Skin and hair care for babies and toddlers is generally something parents take for granted until there is an issue such as eczema, dry skin, itchy scalp, etc.
Taking care of young children’s skin and hair is the responsibility of their parents as they are too young to care about anything other than playing and exploring their surroundings.
A newborn baby has the most vulnerable skin and delicate hair imaginable. Hence, when it comes to taking care of a baby, particularly at bathtimes, it has to be done gently and mindfully as newborn skin and scalp are still in a fragile, developing stage and hence, prone to irritation, dryness, chafing, and rashes.
Newborn bath needs
Resist the urge to bathe your baby frequently. It removes the natural oils that protect the baby’s skin and leaves it more vulnerable, so it reacts to any potential allergen – triggering a reaction like eczema.
Except for needing their diaper changed and their drool gently wiped away, newborns don’t get all that dirty. For the first month or so, you just give your little one a sponge bath two or three times a week. In between, simply clean the baby’s face and diaper area with a little water and a washcloth.
Bathing a newborn
Baby should not be given a bath until the umbilical cord has fallen off. Here’s how to bathe a baby:
- Lay out a diaper and clothes where you can easily reach them after the bath.
Fill the tub with two to three inches of warm water and test the temperature with your elbow. - Put the washcloth and baby toiletries close by so you will not have to budge from your baby’s side while he or she is in the tub.
- Place baby in the tub, supporting his body with your lower arm.
- Using a wet washcloth, gently clean the baby’s face.
- Use a wet cotton ball or washcloth to clean your baby’s eyes. Wipe from the inside of each eye to the outside. Make sure you get any dried
- secretions out of the nose as well.
- Very lightly soap up the washcloth with a gentle baby wash product and clean your baby’s body from top to bottom and front to back. Make sure you clean inside all of the little folds.
- Lastly, clean the diaper area.
- Rinse your baby thoroughly – you can use a cup for this if you need to.
- Next, wipe baby with a clean washcloth before carefully lifting the little one out of the tub with one hand supporting the neck and head and the other hand supporting the bottom.
- Remember, your baby is wet and squirming, so if you’re still new to this, you can ask another adult help by receiving your baby in a dry towel.
- Pat baby dry.
Moisturize & massage!
More often than not, an infant’s skin is dry and can even have patches of eczema in some areas. Moisturizing your baby’s skin with a moisturizer made for baby is important.
After bath time, gently dry baby off with a soft towel. Apply a gentle baby moisturizer all over the baby’s body. Massaging your baby with baby oil is also a great way to keep his skin moisturised. Baby massages are also found to be a good way to bond with your baby.
Washing baby’s hair:
There are four simple steps to cleaning an infant’s hair. Once you get the hang of it though, you will find your way around it. In the meantime, here’s a simple guideline:
- Fill a cup with water to wet the baby’s hair.
- Just a small amount of shampoo will suffice – rub gently in a gentle circular motion. Keep your baby’s head tilted back.
- Fill the cup again with clean water to rinse your baby’s hair and body.
- When lifting your baby out of the bath, support his bottom with one hand and the head and neck with the other, with a firm hold.
Baby hair-care tips
- You do not have to wash a newborn’s hair daily, for it hardly gets dirty. Aim for a quick shampoo when you bathe your baby, which also doesn’t need to be more often than a couple of times a week.
- Be gentle when applying baby shampoo, even a ‘no-tears’ one, into your baby’s scalp. A too-brisk scalp massage can stress hair follicles and cause breakage.
- Comb your baby’s hair with a soft-bristle brush or a wide-toothed comb that won’t snag on tangles or pull out delicate hair.
- Avoid pulling your baby’s hair back too tightly when grooming. A baby’s hair is not meant to be tied up either, so do resist doing so at this point, and wait till the baby is at least a few months old.
Cradle Cap
If your baby seems to have developed some flaky, red patches of skin on the scalp, it’s probably a cradle cap. It’s not a big concern and is easy to treat. Here’s how:
- Before a bath, massage a little bit of baby oil into your baby’s scalp to loosen the dry skin.
- Gently rub the oil into your baby’s scalp with a soft brush or washcloth to release the flakes.
- Do this before washing the baby’s hair.
