Your baby’s skin won't necessary look pretty at first, but who actually cares when your little bundle of joy is finally here, laying on you?
👼🏾 At birth…
the top layer of your baby's skin is very thin and easily damaged - premature babies' skin is even more delicate. Fine hair, called lanugo, may cover his/her body for the first few weeks, especially if they are preemies.
Vernix, the white sticky substance that covers your baby's skin while in the womb, should always be left on the skin. It's a natural moisturiser that also protects against infection in the first few days. Expect it to take a day or two to wear. If your baby is overdue, their skin may be dry and cracked. This is because all the protective vernix has been absorbed before they were born.
And those scales and flakes on their scalp? Again, let it be, and the cradle cap will go away on its own. For particularly severe or stubborn cases, talk to the pediatrician about treatment.
👼🏼 It doesn't need to be washed that often
It's best to bath your baby with plain water only for at least the first month. Do not add cleansers to your baby's bath water or use skin lotions or medicated wipes. Opt for soap-free, fragrance-free cleansers when ready to use them.
If your baby enjoys a nightly bath, that’s fine, but there’s really no need to wash your infant every day. In fact, too much washing can dry out a baby’s delicate skin, leaving it more susceptible to rashes and infections. A quick wipe-down of their neck, legs, arms and diaper area with a damp washcloth is usually good enough most days.
👼🏻 Another surprising fact about newborns' skin
No matter your ethnic background, your little angel’s skin will be reddish purple for the first few days and even weeks. This is perfectly normal, but do keep an eye out for a yellow cast to the skin, as this could be a sign of jaundice.
👼🏿 It’s very prone to rashes
About 40 percent of babies are born with milia, those white or yellow dots that look like tiny whiteheads and appear all over their little faces. And more than one-third of newborns will break out in what is known as baby acne. The best thing you can do for baby breakouts is to leave them alone and your baby's skin will usually clear up by the time they are about 6 months old. There’s also a 50/50 chance they’ll develop "newborn rash" and "flea bite rash" — a harmless, temporary red rash that can cover her body. This condition will likely disappear on its own in about two weeks. So basically, allow their own skin to do their job without intervening.
👼🏽Newborn’s skin is paper-thin
Your baby’s skin is so thin that you can see most of their blood vessels underneath, which, as it turns out, is one way to gauge your newborn’s temperature and mood: when their blood boils — if they're crying, or hot — their skin will turn pink and mottled. And when your baby’s cold, their feet and hands may actually turn blue, reminding you to cuddle them close or add another layer.
Thin skin means it’s easy for babies to get chilled, so it’s always important to dress your baby in one more layer than you yourself would wear. After about a year, her skin will thicken enough to keep her naturally insulated and you won’t have to worry so much about the extra-layer rule.
Over the first month, or longer for premature babies, your baby's skin will mature and develop its own natural protective barrier. Make sure to always dress him with the best possible clothes, and best means clothes made from premium raw materials. Noble fabrics that are respectful of their skin delicacy.
Babycottons newborn collection -including clothing and accessories such as towels, hats, blankets, bibs, etc-, are all made of Peruvian Pima cotton. This is simply the best cotton in the world for newborns as it is luxuriously soft, anti-allergenic and thermoregulating (helping babies keep the right temperature). Our Pima cotton doesn’t use pesticides or fertilisers neither it is re-processed for dying purposes.
👼 Baby’s skin burns very easily
A baby’s skin burns much more quickly than big-kid or grown-up skin, which is serious since sunburns in babies are as harmful as burns from scalding water.
The best way to protect them is to keep them out of direct sunlight as much as possible, especially between 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. If you do have to run errands during those hours with baby, dress him/her in light clothing that covers her arms and legs.
Cover that tender head with a hat and dab her cheeks and the tops of her ears with sunscreen, even if she’s younger than 6 months.
💝 The good news about all this sensitivity 💝
Your baby’s thin skin is sensitive to everything, including your touch — and that’s the most wonderful thing. Every time you kiss, massage or pamper your sweetie’s skin, you stimulate the production of their feel-good hormones — including the “love hormone” oxytocin, which boosts the bonding process.
Enjoy this magic love and journey and remember to check out our newborn collection of clothing, accessories based on the delicacy of Pima cotton. Also check our Coming Home section, specially design to bring baby home from hospital or to dress him/her on their very first days.