Some mistakenly think that healthy skin comes naturally for a baby. In a sense, it does. But, to keep infant skin healthy, proper skin care techniques should be applied. I am a mother experienced in infant skin care for several children, as well as keeping my own skin healthy. I feel my experience could be useful to many parents interested in baby skin care. Over the years, I have gained knowledge through trial and error, the advice of doctors, and also through research.
Getting Started With Healthy Infant Skin Care Before starting to care for your baby’s skin, do a product inventory. Read labels of cleansing products, lotions and moisturizers, and laundering products. Check for unnecessary chemicals and fragrance. Products that promote healthy infant skin should include mainly water, moisturizers, disinfectants (for cleansing products), and vitamins and minerals. Beyond that, there shouldn't be many other ingredients. While fragrance is included in many baby care products, it often is not good for promoting healthy skin care. Some babies are sensitive to fragrances, dyes, and other chemicals. Even those who are not should be limited to their exposure. I personally do not use any commercial baby products and opt for making my own, due to difficulty finding any that do not contain harmful chemicals. Cleansing Your Baby’s Skin For Optimal Health The first step to maintaining healthy skin for an infant is properly cleansing the skin. A baby should not necessarily be using the same cleansers as an adult. Some of those can be harsh on a baby's skin, causing it to dry out or get irritated. Dry or irritated skin is not healthy skin. A good baby cleansing product should contain a cleanser or disinfectant, possibly a moisturizer, water, and vitamins or minerals. Other ingredients should be minimal or non-existent. Soft cloths made of 100% cotton are best for applying cleansers to infant skin. Plain, fragrance free glycerin soap with only oatmeal and almond oil (not to be confused with almond extract or scented essential oils) is a good choice. It’s actually quite easy to make your own. Moisturizers For Infant Skin Health Moisturizing is another important step to healthy skin care in infants. Many babies naturally have soft skin, but to maintain that soft, healthy skin, frequent moisturizing is necessary. Using just any moisturizer is not necessarily better than none. The harsh ingredients in some of them can be detrimental to healthy skin care for a baby and can actually deplete moisture. If you can’t make your own products, check labels to be sure the ingredients consist of a proper moisturizer, preferably some vitamins and minerals, as well as purified water. I personally recommend simple coconut or almond oil infused with pure (unfragranced) vitamin E oil. Bedding and Clothing Play an Important Role in Infant Skin Care Often overlooked are the garments babies wear, as well as their bedding. Anything that comes in contact with a baby's skin should be considered in maintaining healthy skin care habits. Be cautious of the fabrics used to make the bedding and clothing. Also, pay attention to the laundering products used. Avoid products that contain chemicals, fragrances, and dyes. Natural laundry detergent is best for maintaining healthy skin care in an infant. To avoid wrinkling in the clothing, try hanging the clothing neatly on the clothesline in the sun. The sunshine method also can help to freshen the clothing, taking away the need for a fabric refresher. Another freshening method is to add a small amount of baking soda (maybe a teaspoon) to the washer with a cup of vinegar. This can serve as a cleanser, disinfectant, de-wrinkler, and fabric softener all at once. Things to Remember:
*I originally published a version of this via Yahoo Contributor Network  Image © VaMedia; Flickr.com Caring for sensitive baby skin can seem like a difficult task at first. With some possible minor adjustments and a regular skin care routine, caring for sensitive baby skin is simple. As a mom to four children who have had eczema, I am very experienced with caring for sensitive baby skin. My knowledge on the topic has come from research, advice of doctors, as well as personal experience through trial and error.
