Caring For Your Baby’s Skin Noemi Iniguez
Having a baby means having to bring life and love into the world. However, as wonderful and beautiful babies are, having a baby means caring for someone else—changing the baby’s diaper, feeding the baby, but also taking care of the baby’s health—including their skin. The minute they’re born, babies require special attention in regards to their health. Babies require special skin care attention in order to ensure it not only builds up to protect from sun damage, but to also fight off any possible infections.
Bath Time Unlike adults, newborn babies don’t have to worry about going to work, cleaning, or working up a sweat for that matter. Because of the small amount of activity babies conduct, they hardly need to shower every day. In fact, WebMD states that the less baths the better. Try to give them a bath less than three times a week. Babies are born with a skin layer known as vernix, which is a white layer on the baby’s skin, and it’s importance is not only necessary to know, but it could also be the reason why your baby’s skin is peeling. According to Parents, there are 10 things you should know about vernix:
It’s Protection The vernix is a white, thick layer that cover’s its body, and according to Holly Pevzner, “Its main jobs? To help protect delicate skin from the acidic quality of the amniotic fluid and to help keep infection at bay.” So attempting to remove this layer could be harmful to the baby’s skin, causing it to lose its protection. It’s a Moisturizer The substance is pretty thick and is used kind of like a moisturizer for your baby’s skin. Without this moisturizing substance, your baby’s skin would wrinkly because of the fluids inside the womb. It’s also a Lube The vernix creates a slippery effect, causing your baby to slide out a bit easier when giving birth It’s Baby’s First Blanket The vernix helps maintain body temperature, causing the baby to stay warm and cozy It’s Only Human Only human newborns are born with vernix. No other animal is born with it.
It Muffles Sound
This layer of white, thick, gooiness also works to muffle sound from your baby’s ears, but not to worry, they can still recognize your voice! Sometimes it’s not there If your baby is overdue, your baby may be born without the vernix because the fluids in the womb may have had absorbed it already. Leave it Be Don’t be so quick in trying to take that gunk off your baby! Wait at least 24 hours to bathe the baby, and just a reminder: the longer you wait, the better! Don’t forget how the vernix shields your baby from bacteria! It Won’t Always Be White If the vernix is yellow or green, then that means that your baby has made their first poop. In this case, yes, go ahead and wipe that vernix off! It Lingers in Folds The sticky substance may be found in your baby’s diaper, but not to worry! Simply wipe it off or just leave it be.
Now that you know not mess with the vernix, here are a couple of tips to keep in mind when bathing your child from MayoClinic:
Wait for your baby’s stomach to settle after eating Sponge baths are okay ALWAYS keep a hand on your baby Keep about 2-3 inches of water in the tub (about 5 to 8 centimeters) Use warm water—about 100 F but no more than 120 F Washing the baby’s hair is optional, but the rest of the body is fine
NEVER leave your baby alone in the water—ever Don’t know or unsure about how to hold your baby? Check out this video on how to bathe your baby!
Baby Products and Labels You may be well aware now that because of the baby’s delicate skin, it requires certain procedures or ingredients to keep an eye on. According to Baby Center, there are a couple basics to ensuring your baby and their skin is out of harm’s way from chemical reactions or rashes. Johnson’s scientist, Kevin Whelan explains that in almost all companies, “Ingredients are always listed in descending order according to concentration, so those listed first will be present in the largest amounts.” So if you ever wonder how much of olive oil or shea butter skin care companies use, just remember that the higher the amount, the higher up on the ingredient list. If you ever see the words “organic,” “synthetic,” or “natural,” know that it may not always mean “all natural.” Whelan states, “Listing USDA-certified organic ingredients on a product’s label does not make the finished product organic, as most organic skin care products use a mix of organic, non-organic, and synthetic ingredients.” So next time you pick up a baby product and see that it is “organic,” double check with the manufacturer, to verify whether it’s mixed with synthetic ingredients. You also want to resist on using scented products.
Even if you want your baby to smell as sweet as they are, scented products can cause their skin to become irritated or even produce a rash. Again, your baby’s skin is at a delicate state the first year or so, which means, not only using certain skin care products that will fit the needs of your baby, but also using the right kind of laundry detergent. According to WebMD, “Use only baby laundry detergents that are fragrance- and dye-free. Wash baby clothes, bedding, and blankets separately from the family's laundry.” Doing so is going to add extra protection for your baby’s delicate skin from ever getting a rash from any sort of chemical that your normal detergent may have, but also washing them before they wear it is going to prevent any possible irritations. Let’s also not forget that our clothes are more likely to be dirtier than an infant’s, so mixing in our clothes with a baby’s is not a good idea.
