Newborn babies have delicate and sensitive skin and it needs to be handled with care so that it is not stripped of its natural oils. There are a few newborn baby products that should be part of essential newborn care. By adopting a daily skin care routine for glowing skin, using the best natural skin care products, and getting the right nutrition through breast milk/formula, you can ensure that the baby’s skin stays soft, supple, and free from rashes.
Babies have a still-developing immune system and delicate skin. Newborn skin can suffer from irritation, rashes, dryness, or chafing due to pollutants in the environment, chemicals, fragrances, and dyes in clothing and detergents. Taking care of a newborn’s skin includes knowing which brand is best for baby’s skin, which are the best baby skin care products, how much skincare product to use each time, and keeping a lookout for signs of even slight redness or dry skin.
Newborn skin is covered with a protective waxy covering called vernix which naturally peels off in the first week after birth. Vernix is good for the baby so it should not be rubbed off or treated with any products. The baby can receive its first sponge bath after the covering peels off and the umbilical cord falls off. It is important to use natural skin care products that are free from chemicals and hypoallergenic.
Give the baby a bath not more than two to three times a week till he/she is around twelve months of age. Giving a bath too frequently can make the baby’s skin dry as the natural oils are washed away. In babies who have eczema, bathing too frequently can aggravate the condition. Use a gentle, nourishing top to toe wash like PIGEON Natural Botanical Skincare Head & Body Wash that cleans thoroughly and keeps the skin and hair fully hydrated and tangle-free.
After a bath, apply a good moisturizer like PIGEON Natural Botanical Baby Water Gel Lotion which is formulated with 80% natural ingredients and enriched with nourishing Argan, Olive, and Chamomile extract for an intense boost of hydration and all-day moisture. Only hypoallergenic lotions must be used on very young babies.
For babies who have dry skin, it is important to use a moisturizer that helps retain skin moisture and protects against dryness of the skin. PIGEON Natural Botanical Baby Milky Lotion has a water-based formula and is made with natural oils that are packed with nourishing fatty acids and antioxidants to help soften skin creating a lightweight texture that leaves the baby’s skin feeling hydrated, cool, and fresh.
Giving the baby a body massage using a nourishing baby massage oil leaves the skin soft and supple. Body massage is a great bonding experience for the parent and the baby. It also helps to stimulate the baby’s blood circulation system and helps provide relief from conditions like gas, colic, or constipation. Babies can be given massages even when they are newborns by placing them on the parent’s chest for skin-to-skin contact and gently stroking the baby’s back and legs. A proper body massage using soothing strokes can be given to the baby a few weeks after birth. PIGEON Natural Botanical Baby Massage Oil is among the best massage oils for infants as it is lightweight, hypoallergenic, and enriched with Jojoba and Chamomile and gently moisturizes your baby’s sensitive skin without redness or irritation.
There are a few skin conditions that parents need to look out for to keep the baby’s skin healthy and free from redness and irritation.
Dry Skin Eczema – Eczema is seen as a red and itchy rash on the baby’s face, scalp, inside the crease of the elbows, or behind the baby’s knees. It is important to keep the skin hydrated and nourished to prevent excessive dryness. For topical medication, it is important to obtain a pediatrician’s prescription.
Diaper Rash – Wetness, bacterial infection, or soiled diapers can cause a diaper rash which can be irritating and painful for the baby. By changing diapers immediately when wet or soiled, washing the diaper area with a gentle, fragrance-free, and hypoallergenic body wash, and pat dry with a soft, clean cloth or water wipe can help to avoid a diaper rash. A good body moisturizer or petroleum jelly can act as a barrier to protect the baby’s skin against wetness.
Using Laundry Detergents – Baby clothes, bedding, and blankets should always be washed separately from other clothes. Baby clothes may contain tough and stubborn stains and the laundry detergent must be capable of removing those while being gentle on the clothes. PIGEON Laundry Detergent is a mild, alcohol-free detergent that cleanses a wide range of stains while still shielding the fabric from washing wear and tear, brightens and preserves colors, and cares for textile fibers.