Baby Skin & Hair Care Guide

A newborn baby has the most delicate skin imaginable. Chemicals in detergents, fragrances, dyes in clothing, and even certain baby products can cause newborn skin irritation, dryness, chafing, and rashes. Great care must be taken to protect your baby from the discomforts of skin problems.

Less is more!

Resist the urge to bathe your baby frequently. This may come as a surprise but bathing a baby every day is too much! It removes the natural oils that protect baby’s skin, leaving it vulnerable, so it reacts to any potential allergen – triggering a reaction like eczema.

Except for drool and diaper wastes, newborns don’t get very dirty. For the first month or so, a sponge bath two or three times a week will keep your baby clean. In between, simply clean baby’s face and diaper area with a little water and a washcloth.

Don’t give your baby a bath until the umbilical cord has fallen off. Here’s how to bathe your baby:

1. Fill the tub with two to three inches of warm water (not hot!). To be sure the water is the right temperature, test it first with your elbow.

2. Put the washcloth, soap, and shampoo close by so you will not have to move away from the tub. Also, lay out a diaper and clothes where you can easily reach them after the bath.

3. Wash baby’s face gently with a wet washcloth. Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth to clean your baby’s eyes and face. Wipe from the inside of each eye to the outside. Make sure you get any dried secretions out of the nose and eyes.

4. Soap the washcloth (use a gentle, no-tears baby soap or wash) and clean your baby’s body from top to bottom and front to back. Make sure you clean inside all of those little folds.

5. Wash the diaper area last.

Washing baby’s hair:

1. Use a cup of water to wet baby’s hair. Put a small amount of baby shampoo on her head. Rub in a gentle circular motion. Keep your baby’s head tilted back so the shampoo doesn’t run into her eyes.

2. Fill the cup again with clean water to rinse your baby’s hair and body.

3. When lifting your baby out of the bath, support her bottom with one hand and the head and neck with the other. Make sure you have a firm hold so your baby doesn’t slide away.

4. Moisturise baby’s skin with baby lotion to keep it from drying out.

Tips on caring for baby’s hair

• Don’t wash your baby’s hair every day. Particularly with newborns, there’s just no need. Aim for a quick shampoo when you bathe your baby, which doesn’t need to be more often than a couple times a week.
• Be gentle when you massage a tearless baby shampoo into your baby’s scalp. A too-brisk scalp massage can stress hair follicles and speed up hair loss or breakage.
• Comb your baby’s hair with a soft-bristle brush or a wide-toothed comb that won’t snag on tangles or pull out delicate hair.
• Avoid headbands or ponytails that pull your baby’s hair back too tightly.
• If your baby needs a quick trim later to look presentable, go for it when he’s well rested and fed, so he’ll be less cranky. Use his favourite toys to distract him!

Cradle Cap

If your baby has flaky, red patches of skin on the scalp, it’s called cradle cap. It’s not a big concern and is easy to treat. Here’s how:

1. Before a bath, massage a little bit of olive oil or baby oil into your baby’s scalp to loosen the dry skin.

2. Gently rub the oil into your baby’s scalp and softly brush through to release the flakes.

3. Wash baby’s hair with a gentle baby shampoo.

Cutting baby’s nails

Baby’s fingernails grow very quickly and he can easily scratch himself! File or cut the nails about twice a week. You may use a baby scissors or a baby nail clipper, whichever one you’re most comfortable with. Here are some tips to make cutting nails easier:

• Cut nails after a bath, when they’re softer. Sometimes it helps to trim baby’s nails when baby is asleep and relaxed. If you use scissors or a nail clipper, press the skin under the nail down so you can get to the nail more easily. It may help to have your partner hold the baby’s hand steady the first few times so you can concentrate on cutting.
• Trim baby’s fingernails following the natural curve of the nail. Cut toenails straight across.

Moisturize & massage!

More often than not, an infant’s skin is dry and can even have patches of eczema in some areas. Moisturizing your baby’s skin with a moisturizer made for baby is important.

After bath time, gently dry baby off with a soft towel. Apply a gentle baby moisturizer all over baby’s body. Why not give your little one some soothing baby massages? You can do this with baby oil. Baby massages help you bond with your little bundle of joy!

Washing baby’s clothing

For the first few months, it’s recommended that you wash your infant’s laundry separately from yours using a detergent that is gentle and specially formulated for baby’s clothes. This helps to keep baby away from perfumes and harsh chemicals that can be found in most conventional detergents.