Baby skin care is more complicated than most people think it is
. Caring for your baby's skin means caring for all of a baby's skin. Newborn babies are very susceptible to skin conditions because it takes time for the skin to get used to life outside of the womb. Proper baby skin care means that parents must make good decisions continually throughout the day. Pretty much everything your baby has contact with during the day will have an effect on your baby's skin. Don't stress out too much though: practicing good baby skin care does not have to be intricate or hard. With just a little bit of common sense it can be really simple. If you need some help figuring out a good routine, here are a few hints to help you out.
You don't need to use powder when you change your baby's diaper. Powder is popular because it absorbs moisture and helps your baby stay dry in his diaper.
Talcum powders are easy for the baby to inhale and corn based powders and starches are breeding grounds for yeast. The best thing to do when you are changing a diaper is to simply wash the baby's bottom with warm wet cloth and then pat him dry before putting on the new diaper. This keeps the baby's skin clean without your having to risk rashes or yeast problems. Your baby's skin needs plenty of fresh air. Please don't make the mistake of letting your baby get a rash when it could have been avoided, sometimes they can't, but try your best to avoid letting your baby wear a wet diaper or be fitted in tight clothes for extended periods of time. A baby's skin that gets a chance to breathe from time to time will avoid most of these minor ailments. Tip: from time-to-time let your baby crawl around naked so the skin has a chance to be dry and soak up some clean air. Just choose a time when it is appropriate and give it a try. You need to use your better judgment when choosing to use this method because you don't want your baby crawling around naked when guests are present or being exposed to cold air that can lead to serious health problems.
A newborn's skin is far too sensitive to light to be taken outdoors into direct sunlight--even if you do everything you can to protect your baby's skin with sunblock. After your son or daughter is six months old it is okay to let him or her sit in direct sunlight provided you cover the baby completely with strong sunscreen.
Two extra precautions that you should take to protect your baby against sun damage are hats and using umbrellas for shade. If your son or daughter does develop a sunburn (even with all of the precautions you have taken) you can treat it with a damp cool cloth a few times a day.
There are many different ways to care for your newborn's skin. The truth is, however, that infant skin care is not as difficult or complicated as you think it is. All you need is some common sense and the patience to choose the best products on the shelf and your baby's skin should stay healthy and clean with no problems. Remember that you need to take care of all of your baby's skin not only the skin on her face and head. Caring for your baby's skin will depend on your making a lot of smart decisions all day long, but don't freak out! Before you know it, you'll be taking care of your baby's skin without even thinking about it much at all! After a while you won't even have to think about it. It will be second nature!