Even though your baby’s skin is kissably smooth and soft most of the time, it’s bound to get dry and flaky every now and then, especially during the winter months. This is because the dry air indoors and the cold weather outdoors adversely affect your little one’s sensitive skin and give rise to skin woes like dryness, flakiness, and chapped skin.
But don’t fret, because, with a little extra care and nourishment, you can nurse your little one’s skin back to health and keep it smooth and plump, even during the colder days. Read on as we have discussed the common skin concerns your little one may experience during winter and remedies to keep their complexion protected and soothed.
3 Common Baby Skin Problems During Winter
During winter, the air holds much less moisture, and as your baby’s skin is five times more sensitive than yours, they experience dryness and chapped skin easily. Here are some common skin concerns that your munchkin might experience during the colder months of the year, and helpful remedies to resolve them.
Chapped Lips
Dry and chapped lips are a common skin problem among babies, especially if they drool a lot. When your baby’s drool around their lips comes in contact with the dry winter air, it causes the top skin layer becomes irritated and cracked. To prevent dry and chapped lips, you can use a moisture-enhancing and baby-safe lip balm, such as BabyChakra’s nourishing lip balm made with 100% natural and non-irritating ingredients. The baby lip balm is blended with organic actives like strawberry oil and shea butter that hydrate your baby’s lips and keep dryness at bay.
Rosy Red Cheeks
Your baby’s lovely cheeks can get easily irritated when exposed to cold air, especially on a windy day. Hence, you must moisturise their skin before going outside and returning home to prevent dryness and flaky skin. You can also consider getting a plastic stroller cover to protect your little one’s skin from the cold and dry air during windy days.
Also, apart from moisturisation, ensure to apply a rich layer of sunscreen on your munchkin’s face and hands to protect their skin against UV rays. This is because even during the winter months, the sun’s rays are strong enough to damage your skin, and are particularly more harmful to your baby, as their complexion is more sensitive than yours.
Itchy And Dry Skin
The winter air can strip off the natural moisture from your baby’s skin and cause it to dry out quickly. This in turn can cause patches all over your infant’s body, usually appearing in red and flaky, and itchy bumps. Plus, if your baby already has dry skin conditions like eczema, the winter air can cause this skin condition to worsen and lead to discomfort in them.
To ease and soothe your little one’s skin, you can consider adding a moisturising body oil to their routine, such as BabyChakra’s nourishing massage oil, which contains a potent mix of organic oils, such as moringa, avocado, saffron, sesame, and almond that deliver essential nutrients to your baby’s complexion, strengthen their skin barrier, and soothe irritation and inflammation caused by itchy skin conditions.
7 Practical Tips To Protect Your Baby’s Skin
- Moisturise frequently: Use a small amount of baby lotion for winter to nourish and moisturise your little one’s skin, especially after their bath and before heading outdoors. Repeat this step multiple times, or whenever you notice your little one’s skin turn flaky and itchy.
- Switch up your baby’s bath time: Although bathtime is a nice and soothing part of your little one’s regular routine, spending lots of time in the tub can rob moisture from their skin, making it dry and cracked. Hence, stick to short baths with lukewarm water, and avoid exposure to hot water as that can cause moisture loss as well.
- Lock in moisture after baths: After your little one’s bathtime, you must proceed to moisturising their skin. Apply a rich layer of a baby-safe moisturiser or a massage oil while their skin is still damp, and ensure to pat the product in instead of rubbing it to avoid skin tears.
- Place a humidifier in your baby’s room: If you notice that the air in your house is quite dry, you can consider investing in a humidifier and placing it in your baby’s room. The humidifier will add more moisture to the air and reduce dryness in your baby’s skin.
- Opt for soft fabrics: Dress your munchkin in soft and breathable fabrics to avoid irritating their skin. Make sure to avoid clothing with rough seams, and remove all the scratchy tags and labels from their clothes to prevent itching.
- Use only fragrance-free products: Scented products can irritate your baby’s skin and make their dry skin condition even worse. That’s why you just stick to using fragrance and chemical-free baby products to ensure good skin health in your little one. You can opt for BabyChakra’s nourishing products that are designed with 100% natural actives and co-created by mums and paediatricians to ensure gentle care.
- Dress smartly for outdoors: We know that you want to keep your baby all fuzzy and warm while heading outdoors during winter, but dressing them in thick wool wear can make your baby sweaty and cause itching and irritation in their skin. Hence, dress them up in layers so that you can take some of the winter clothes off in case your munchkin starts feeling sweaty.
Practicing these winter skincare tips can help keep your baby’s skin soft and plump all winter long and protect against dry and inflammatory skin conditions like eczema. Focus on regular moisturisation, and also include oil massage in their daily routine to prevent water loss from their skin. If you notice dryness in your baby’s skin even after following these tips, then don’t hesitate to consult a dermatologist for guidance and advice.
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