Baby Skin Care Centre
Caring for your baby's skin
Taking care of your baby's lovely soft skin is a top priority - which means keeping it protected from anything that can irritate or damage it.
A new born baby's skin is more sensitive than an adult's,1 as well as being slightly thinner1 so it needs a little extra special attention to keep it in tip top condition.
Watch how you wash
Babies' skin is likely to be more sensitive to the type of chemicals that you might find in harsh soaps or cleansing products. For this reason, The British Skin Foundation advises parents to limit the amount of products that you use on your baby's skin. For example, you should avoid perfumed products in favour of fragrance free emollients if your baby has dry skin.2
Don't use any cleansing products on your baby that might strip their skin of its natural oils - this could cause them to develop dryness. Avoid using any products that lather or foam up, especially non-baby soaps, bubble baths or shower gels. Also check the ingredients list on any products before you buy them, and avoid anything that contains alcohol, colours, preservatives or added fragrances.2
General hints and tips
It's common sense, but clean nappies are key when it comes to skincare in that delicate area. When a baby's nappy gets wet, the urine that's in contact with their skin breaks down into ammonia, which irritates it and can lead to nappy rash. The best way to avoid this is to change their nappy as soon as it's wet, thoroughly clean your baby's bottom after changing and use a barrier ointment after every change.2 Look for a product which has been clinically proven - and opt for a fragrance free, moisturising ointment that soothes and locks in moisture.
If you're a smoker, or anyone in your household smokes, it's worth remembering that smoke residue on babies clothes can irritate delicate skin as well as the smoke itself being dangerous to their health.3
Sun care for babies
Babies' skin is delicate and can easily be damaged by the sun, so you should always keep babies of six months or less out of direct sunlight.4 If at all possible you should really try to keep very young babies in complete shade, whether that's under a parasol or canopy, or indoors. Make sure that buggies and prams have the appropriate shade to keep sun off of their face too.4
When you take baby outside, keep their skin protected by dressing them in loose-fitting clothes, including a wide-brimmed hat that will keep the sunlight away from their face, neck and ears.4
When you choose a sunscreen, look for one which is formulated for babies' skin. Don't just use an adult sunscreen - although the sun protection will be just as effective, it may also contain chemicals that could irritate the skin or even cause an allergic reaction.4
Try patch-testing any new sunscreen on the inside of baby's wrist before you cover them in it, ideally the day before you will be going out in the sun. Check for signs of irritation and if there are any, such as redness, don't use that particular sunscreen.5
Washing clothes
Many mums wash brand new baby clothes in a non-biological detergent with a sensitive skin fabric conditioner before they dress their babies in them. Always look for laundry products that have been approved by the British Skin Foundation.
If your baby has very sensitive skin or eczema, you might find that it helps to carry on washing their clothes separately in non-biological detergents, as it's often the 'biological' stain-treating ingredients that can cause irritation in sensitive skin; this isn't always the case though, so you might just have to experiment with different detergents until you find one that suits.6
