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 Your much awaited little bundle of joy has arrived into this world, looking beautiful, fragile and delicate. That is also probably the adjectives that could be used to describe his skin. Baby’s skins are much thinner, delicate and produce less oil and melanin. Since it has been in the comfortable protection of your womb, your baby will take time to build resistance to bacteria, germs and other substances. In other words, in the first few days or weeks your baby’s body will be quite vulnerable to any infection or germs around. Their sweat glands haven’t developed properly yet, so they won’t be able to sweat and maintain their inner body temperature as well.

In a few weeks after their birth, babies start to retain some of the mother’s hormones and any hormonally changes aren’t without any effects. You can expect a few minor skin conditions which to your relief will usually disappear as quickly as they come. There are a few other skin issues which are quite normal in babies, and easily managed as well. When caring for your baby’s skin, it is always better and safe to stick with natural skin care products. There are many baby skin care products available in the market, ensure that the products you use on your baby are safe for their extra sensitive skin.

Here are 5 home remedies you can use to care for your baby’s skin:

• Herbs: Some herbs that are deemed safe are aloe vera, chamomile and calendula. Aloe vera and chamomile have components that moisturize and soothe the skin. Calendula on the other hand, is great for healing skin inflammations and diaper rashes. You can make homemade diaper rash ointments, skin balms and oil blends with herbs to soothe your baby’s skin.

• Bathing: Bathing can be a fun experience for mother and child. But you also have to be extra careful as your baby’s skin is soft and fragile. Newborn babies don’t require a bath daily, two or three times a week is usually enough. It is important to thoroughly clean your baby after each diaper change. The water temperature should be pleasantly warm and it is recommended that you sponge bath your infant till the umbilical cord falls off. After the umbilical cord has fallen off, you need to use soft wash cloths and baby oil, shampoo and soap. A bubble bath, as fun as it may sound, is not good for an infant’s skin. Mainly because it contains chemicals and detergent like properties that are used to produce bubbles.

• Clothing: Your baby may be prone to heat rashes, chafing, eczema due to the retention of your hormones. Make sure you dress your baby in loose comfortable cotton clothes. The skin needs to be cleansed and dried thoroughly. Sometimes, clothing can cause friction with your infant’s delicate skin and result in chafing. Remove any piece of clothing that rubs against the skin and/or is too tight. After which, clean, rinse and dry your baby’s skin properly and apply a soothing balm or lotion.

• Skin Conditions: some skin conditions like infant acne and eczema can be cause of worry to a new mother. For infant acne, do not try using any over the counter topical creams. Instead just wipe your baby’s face with a clean soft wash cloth and apply some aloe vera gel on it. It is best to consult your child’s pediatrician for eczema.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.

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