How to protect your baby's skin

Why is baby's skin so delicate? What should I do to protect their soft skin? This article reveals all the secrets of newborn skin, to help you avoid redness and minor irritation.

Why is baby's skin more delicate?

At birth, baby's skin is still immature and therefore more delicate. It takes until your child is around two years old for their skin to reach full maturity. A newborn's skin is thin, which is why it's particularly permeable and prone to irritation. What's more, a newborn's glands can't yet properly fulfil the skin's functions. As a result, baby struggles to regulate their temperature and reacts quickly to both heat and cold. In short, newborn skin can't protect itself because it's still developing. So caring for baby's skin every day means helping their delicate skin reach maturity and protecting their health.

Protecting baby's skin from external aggressors

Contact with the air and pollution can damage and irritate baby's skin. So you'll need to be extra careful when the weather is unpredictable. In winter, beware of the cold and wind, which irritate and dry out sensitive skin. In summer, protect baby from the sun's rays by keeping them in the shade and applying sun cream. Use an after-sun moisturiser to stop their skin from drying out. Another thing that disrupts newborn skin is limescale, which is found in the water of baby's bath. So don't leave your baby in the bath for too long. A bath of around 5 minutes is plenty.

Use products suited to baby's skin

Everything that's likely to come into contact with baby's skin has an impact on their health. That's why you need to pay attention to the composition of anything that could come into direct or indirect contact with their skin. Choose a moisturising cream made with plant oils or petroleum jelly, or a cold cream. Apply these products to baby's skin after washing, once or twice a day. There's no need to apply thick layers of cream: the aim is for it to be properly absorbed by baby's skin with each application. It will help strengthen baby's hydrolipidic film, a protective layer on the skin. All of baby's toiletries (shower gel, water wipes, liniment, moisturising cream…) should be hypoallergenic and pH-neutral. As for household products, it's best if they're free from preservatives, fragrance and colourings. To check a product's composition quickly, you can use the Yuka app on your smartphone. Just scan the product's barcode to see the full list of its ingredients. Yuka rates products out of 100, taking into account their qualities and risks.

It's also worth taking a closer look at what clothes are made of. Clothes are in direct contact with baby's skin, so make sure they're made from natural materials (cotton, linen…). Organic materials will be your best friends, as they reduce the risk of irritation and allergies. Finally, no zips, poppers or scratchy labels should touch baby's skin. To avoid this, put a 100% organic cotton bodysuit on them under their outfits.

Products to avoid

Because we know how essential it is to protect baby's health, let's talk about the products to avoid at all costs. The substances to steer clear of to protect baby's skin are: alcohol, colourings, chemical agents, allergens and foaming products, which can cause further irritation. For example, when it comes to wipes, choose those with the fewest ingredients, as close as possible to the simple cotton pad and water combination. Another thing to banish: baby perfume, which is both harmful and unnecessary. And besides, what could be better than breathing in your little one's natural scent?

Remember that clothes made from synthetic materials (polyester, acrylic…) are best avoided, as they can scratch and irritate baby's skin. The same goes for the sheets baby sleeps on and for bath linen. Choose a soft, absorbent 100% organic cotton hooded towel and dry baby carefully. It's best to gently pat their whole body with the hooded towel, to make sure their skin isn't damp under their clean clothes.

Finally, keep an eye on how their skin reacts. Don't hesitate to contact your doctor if you have the slightest doubt.

Dylan
Proud dad of three little ones and founder of Premiers Moments. Together with the whole team, I share our parenting tips here to support you, from pregnancy through your child's first years.