Wednesday Wisdom – Baby Skincare

Today’s post features some great baby skincare tips from Sharon Trotter.

Sharon is a registered midwife with over 24 years experience. She is the founder of Tips Ltd, the well known website featuring testing programmes and awards scheme set up to provide parents with the latest product information and mark of trust. A mother of five herself, Sharon’s combination of personal experience, as both a professional and a parent, means her advice if both evidence based and trustworthy.

In the course of my work and when attending baby shows or parenting events the following questions and answers come up again and again which is why I have decided to share these ones with you.

Can you give me some advice on the safest way to look after my baby’s skin during the early weeks of life?

A: Since 1996 I have been advising parents to use water only for the first month of life. The overwhelming result of this approach has been positive, with newborn skin being in excellent condition. Rashes, spots and cradle cap are rare. Once introduced carefully chosen mild products are well tolerated.

Recent research suggests that it is safer to bath your baby in plain water for at least the first month of life.

At birth, the top layer of your baby’s skin is very thin and absorbent. This means it is more sensitive to damage from germs, chemicals and water loss. Over the first month (longer in premature infants) your baby’s skin matures and develops its own natural protective barrier. Skin conditions may develop if this natural barrier is damaged.

Remember that anything placed on, in or around your baby has the potential to harm.

The following advice is taken from the Babycare –back to basics™ leaflet. To give your baby the best start in life my key recommendations include:

• Wash your hands before and after carrying out any baby care
• Open cordcare is now recommended: there is no need to use antiseptic wipes or powders – top’n’tail your baby until the cord has separated
• Use water only for baby skincare for at least the first month of life
• Once introduced, read the labels of all products and avoid products containing sulphates (SLS and SLES), parabens, phthalates, artificial colours and perfumes
• Breastfeeding your baby will strengthen their immune system
• Do not overload your washing machine – this will help prevent a build up of washing powder chemical residues on clothing
• Cloth nappies are as efficient as disposables and do not present a higher risk of nappy rash – they are also kinder to the environment
• Use a thin layer of barrier cream on the napkin area to help protect against the development of nappy rash – this cream should ideally be free from preservatives, colours, perfumes, antiseptics, and clinically proven to be effective in the treatment of nappy rash
• Massage oils should be vegetable based and free from mineral oils, perfume and colours – if there is a history of nut allergies in your family you should also avoid nut-based oils. Contact a qualified baby massage therapist and ask for their advice on suitable oils.

My 7-week old has got terrible cradle cap. It looks awful and I’m worried it might hurt her. I’ve used specialist shampoo, almond oil and olive oil, but nothing seems to work.

A: Cradle cap (sometimes called infantile seborrhoeic dermatitis) is a greasy scaly rash usually confined to the scalp of a baby. It is thought to be caused by an over activity of the sebaceous glands due to increased circulating hormones from the mother or overuse of harsh skincare products in the early weeks of life. This condition can be treated with an application of vegetable oil (which should be left overnight) followed by gentle combing of the loosened skin flakes. Strong shampoos aimed at the treatment of cradle cap should be avoided. These products may contain harsh detergents that could aggravate the condition further.

It is not necessary to wash baby’s hair with shampoo until they are a year old. Once you have introduced baby bath products, simply rinse your baby’s hair in the bath water. Make sure any shampoo your use is free from sulphates (SLS and SLES) parabens, phthalates, artificial colours and perfumes.

Have you got any advice on the best way to care for my baby’s skin during the winter months and can you suggest any skincare products?

A: During the winter months it is easy for your baby’s skin to become dry and dehydrated. This can be exacerbated by central heating or the damaging effects of cold winds if the skin is left unprotected while out and about. There are a few simple ways to avoid the onset of dry skin conditions and some wonderful products that will help to protect your little ones delicate skin. By following the simple advice in Q1 you will be able to avoid most problems but why not try the amazing Weleda Baby Calendula Weather Protection Cream made with 100% natural ingredients or the triple TIPS Award winning baby wipes from Jackson Reece. Only products that comply with our strict criteria can be submitted for a TIPS trial and we have detailed reviews for each product tested to help guide you through the maze of baby skincare products. The brand new Baby wipes results are now online and the largest trial of baby skincare products (51 products in eight categories) are due to be published soon.

To speak with Sharon for individual expert advice on baby skin care call her on 0906 400 6215 or view her profile.

View the full list of Experts who can offer advice on baby skin care.