Find the Cause of Diaper Rashes According to WebMD, the most common reasons for rashes are caused by: Leaving a wet or dirty diaper on too long Rubbing or chafing against the diaper Yeast infection
Bacterial Infection Allergic reaction to diaper The baby is starting to eat solid foods Certain antibiotics may cause the rash Diaper rash is treatable and depending on the severity, can be easily controlled and calmed using some simple methods: Wash your hands before and after changing your baby’s diaper Don’t rub—pat and use water instead Use diaper cream Air out the skin Avoid wipes that contain fragrances or alcohol Make sure it is completely clean Change the brand of diaper you are using
Not every baby will have the same reaction to a diaper rash, just as most babies don’t like the cold weather, while others prefer warmer temperatures. Whatever season your baby enjoys, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind for Summer and Winter that Parents goes by.
Baby’s Skin in the Summer Use a sunscreen higher that SPF 15 and reapply every 40 minutes if out in the pool. Research which sunscreen product will not only protect your baby’s skin from the sun, but also a product that will not cause irritation to your baby’s skin. You want to avoid ingredients such as para-aminobenzoic (PABA) cinnamates, benzophenones, and anthranilates.
Minor sunburns can cause a lot of damage to baby’s skin because of their delicateness. Keep an eye out for redness, and protect your baby with sun essentials such as a hat or umbrella.
Baby’s Skin in the Winter Sunscreen even on cloudy days is necessary because UV rays never stop from emitting onto the skin Don’t overdo it with the jackets and coats. Although your child may be cold, just remember—babies can also get heat rashes because of clogged sweat glands. Chapped lips are common in babies because they’re always licking or drooling, so make sure to have lip balm at hand! After a long day out in the cold, your baby may experience redness in the face or areas of chafing. Keep their skin moisturized before and after out in the cold weather in order to prevent redness.
Clear Essence Baby Products Clear Essence offers products for your little bundles of joy! Our Clear Essence Baby Skin Care Line which focuses on organic baby skin care products for babies of color! Our baby skin care product line-up features baby soaps, oils, and lotions that cleanse, soothe & calm, and moisturize & protect to make your baby even more touchable, huggable, and healthy. The blends soft scents offer a more complete regimen for your baby from the top of their curls to the tiniest little toe! We currently offer a couple of products with ingredients such as shea butter, milk & honey, and a vaporizing soap, which helps your baby during colds!
Clear Essence Baby Lotion with Shea & Cocoa Butter The Clear Essence Baby Massage Lotion with Shea & Cocoa Butter soothes, moisturizes and softens baby's delicate skin. This creamy lotion blends natural shea and cocoa butter to hydrate the skin and leave a glowing, soft texture. Clear Essence Baby Lotion with Milk and Honey The Clear Essence Baby Lotion with Milk and Honey gives your baby cuddly and soft skin. This sweet smelling baby lotion is enriched with a blend of vitamins, skin softening milk nutrients and soothing honey for smooth and huggable skin. Supply your baby with all the nourishment their skin needs to look and feel angelic by using this rich and creamy lotion daily. Clear Essence Baby Oil with Lavender The Clear Essence Baby Oil with Lavender is specially made to hydrate dry skin and leave your young one with a soft and supple skin texture. The fast absorbing formula with the natural scent of lavender helps soothe and relax your baby. It helps seal-in vital moisture, keeping your baby’s skin feeling soft, smooth, and silky all day long. Clear Essence Baby Soothing Vapor Bar Soap One of our premiere products for our babies of color, Clear Essence Baby Soothing Vapor Bar Soap is a valuable addition to your baby's skin care routine. Used in combination with a warm bath, our unique vapor bar enriched with rosemary, eucalyptus, and menthol soothes and comforts the body while gently cleansing skin impurities. Use this lightly scented soap bar to open airways and calm nasal pathways for a relaxing bath that aids in decongesting your infant. Clear Essence Baby Soothing Milk Bar Soap The Clear Essence Baby Soothing Milk Bar Soap features natural oatmeal to relieve dry, itchy, and irritated skin. This gentle baby soap is enriched with natural milk proteins, nourishing emollients, and Vitamin E for skin that looks and feels smooth and soft.
Phone: 800-423-4824 www.clearessence.com Email: cs@clearessence.com