Cutting baby’s nails
Baby’s fingernails grow very quickly and they can be sharp enough to cause scratches on that little face and body! File or cut the nails about twice a week. You may use baby scissors or a baby nail clipper. Here are some tips to make cutting nails easier:
- Cut nails after a bath, when they’re softer.
- Sometimes it helps to trim a baby’s nails when he’s asleep.
- Have your partner hold the baby’s hand steady the first few times so you can concentrate on cutting.
- Trim fingernails following the natural curve of the nail.
- Cut toenails straight across.
Teaching a toddler the importance of washing his or her hands, and also the important times to wash their hands, will go a long way in improving their overall health! These 3 tips may help:
- Clean – before & afterward: Little ones are not naturally inclined to keep their hands clean, so you can begin by ensuring they wash their hands after going to the bathroom, coming in from anywhere outdoors and also after playing with pets. Also, make them wash their hands before each meal or snack.
- Sing and wash: Have your toddler sing his or her favourite nursery rhyme while lathering up during hand-washing. This will help ensure that the little one will wash long enough to remove all dirt, grime, and germs.
- Make it fun! Toddlers are more likely to wash their hands willingly if they like their hand soap. Look for kid-friendly scents and a fun dispenser. If they love to dig in the dirt, buy a gentle nail brush to keep those fingers truly clean and germ-free.
Toddlers and hygiene
Toddlers seem to have the knack of getting dirty all the time. Sooner or later, parents will find the need to teach their toddlers about cleanliness and personal hygiene so that they will be able to ward off germs and bacteria that cause illnesses.
Starting with the basics
When it comes to teaching a toddler anything at all, the best way is to lead by example, so you’ll have to practice what you preach when it comes to keeping your teeth clean, and washing your hands after you’ve used the toilet or played with the family pet.
Of course, your little one cannot be entirely in charge of his hygiene but if you do the groundwork now and instill the virtues of cleanliness, you can be sure that you’re paving the path to good hygiene habits!
The ultimate defence against germs – Hand-washing
Our hands touch and transfer germs from one point to another all the time. Teaching a toddler the importance of washing his or her hands, and also the important times to wash their hands, will help keep him clean and healthy.
Little ones are not naturally inclined to keep their hands clean, so you can begin by ensuring they wash their hands after going to the bathroom, coming in from anywhere outdoors and also after playing with pets. Also, make them wash their hands before each meal or snack.
Have your toddler sing his or her favourite nursery rhyme while lathering up during hand-washing. This will help ensure that he’ll wash long enough to remove all dirt, grime, and germs. Use kid-friendly soaps or attractive liquid soap dispensers.
Toilet hygiene tips
When it comes to wiping after using the toilet, it’s always a good idea to do a “once-over” afterward, even if you’ve already taught your toddler to wipe him- or herself with the bathroom tissue. (Teach girls to always wipe from front to back to prevent fecal germs from infecting the vagina or bladder.) Remember too that toddler bowel movements can sometimes get messy. Use disposable wipes instead of toilet tissue on ‘messy’ occasions to add an extra level of cleanliness…
Note: Toilet training is a lot easier if you use a special potty seat, whether self-contained or one that fits over the top of an adult toilet seat.
Make bath time fun!
Little ones should know the correct names of all their body parts and this includes their private parts too. This is important so they can express themselves effectively if they experience any irritation or pain. By proper identification of their genitals and rectum, you can also help ensure proper washing habits in the bathtub by reminding them of each part to wash. Make sure to teach your child to rinse very thoroughly to prevent rashes.
Many toddlers aren’t too keen on getting their hair washed, probably caused by the possibility of stinging their eyes. This worry can be solved by using a tear-free shampoo which does not irritate or sting the eye. U can also try letting your child play with a bath toy as a distraction while you wash and rinse his hair.
Keep hair neat
Coach toddlers to brush their hair morning and night to prevent knots. A good detangling shampoo or conditioner will make the process tear-free and more pleasant. Use a soft hair brush which is gentle enough for delicate hair.
Oral care
This is one area of hygiene that you will truly have to lead by example. Teaching a child to brush his or her teeth regularly will become much easier if the little ones see mummy or daddy do it religiously.
