Important Things to Remember When Caring for Your Baby’s Skin, Hair and Nails

Babies, especially newborns, feel so small and fragile that first time mums and dads are often nervous about holding them. Simple tasks like bathing and nail trimming can be disconcerting as the little ones are so delicate you’re left second guessing whether you’re doing them correctly.

While it’s easy to feel anxious, most of the time, there is nothing to worry about. To help you care for your bub, here’s a guide on properly handling your newborn’s delicate body parts, from their skin, hair and nails. 

Newborn skin

While a newborn’s skin is soft and smooth, it is not perfect. You might be surprised to find it dry or peeling, especially during the first week or two. This is due to the skin’s sudden exposure to the air now that vernix, the substance that protects the baby from amniotic fluid before birth, is no longer covering your newborn. 

Peeling skin is normal and usually requires no treatment. Babies will also develop all sorts of spots and rashes, like mottled or blotchy looking patches, most of which will disappear on their own within a few weeks.

To care for your little one’s skin, it’s essential to use fragrance free, hypo allergenic products. Perfumes and dyes should be avoided, as these can seriously irritate newborn skin. If you require baby wipes to clean your bub, choose pure cotton wipes like the Eonian Care Ultra Soft Dry Wipe, which are chemical and fragrance free. These gentle yet strong wipes can be used wet or dry and can even be reheated to keep them fresh, warm and moist. Pair it with the Eonian Care Portable Baby Wipe Warmer, which has 3 heat settings to warm up baby wipes and maintain the heat for longer. You can even use it to warm other baby essentials like diapers and lotions!  It’s portable and powered via a USB cable so you can take it with you on the go! 

Newborn hair

The abundance or lack of hair on your newborn’s head at birth should not be a cause for concern. Some babies may be born with a shiny, bald head, luscious locks, or a soft hint of fuzz – either way, these will gradually or suddenly change and will soon look different.

Whether your little one has a thick mane or not, what’s more important is taking care of their scalp. They are prone to cradle cap – a common condition also known as seborrheic dermatitis, which causes flaky, greasy or crusty skin that may be white, yellow or brown coloured. It may be present in the baby’s scalp, ears, eyebrows, eyelids and even in their armpits and other baby folds.

A cradle cap usually occurs during the first couple of months, and there’s no way to prevent it. The good news is that while it is unsightly, it typically doesn’t itch and causes no harm to your bub. It doesn’t require medical treatment and can clear up on its own within a few months.

However, there are things you can do to loosen and remove the scales. During bathtime, you can try massaging their scalp with natural oil or while they have shampoo in their hair. Wash to remove the oil and shampoo, then remove the loosened flakes with a fine tooth comb or soft brush.

Newborn nails

Caring for your newborn includes cleaning their hands and feet, but first time parents might find trimming their baby’s nails to be an intimidating task. Don’t rush – you should be comfortable and confident enough before taking it on.