As parents, we tend to be overprotective of our young ones, especially when dealing with our darling newborns. This includes every little thing, even down to bathing them. Here are some bath time tips to help take care of your baby's skin, especially as the seasons shift.
We know that a baby's skin is incredibly delicate. It is up to 30 percent thinner than an adult's, and it also loses moisture more easily. This is particularly true when the humidity level drops and the skin loses moisture rapidly than its usual rate. And we don't want our baby's skin to suffer from extreme dryness, for sure.
Your baby's skin often acts as a barrier between them and the outside world, like our skin does to us adults, and a compromised skin barrier can cause dryness. The good news is that we have some bath time tips that might help you protect your baby's skin.
4 Bath time Tips To Protect Your Baby's Skin
1. Keep your baby's skin moisturized
As parents, you can always immediately notice if your baby's skin is susceptible to dryness. Here's a useful bath time tip: use a small amount of cream or some ointments to help prevent dryness and moisturize your baby's skin after every bath.
Do the same before and after going outside and apply it to the skin's most exposed areas.
2. Don't bathe your baby too often
"Frequent bathing of a baby can lead to a weakened skin barrier and increased dryness," says Dr. Jennifer Leavitt, a worker at St. Paul's Maternity Clinic in Vancouver. She even says less is more when it comes to bathing your baby.
Short baths can be one of the best bath time tips for your baby. A bath time of only under 10 minutes long can be adequate for a bathing frequency of two to three times a week.
Of course, if your baby is clearly filthy from vomit, spit, or fecal waste, you can quickly wash it off, but you don't need to give him a complete bath. Gently wash the soiled area with a washcloth or a damp cloth.
3. Use an air humidifier after bathing
As a parent, you may ask if it is easier to use a cold or a warm humidifier for your baby after bathing them or even if they don't get the bath that day. But for most users, both can be helpful to the skin and your baby's respiratory system.
Using a heater or an air conditioner at home can decrease the air's humidity, so a humidifier can be helpful, too, especially when after bathing your baby.
4. Keep your baby comfortable during bath time
Another bath time tip is for parents to keep the bathwater lukewarm. To test the water temperature, rub the inside of your wrist to make sure it's not too hot or too cold for your baby.
Keep in mind that cold water is simply painful, and babies get colder quicker than adults. Also, they may be burned by hot water, which could also break down the skin. Parents need to know these factors to help keep their babies comfortable.
You can always bathe your baby in a specially built infant tub to make them more comfortable, or an insert that will fit into their bath. However, keep in mind that there is no exact rule on which product is better. Choose whatever is most applicable for you, your baby, and your home.