Be Careful About Products One culprit for dry or irritated skin in babies lies in the products used to cleanse the skin. Many brands of soap and baby wash contain fragrances, dyes, and other unnecessary chemicals. These ingredients can be harsh, flaring up eczema or drying out sensitive baby skin. Unfortunately, products designed especially for babies can be some of the worst ones. Soap or baby wash that is fragrance free and made of pure ingredients is a better choice. Glycerin and oatmeal are some of the milder ones. Just be cautious that the soap doesn’t contain scents or other chemical ingredients. Some babies are even sensitive to plants, such as lavender or dandelion. Moisturizing Is Only Good If It’s Not The Culprit Not all moisturizers are equal in strength. Another thing to remember about caring for sensitive baby skin is that most moisturizers and lotions will contain chemicals, fragrances, and dyes. As mentioned in regards to the baby soap and wash, these ingredients are not good for a baby's sensitive skin. When looking for a lotion or cream for sensitive skin, check the ingredients. Even lotions and creams that say they are for sensitive skin may still contain fragrance. In our family’s case, pure organic coconut oil has been the best choice. The only ingredient should be the coconut oil. Pure tea tree oil buffered by pure olive oil is another solution. Again, the oils themselves should be the only ingredient. Detergents & Laundry Care Products sometimes forgotten about when caring for sensitive baby skin are things like detergent and other laundry care products. These products sometimes can irritate a baby's sensitive skin. In line with previously mentioned products, the ingredients could cause skin irritations. Babies need mild detergents and laundry care products for their clothing. Check the labels to be sure you are caring for sensitive baby skin with a fragrance free (and preferably all-natural) laundry soap with no harmful chemicals. Even sensitive products can pose a problem. So, it’s important to pay attention to the reactions of your baby’s skin. Some people like to use fabric refresher products, wrinkle care, or other products during storing and ironing baby clothing. Again, as with other products, many of these products contain fragrances, chemicals and dyes that can irritate the sensitive skin of babies. It is best simply to wash and dry baby clothing and avoid softeners and dryer sheets. A vinegar/baking soda detergent can be a safer alternative to your usual laundry detergent. Hanging them to dry in the sunshine can add freshness and possibly de-wrinkling properties. What’s In Your Baby’s Diapering Products? Baby wipes and other diapering products often contain chemicals and fragrances that are unnecessary and can be irritating to baby's skin. If you must use baby wipes and diaper creams, be sure to choose products that do not contain chemicals or fragrances. The best baby wipes for caring for sensitive baby skin are those whose ingredients list only purified water and possibly a vitamin or moisturizer. The cloth should be 100% natural and organic. It also should be unbleached. The best diapering creams should contain only a moisturizer and possibly some vitamins and minerals, such as with original A+D ointment. More From Lyn: How To Prevent Diaper Rash Common Causes Of Diaper Rash Be Green And Healthy With Natural Homemade Shampoo Homemade Moisturizing Body Wash 5 Green Ways To Make Homemade Hair Conditioner by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer  Because babies have unique laundering needs, special care should be taken when choosing a laundry detergent for baby clothes. There are a variety of factors to consider during the process. A good laundry detergent for baby clothes needs to do a good job of cleaning, but also should be sensitive to baby's clothing. Also to be considered is baby's skin. As a mom to multiple children, I have dealt with choosing a laundry detergent for baby clothing many times.
Planet Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent Planet products are designed with eco-friendliness in mind. However, they also are a great option when choosing a laundry detergent for baby clothes. Planet Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent works great on stains, is gentle on baby clothes, and most importantly is gentle on baby's skin. When choosing a laundry detergent for baby clothes, Planet Ultra Liquid Laundry Detergent is an excellent choice. It contains no fragrances, dyes, enzymes, or brighteners. Seventh Generation Baby Laundry Liquid Detergent Seventh Generation makes a special laundry detergent just for babies. When choosing a laundry detergent for baby clothes, Seventh Generation Baby Laundry Liquid Detergent is a great choice. This detergent is natural, non-toxic, biodegradable, hypo-allergenic, fragrance free, dye free, phosphate free, kosher certified, and not tested on animals. In addition, it cleans baby clothes very well, which makes it an even better choice when choosing a laundry detergent for baby clothing. Seventh Generation is named after the great Law of the Iroquois: "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." BabyGanics When choosing a laundry detergent for baby clothing, BabyGanics, like these other products, also should be high on the list. BabyGanics is fragrance free, contains no harsh chemicals, is dye free, and does not lower the effectiveness of fire-retardant sleepwear often worn by babies. In addition, BabyGanics laundry detergent is excellent at keeping baby clothing clean. BabyGanics promises its customers VOC free, organic, non caustic products that do not contain any harsh chemicals. They are committed to helping families obtain clean, chemical-free homes. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network |
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Lyn Lomasi is founder and owner of the Brand Shamans network. She is your brand healing, soul healing, marketing & content superhero to the rescue! Running a network of websites, tackling deadlines single-handedly, and coaching fellow writers, brands, & entrepreneurs to be thought leaders is her top priority.
While rescuing civilians from boring content and brands, this awesomely crazy family conquers the world, managing Intent-sive Nature while going on Upstream Parenting adventures & lessons, sometimes in an RV. They strive to cuddle with lions and giraffes. Until then, they settle for rescue dogs and cats. By supporting us, you support a single parent, healer, and minority small business that donates to and/or stands for several causes, including homeless pets, homeless people, trans youth, equality, helping starving artists, and more! A portion of all proceeds from our all-inclusive store, Intent-sive Nature goes toward worthy causes. For guidance in the world of freelance writing or for advice on her specialty topics, Ask Lyn. Archives
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