How to protect your baby’s skin in winter

The skin of the newborn is very different from ours as it is fragile, thin and must be protected and cleaned carefully. One of their characteristics is not having sebum so it dries up easily and using moisturizers, oils and fatty substances help to counteract this “defect”.

Cold rashes

When it is the cold that irritates the baby’s skin, we behave differently.

A few months old baby has a composition of bacterial flora and hormone production that is very different from ours and therefore must be protected both from the cold and from sudden changes in temperature (when we enter a very hot environment from outside).

Choose warm cotton, wool, plain cotton or silk garments, avoiding chenille which is not breathable .

The products to have on the changing table or in the bag

Almond oil

It can be used for so many things.

• On the bottom after each diaper change, it acts as a veil of separation between the skin and the diaper.
• On a cotton glove dipped in warm water to wash the baby. Put a generous amount.
• Put on the face it can protect it from the cold of these days
• On the body for a massage.

The oil must be organic and cold-pressed and possibly kept in the refrigerator so as to preserve it at its best and not go rancid. Or use sunflower oil or rice oil , which are less greasy, have a less strong smell and don’t go rancid.

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Moms’ favorites:

• Sweet almond oil Mamma Baby line
• Balance Sweet Almond Oil
• Sweet Almond Oil The Forsan Herbal Tradition

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Shea Butter

It is even more effective than almond oil. It soothes redness and prevents it.

• Use it around the mouth if it uses a pacifier and saliva creates irritation or during teething when saliva always macerates the skin around the lips.
• On the little hands reddened by the cold and on the cheeks.
• All over the body after bathing.

Chamomile

Chamomile compresses are useful for skin reddened by the cold or sudden changes in temperature.

Take 30 grams of chamomile flowers and steep them in hot water for 5-6 minutes. You can use this herbal tea as water to wash your baby.

Marigold

You can use it in cream or ointment. Its emollient action is very ancient.

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Moms’ favorites:

• BIO nappy cream with beeswax, calendula, shea butter and olive oil
• Weleda Protective Cream
• Dulàc – Calendula cream concentrated from organic farming

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How to choose a cream

When choosing the cream we must bear in mind that:

• contain few ingredients
• is free of preservatives, dyes and fragrances
• both fat to the face and ears
• contain an oil as an additive so the skin remains soft

Do not use creams with zinc oxide as they are very pasty and instead of improving the redness, they close the pores and do not let the skin breathe making the problem worse.

Any type of product used must be without preservatives, dyes, without SLS (Sodium Laurilsulfate) and without SLES (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate). If you can’t do without wipes, which are actually handy when you’re out and you don’t have water available, take them with absolutely alcohol-free fragrances that contain chamomile and calendula which have an emollient and calming action on redness.

Diaper rashes

One of the inconveniences a mother is aware of and has to deal with are irritations on the bottom and genitals, due to disposable diapers: urine and faeces wet the sensitive skin and the non-breathable material creates a moisture that causes redness and maceration of the skin , the so-called diaper rash .

In these cases it is enough to use washable or biodegradable diapers or (if it is a choice we do not like), you have to change the baby often, you wash him under running water without using detergents but using only a bar of starch rice .

You can avoid putting zinc oxide creams but alternatively you choose either breast milk as a “cream” or apply oil beaten with a few drops of water.