Most parents want to keep their new babies clean and will begin giving them a bath every day, which may actually not be the best baby skin care practice available. Most infants have very sensitive skin and it will dry out quickly and daily bathing will speed the drying process, leaving the baby with dry skin. Even the use of infant lotions and powders are not recommended with a daily bath, as they can cause skin irritations to an infant’s sensitive skin.

Most baby skin care professionals recommended a tub bath not be used until after the umbilical cord has fallen off, and even then bathing should be limited to every few days, and not daily. When to give the infant a bath is also conflicting, but many recommend they be bathed before eating or at least 15 or 20 minutes after eating, in event the child regurgitates some of the meal while being bathed.

Infants are also prone to infant acne as well as dry skin on the scalp, known commonly as cradle cap, and many baby skin care products are sold to help with both conditions. However, keeping the areas clean with very mild soap and warm water will usually eliminate the problem in a few days.

Infants Often Develop Dry Skin

If the baby has a tendency to develop dry skin, cut back on the number of baths given as well as the time in the water. Reduce bathing time to about 10 minutes and when the bath ends, the skin should be lightly dried before using an infant moisturizer on the tender skin. Many baby skin care products include oils and lotions that will help protect the softness of the baby’s skin.

Many infants and older babies suffer from dry skin even when moisturizer are used as they are not kept hydrated. Similar to adults, baby skin care relies on internal moisture and insuring they have enough to drink will greatly improve their skin quality. Additionally, if the air in the house is dry, use a humidifier to increase the humidity in the air. A cool mist humidifier in the child’s room may be necessary, especially during the dry winter months.

As the child grows older and is taken swimming in a pool or in salt water, the chlorine and salt should never be allowed to dry on their skin. Part of baby skin care will include making sure they get rinsed off of all foreign particles that can cause their skin to dry out as well as applying moisturizers to their skin.

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