When Can You Use Baby Lotion on Babies & When Do Babies Get Their First Bath and How Often?

Dry skin and rashes happen to most babies. Lotions and ointments are great products for these problems. But when can you put lotion on a baby? Most first-time parents wouldn’t be sure. Well, that’s the scary thing about parenting, isn’t it? Not knowing how to take care of your baby. Don’t worry!

You’re not the only parents around, and you can always ask for help. The first thing you need to know is that lotions especially designed for babies are safe enough for newborns. They provide much-needed moisture for some cases as well as a calming effect if your baby gets fussy.

But, the best lotion for newborns should have certain key characteristics. These characteristics must be present so you should learn to familiarize yourself with them. The best baby moisturizer must be hypoallergenic, free from harsh chemicals like phthalates, parabens, and sulfates, non-comedogenic, and free from artificial fragrances and dyes.

But, even if the lotions you get have those features, you might be having doubts whether your baby actually needs lotions or not.

Do babies need lotion and when can you start using on them?

In typical cases, babies don’t actually need lotion. A baby’s skin can naturally be dry at first because it’s adapting to its new surroundings. However, some babies develop a particular kind of skin condition that can cause excessive dryness.

This could lead to baby skin peeling or worse, chapped and irritated skin. You may not think that the best lotion for newborn babies is that important, but it is. Some skin conditions can hamper the health and development of your child. That’s why baby skincare is vital to your baby’s daily routine!

So, in this article, we’ll explore:

• When can you put lotion on a newborn baby?
• Baby dry skin and why it happens?
• Baby skin peeling and what it means?
• Baby skin care
• What to use on newborn skin?
• Baby face lotion
• How often should you bathe a baby?
• When do babies get their first bath?
• When can I bathe my baby?

When Can You Put Lotion on A Newborn Baby?

So, when can you put lotion on a baby?

The good news is that lotions explicitly designed for baby use can be applied even to newborn infants. However, you should also know that your newborn’s skin is very sensitive. It is normal for them to have dry skin at first, and it wouldn’t commonly be any discomfort to them. Because of that, most pediatricians would advise you not to use skincare products on your baby for at least the first few weeks.

However, if you notice your baby in distress or his skin is irritated, then you might have a problem. Baby lotions and ointments will help alleviate the discomfort he’s feeling. Just make sure that you’re not using adult products on your baby’s delicate skin. Some ingredients found adult lotions are not safe enough for baby use.

Pay attention to the labels

Next up, read the labels carefully. Keeping your baby clean and happy isn’t the only reason for skincare. You also want to make sure that everything you’re putting on his skin is safe for him. Pick products that are not made of harsh chemicals. Some of these are parabens, phthalates, sulfates, and artificial dyes.

You might also want to pick an unscented lotion since artificial fragrances can cause allergic reactions as well.

Why should you avoid these chemicals you ask?

If these harmful ingredients are absorbed by your baby’s skin, you are increasing the chances of forming childhood asthma and allergies. That’s something no parent would want for their toddler.

Your best bet would be to get the best organic lotion there is.

Why go all-natural?

Natural ingredients are usually the safest for babies because they are mild enough for everyday use.

Of course, there is a tiny chance that your baby might be allergic to certain organic ingredients but never fear! You can always turn to the mild, clinically formulated alternatives in the market.

You can also read up more on natural lotions here in this article.

Baby Dry Skin and Why It Happens?

You now know why lotions are essential. That’s because your baby might be suffering from excessively dry skin. But why does your baby’s skin get dry in the first place?

For one, the newborn baby skin usually is dry at first. Remember that your little one spent his first nine months in a very different environment from ours, his Mommy’s womb. Now he needs to adjust to the world he was born in. There are many other elements out here that his body never encountered before.

More often than not, babies do transition well after the first few weeks. But some babies develop skin conditions that prevent them from getting the moisture they need. This is because your baby’s skin has bumped into pollutants that irritate his skin. Symptoms can range from itchy, irritated skin and rashes to open wounds.

Not even a regular baby wash routine can help heal those, and his discomfort might disturb his sleep pattern if not treated soon. Ask your baby’s dermatologist as soon as you notice your baby’s discomfort.

