Tips for your child’s skincare routine
Infant skin is delicate, thin, and sensitive. Because of this, cold weather, heat rash and irritants can easily hurt or damage their skin. Irritants are mainly found in some skin care products you use on your baby, but you can avoid some common skin conditions by purchasing organic or alternative products. Here are 11 skin care tips for kids to help you…
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1- Unbleached disposable diapers
This is my number one for good reason…As far as what we know about dioxins, they are a family of organochlorines that include some of the most toxic chemicals ever made. Dioxin traces were once found in chlorine-bleached white paper and pulp products, including disposable diapers.
However, diapers nowadays are usually oxygen-bleached (using hydrogen peroxide), which does not form dioxin. Don’t worry, I simply wanted to emphasize not scare!
Is there anything we can do to ensure that we don’t cause our children harm? There are completely unbleached disposable diapers available so that your baby will not be in contact with bleach, dioxins, or hydrogen peroxide. The perfect fit for a diaper change.
2-Avoid Talc Powders
Baby powders were a large part of parents’ skincare routine for kids when I was growing up. But talc has been getting a bad rep for many years.
Talc, if it enters wounds or body cavities, may cause granulomas, a condition that results from talc contamination. Inhalation of talc may cause respiratory irritation. Long-term exposure to talc may result in pneumocomosis.
Because talc may be heavily contaminated with bacteria, including Clostridium tetani, CL and Bacillus anthracis, many parents have stopped using common baby powders that have talc in them.
Try using Hello Bello baby powders, they are made from corn starch, bamboo powder, and soothing botanicals, which makes them excellent for keeping a baby’s skin dry. They include zero talc!
3-Special Care During Bathtime
Bathing your baby doesn’t need to be an everyday event, especially for those first few months. In fact, giving frequent baths can dry out your baby’s delicate skin. Instead, sponge baths with lukewarm water and a mild soap a few times a week are the best way to keep them clean without causing skin irritation.
New parents, remember to skip the soap when possible and focus on gentle cleaning with water or a mild, fragrance-free baby wash.
Daddy Tip!
After a bath, pat (don’t rub!) your baby’s face and skin dry with a soft cloth, then apply a natural oil or gentle lotion to lock in moisture. Avoid any products with strong scents or additives—natural oils like coconut or sweet almond are ideal for baby’s sensitive skin.
Bath time can be a cozy, calming experience, and these simple steps will keep your newborn baby’s skin soft and healthy!
4-After bathing, Use natural oils
Mineral oils, as they are absorbed into the skin, cause the skin to dry out. Protect your youngster from drying by using organic, natural oils, particularly sweet almond oil, coconut oil, chamomile, rose, lavender, and mandarin oils.
Whenever you apply oil, always perform a test patch first and watch for any redness or discomfort. Do not use this if you see any redness! If all is good, use less than a teaspoon of oil to massage your child’s skin.
5-make your own Natural Baby Wipes
Baby wipes are everywhere and are a staple in a skincare routine for kids. Have you seen a mom(or dad) without them in their car or purse(murse)? Nope.
Here is some information on how you can make your wipes at home. Homemade natural baby wipes are easy to create and are great for wiping their body and bottom.
Cut a roll of strong paper towel (Viva is excellent) in half. Remove the cardboard inner roll from it. Combine two cups of water with 1/4 cup sweet almond oil and 1/4 cup organic baby wash for a simple wiping solution. Pour the mixture over the Viva roll and store it in a container. POOF! You just made some handy natural baby wipes.
To make another simple wiping solution, combine a cup of warm chamomile tea and dissolve a teaspoon of honey. Honey is an antiseptic that keeps your baby’s bottom clean and may assist to treat existing diaper rash due to its natural properties. Let the mixture cool down and use it to wipe your lil’ one’s bottom!
6-Try to go Soapless by using Rose Hydrosol
Using rose hydrosol to bathe newborns is a simple and gentle process to incorporate into your kids’ skincare routine. Because only a small amount of this distilled water is required, it is very economical. The water contains healing and calming rose extracts that are suitable for the most sensitive skin types.
Simply follow the instructions, you’ll probably only need a few drops in your wash basin. Smells great and it’s relaxing and helpful for babies to fall asleep fast.
7-Washing baby’s clothes
Try washing your baby’s clothes and blankets with a gentle skin sensitive detergent. We always had seperate washes when my son was younger, one for ours and one for his.
Regular harsh chemicals in detergents and fabric softeners should not be used because they can cause irritation on your baby’s sensitive skin, in younger children.
We also dissolved the baby detergent in warm water and added it afterward in the machine washing. If possible, sun drying is highly suggested for baby’s clothing and bedding,
Not sure about the ins and outs of sun exposure for your new baby? Check out my article about taking care of your baby when going to the beach.
8-pay that ‘extra buck’ for organic baby lotion
Baby lotions can be substituted for organic baby lotions to keep your baby’s delicate skin hydrated. However, be careful to watch for any indications of redness or irritation as a baby’s skin is very sensitive. It’s recommended to try any type of oil or cream on a small part of the baby’s arm before applying it to the whole body.
Paying a few extra bucks for that organic or hypoallergenic lotion/cream is the best bet(in our case we loved and still love Cetaphil.)
9-Sanitizing cloth diapers
To guarantee that no harmful germs survive in cloth diapers, soak them in a 65°C or hotter water bath and then dry them in direct sunlight, as both ultraviolet light and natural bleaching and sterilizing effects.
The next morning, soak the diapers in a diaper bucket containing half a cup of bicarbonate of soda, three drops of mandarin essential oil, and three drops of tea tree essential oil. Wash the diapers as normal after soaking. Add a half cup of white vinegar to the final rinse to make the diapers softer.
10-A baby’s Umbilical Cord
Keep your baby’s umbilical cord clean and dry until it drops off naturally. Fold the diaper down below the stump so that it is exposed to air and not urine.
It’s a good idea to avoid bathing your baby in a bathtub until the stump falls off. You can use the hydrosol wash described above to clean your baby or those new wet wipes you made. It has been discovered that leaving the cord to dry naturally is the quickest way. Do not use any drying agents as they may irritate.
11-Care of cradle cap
Cradle cap is a condition that results from overactive glands on your baby’s scalp. It appears as a crusty patch of skin. I thought that it was psoriasis the first time I saw this on my nephew’s head.
The condition results from hormones the baby receives from the mother at birth that remain active for several months. The skin dries out as a result of the hormones. You can minimize cradle cap by wiping it with almond oil and then letting it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing it off with organic baby shampoo.
Be sure to wash your baby’s scalp after applying the oil to avoid further dryness.
Organic baby products are available online and at pharmacies, and are totally safe to use. Using tools like the Safety 1st Cradle Cap Brush is useful as well.
Final Thoughts On Baby Skin Care
When you think about all the products you use every day on your child, it’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by the amount of potentially harmful substances you’re exposing them to. I’m not overreacting or trying to scare you into purchasing things on here…I’m simply being a father who loves his son and trying to help you make the right choices.
Many clothing manufacturers now use organic clothing precisely because babies have sensitive skin. It’s hard to keep up with organic, all-natural products, bio blah blah blah, so I made this list to hopefully guide you. Take care of your treasures. They are only young once!
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