cloth, tie all ends up to create a wash ball and use it in the bath with water. This wash ball transforms into a beautiful oat milk cleanser when you gently squeeze the milk from the ball. This however can only be used once and needs to be made fresh. Oats are rich in skin nourishing and strengthening nutrients and are a time-honored remedy for soothing irritated skin for children and adults.

If you do prefer to use a lotion on your baby's skin, look for a chemical and fragrance free lotions that are designed especially for babies.

A far cry from a designer baby product but an exceptional skin healer for your baby is breast milk. It is rich in lauric acid, a super nutrient that helps fight infection. If your baby has any skin problems, try breast milk as a topical agent.

If cradle cap develops, try a gentle shampoo (see above) onto a soft bristle brush and softly massage the scalp with it. If it continues, massage a little Virgin Coconut oil or Olive oil into the scalp and wash it off the following morning, this will help dissolve scales making them soft and loose and easy to wash or gently brush away with a soft baby brush.

Another product that is best avoided on babies is talcum powder. Talcum powder has come under the spotlight in recent times for the questionable ingredients it contains, but even worse for babies is that they can inhale particles of the powder that can lead to choking or chest infections. A baby with any respiratory condition can become very ill.

Natural balms that are free of chemicals are very handy for rubbing onto any dry patches, as well as helping to prevent or soothe nappy rash. Look for those that are simple in their formulation and include ingredients such as beeswax, butters and vegetable oils.

Of course, if your baby's skin becomes red, irritated or you feel concerned, always seek the advice of your doctor.

Carla Oates

28 June 2010