Winter can be harsh on anyone’s skin — not to say the delicate skin of our little one. Redness, itchiness, dryness and eczema are just a few common skin problems that can arrive along with chilly weather.
How to care for your baby's skin in the winter?
1. Layer up, but not too much
When it’s cold outside we want to bundle our little one up in a little snow hat, and dress him in several layers of clothing. In general, baby needs one more layer of clothing than adults. Put your hand inside your baby’s clothing to see if he's sweaty, and take one layer off if he's overheated.
Heat rash can happen too when your baby is sitting in an area (such as a car seat) that has poor air circulation. To prevent this nuisance from bothering your baby's skin, be sure to dress him in breathable layers, and place him in an area that is well-ventilated.
2. Protect against the elements
Be sure to keep your baby protected from the cold and wind by using a lid for your stroller so you can still get in those daily walks but your baby won’t be exposed to the wind and cold. And make sure your baby's head and hands are covered whenever you’ll be out for extended periods of time.
3. Use a humidifier
Plug a humidifier in your baby’s room when he sleeps at night. Since central heat in the home also leaches out the moisture out of your baby’s skin, you’ve got to restore it. Maintaining the humidity level between 25 percent to 40 percent is ideal, and using a humidifier is a must if your little one is prone to eczema flare-ups. Though both cold or warm humidifier can be beneficial for the skin as well as breathing, but the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only using cool humidifiers, since warm ones can pose scalding hazard if a child pulls it onto himself.
4. Warm bath
A warm bath can help your baby calm down and get ready for sleep. It is advisable you keep a nighttime warm bath routine throughout the winter, and keep bath times short – as short as five minutes for small baby since extended exposure to the water, and hot water temperatures can also suck out moisture from your baby's skin.
5. Baby Moisturizers
We all know that it’s important to moisturize skin all year long, and winter weather is surely no exception. While it's always necessary to apply moisturizers on baby before heading out in the cold, moisturize instantly after his each bath is even more beneficial.
When your baby finishes a bath, gently pat dry his skin with a clean towel, then massage your baby lotion over his slightly damp skin to help lock in the moisture. Good moisturizers for baby can include jojoba oil, shea butter and cocoa butter.
6. Managing diaper rash
Change your baby's diaper often and clean it thoroughly. Apply a layer of cream to ease the rash. You may also consider giving your baby some diaper-free time to allow his bum to air out.
7. Preventing Chapped Lips
Simply coat with a thin layer of petroleum jelly or gentle lip balm a few times a day. This will create a barrier of protection from the cold and help your baby to decrease the chances of chapped, cracked lips.
8. Apply sunscreen in the winter
While we know that it’s important to apply sunscreen in the summer, using sunscreen in the winter is still necessary since the UV rays are still strong. You may consider to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. In the first six months, use one that contains physical blockers like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
