Baby Skin and Hair Care Simplified
A newborn baby has the most delicate skin imaginable. Great care must be taken to protect your newborn from uncomfortable skin problems.
WASHING BABY’S HAIR
- Fill a cup with water to wet baby’s hair. Put a small amount of baby shampoo and rub in a gentle circular motion. Keep your baby’s head tilted back so the shampoo doesn’t run into the eyes.
- Fill the cup again with clean water to rinse your baby’s hair and body.
- When lifting your baby out of the bath, support the 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.
TIPS ON CARING FOR BABY’S HAIR
- Avoid washing your baby’s hair everyday. Aim for a quick shampoo when you bathe your baby, which doesn’t need to be more often than a couple of 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 cause unnecessary hair loss or breakage.
- Comb your baby’s hair with a soft-bristle brush or a wide-toothed comb that won’t snag in tangles.
- Avoid hairbands or ponytails that pull your baby’s hair back too tightly.
CRADLE CAP
If your baby seems to have developed some 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:
- Before a bath, massage a few drops of olive oil or trusted baby oil into your baby’s scalp to loosen the dry skin.
- Gently rub the oil into your baby’s scalp with a soft brush or washcloth to release the flakes.
- Wash baby’s hair with a gentle baby shampoo.
CUTTING BABY’S NAILS
Baby’s fingernails grow very quickly, so to avoid scratches, 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 a baby’s nails when the baby is asleep and relaxed.
If you use scissors or 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 AND MASSAGE !
More often than not, an infant’s skin is dry and may even have patches of eczema in some areas. Moisturizing your baby’s skin with a moisturizer made for baby helps to keep delicate skin healthy and soft. So, after bath time, gently dry baby off with a soft towel and apply a gentle baby moisturizer all over baby’s body. Why not give your little one some soothing baby massages? You can even do this with baby oil. Baby massages is a great way for you to 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 clothes separately from yours in a detergent that is gentle and specially formulated to be free of harsh chemicals and dyes. This helps to keep baby’s skin free from contact with harsh perfumes and harsh chemicals that can be found in most detergent.
