Baby Skin Care 101: Tips for New Parents

Becoming a new parent is a tiring and exciting time. You are now responsible for the life of a perfect, adorable tiny human. Everyone tells you how wonderful being a new parent is, but nobody actually tells you how to be a new parent. When I had my first baby, I was thrilled with the perfect little baby I’d created—and terrified, as I had no idea how to take care of such a gentle and impressionable creature. Being a new parent is hard, but you’ll figure it out as you go along. One thing that stumped me was how much skin care a baby requires. Y’all, I barely had a skin care routine nailed down for myself when my first baby arrived, so I was lost. To help y’all out, I’ve compiled a baby skin care 101 with tips for new parents.

When you’re a parent, you want to be informed and ready for anything.

Bath time doesn’t need to happen every day

A baby doesn’t need a bath every single day. Although it’s tempting to put your baby in a soothing bath every night to stick to a bedtime routine, it can actually be damaging to their skin. Babies really don’t do much during their day to get themselves dirty. Face and hand washings throughout the day and before bed should be enough to keep them clean between baths.

Sun protection is a must

Babies have very sensitive skin that’s not quite used to regular day-to-day exposures yet—especially when it comes to the sun. Sun protection is necessary for everybody to keep skin soft and healthy, but it’s especially crucial for babies. Sun protection prevents sunburns and other damage to skin, which can occur in babies when they don’t have the right amount of protection. It’s best to use a baby-safe sunscreen and get a few cute sun hats to keep the sun from their gentle little faces. You also should invest in various options for sunshade for the car, that are reviewed on websites like best for parents, in order to protect your baby from sunlight when traveling! I like to use at least an SPF of 30 for my kids—and myself!

Learn to manage dry skin

Don’t panic when you see a patch of dry or flaky skin on your baby. Dry skin happens to the best of us. Be prepared to find out what’s causing the dry skin while treating it. Different skin types respond better to some lotions and natural moisturizers than others. It’s about trial and error with an infant. Try to avoid harsh chemicals, and stick to moisturizers that are more natural. My first child was partial to petroleum jelly, while my second responded better to traditional baby lotion with oatmeal in it.

Always be on the lookout for ways to keep your baby’s skin healthy, as your child will constantly change during the course of the next 18-plus years. The most important thing is to be open to changing your child’s skin care routine as their needs change.