Yes, you can moisturize your newborn's face if it looks dry, flaky, or chapped, especially after baths to lock in moisture, but it's often not necessary unless needed; use fragrance-free, hypoallergenic baby lotion or cream, avoid harsh ingredients, and consult your pediatrician for guidance, as new skin is delicate and sometimes less is more initially.
Research now indicates that 'less is most definitely more' and it is better to avoid the use of skin cleansing and moisturising products for the first few weeks until your baby's skin has had time to mature naturally.
Here's the good news, Mama: you can start moisturizing your newborn's skin right after their first full bath! As you're working up to that moment, here are a few important things to keep in mind: Wait until after the umbilical cord stump falls off before fully submerging that area in water.
Especially avoid putting any oil, ointment, or greasy substance on your baby's skin because this will almost always block the small sweat glands and lead to pimples or a heat rash. If the skin starts to become dry and cracked, use a baby lotion, hand lotion, or moisturizing cream twice a day.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
The 7 key danger signs for newborns, often highlighted by organizations like the WHO, are not feeding well, convulsions, fast breathing, severe chest indrawing, lethargy/unconsciousness (movement only when stimulated), high or low temperature, and jaundice (yellow skin/soles) or signs of local infection like an infected umbilical stump, requiring immediate medical attention.
Newborn flaky skin usually lasts from two to four weeks. It starts a few days after birth and stops on its own in a couple of weeks as the baby's skin adapts to the new Environment. In some infants, this period can extend up to a few months as well.
It's important to know which ones are safe and which ones aren't. Generally speaking, we prefer to use hypoallergenic baby wipes on our children's faces. Even with hypoallergenic baby wipes, you have to be careful when using them on a baby with sensitive skin or children that already have a skin condition, like a rash.
There's no need to give your newborn baby a bath every day. Three times a week might be enough until your baby becomes more mobile. Bathing your baby too much can dry out your baby's skin.
Moisturising your baby
Apply a thick, non-fragranced moisturiser all over daily at the first sign of dryness. Thicker creams are more effective than lotions.
The newborn 5-5-5 rule is a postpartum guideline for new mothers to focus on healing and bonding in the first 15 days home, dividing rest into 5 days in bed, followed by 5 days on the bed, and then 5 days near the bed, encouraging minimal chores, visitors, and activity to prioritize recovery from childbirth and establishing the new family unit, drawing on traditional postpartum rest practices.
Yes, it is safe for adults to use baby wipes to help you maintain some level of personal hygiene.
Believe it or not, not every diaper change requires the use of wipes. This is not only because pee is rarely irritating but also because today's superabsorbent disposable diapers effectively limit the amount of pee that comes into contact with your baby's skin.
Use a moistened, clean washcloth or cotton ball to wipe each eye, starting at the bridge of the nose, then wiping out to the corner of the eye. Wash the rest of the baby's face with a soft, moist washcloth without soap.
Best for makeup removal. Makes skin so gentle and soft. Baby wipes remove all the dust in one go, if you can't wash your face then you must use this wipe. These are perfect skin wipes.
Baby acne is a common condition affecting approximately 20% of newborns. Although a genetic predisposition may play a role in some cases, it's not related to poor hygiene or dietary factors. Newborn skin is extremely sensitive; even the slightest irritation can cause an outbreak.
Do
Never pick at your baby's cradle cap. Picking at scales can lead to skin damage, irritation, scarring, and even skin infections. Either leave the flakes alone or use baby shampoo for cradle cap to remove the scales.
The hardest week with a newborn is often considered the first six weeks, especially weeks 2-3, due to extreme sleep deprivation, constant feeding demands, learning baby's cues, postpartum recovery, and a peak in inconsolable crying (the "witching hour"), making parents feel overwhelmed as they adjust to a new, exhausting routine. While the first week is tough, the challenges often intensify as the baby becomes more alert but still fussy, with major developmental hurdles like cluster feeding and increased fussiness peaking around 6-8 weeks.
Beyond the cuteness explosion you can expect when Baby starts smiling around 6 to 8 weeks, it's also an exciting time for their development. Baby's vision and facial recognition is improving, and they're outgrowing their early reflexes. They're also beginning to express feelings, such as excitement or contentment.
Even if they go on for 10 minutes or more, they generally are not a cause for concern. But if hiccups persist, a parent should be vigilant. “Hiccups can be a little more concerning if the child also has other signs, such as being really fussy or arching their back a lot while feeding or after feeding,” Dr. Nauman said.
Do You Wipe After Pee? The short answer may surprise you: Wiping for pee is not always necessary. In instances where a wet wipe isn't necessary or available, a moist tissue, a gentle washcloth, or even a quick rinse in the tub can suffice, saving both your wallet and your baby's sensitive skin.
If you don't have any physical limitations preventing you from reaching around your body to wipe from front to back, it's generally considered the safer route to go. You'll be moving feces away from your more delicate parts, lowering the risk of infection.
Keeping your baby clean between baths