You will need all the help you can get to determine which environmental factors affect your baby’s condition.

Aside from doing specific lifestyle changes and adopting a new diet, you might also want to get the best baby lotion suited for your baby. You can choose to go all-natural or try mild, synthetic lotions.

One of the products you can look into is the CeraVe moisturizing lotion. It has multiple skin care lines that are mild enough for baby use. The brand is well-known for its innovative moisturizing properties.

Read this article if you want to learn more about CeraVe baby moisturizing lotion.

Baby Skin Peeling and What It Means?

Sometimes dry skin isn’t the only thing you encounter when your baby develops unwanted skin conditions. You might also notice his skin flaking, or you might see unsightly patches of irritated skin. Unfortunately, newborn skin peeling isn’t uncommon.

… some dryness and peeling after birth are normal. Skin flaking will go away on its own and doesn’t usually require special care. – Healthline

Most of the time, peeling is harmless. It’s a by-product of your baby adapting to the outside world. He’s creating a new layer of skin that will protect him better. But if you notice spots that look irritated, seek the help of the best lotion for sensitive skin.

Remember that not all baby lotions can be used for babies with sensitive skin just like not all adult lotions can be used for adults with sensitive skin. You might need to look for certain lotions that are formulated primarily to treat skin conditions like cradle cap and psoriasis.

The best baby eczema lotion will usually be all-natural. It will have all the necessary attributes of a baby lotion like having no harsh chemicals and being free from artificial dyes and fragrances. But it will also have soothing properties that can help calm your baby’s irritated skin.

This is important since your baby will surely be uncomfortable. With the help of your lotion, your baby’s skin conditions can be managed. Your baby can go through his every day with hardly any trouble at all.

Read this article if you want to discover more about babies and the best lotion for sensitive skin.

If you want to learn more about eczema and how to manage it, head on over to this article.

Baby Skin Care

The very best soap and baby wipes would not be enough to give your baby a thorough and well-served skin pampering. For one, you can’t always give your baby in a bath. Also, wipes are only good for instant and on-the-go cleaning. It’s not very thorough.

Having a diverse skincare routine will also help you prevent uncomfortable situations like the formation of a diaper rash. Of course, you will want to get products that have the general features like tear-free, fragrance-free, nongreasy, and etcetera.

Chemicals, fragrances, and dyes in clothing, detergents, and baby products can cause newborn skin irritation, dryness, chafing, and rashes. – WebMD

What to Use on Newborn Skin?

You need an all-around skincare routine to give your baby the care he deserves. That means, invest in baby wash and shampoo, baby lotion, baby wipes, baby oils, baby creams, baby ointments, and many more. This may seem excessive, and you always have the choice to pick only the things your baby absolutely needs.

But it’s good to know that each of these products provides different types of help to your baby’s skin. For example, a baby lotion is great for everyday use and can give your baby effective hydrating results.

But if you combine this with a baby cream every night, it could be better! A baby cream is thicker than lotion and holds more potent moisturizing qualities than a lotion. You see, the best baby skin care products can do wonders for your baby and you.

Read this article if you want to find out more about some of the best baby skincare products on the market today.

Baby Face Lotion

You have to remember that you’re not only protecting your baby’s arms and feet. His face can also be affected by dryness.

But can you use baby lotion on a newborn’s face?

The answer is yes you can, as long as it’s a face lotion specially formulated for babies.

The face is more sensitive than the body, more so for your baby. You will need to find a face lotion that works for him. You can also use sunscreen sometimes if you’re going to the beach or the like. But don’t use it daily. Babies don’t usually need sunscreen, and it might harm them than benefit them if you use it regularly.

The safest way to determine whether you can use face lotion on your little one is to talk to your pediatrician first. If he gives you the go signal, do it. But if he doesn’t, look for an alternative solution.

If you want to learn more about face lotions and excessive dryness on your baby’s skin, read this article.

How Often Should You Bathe A Baby?

As first-time parents, you might not know this, but you don’t need to bathe your baby every day. They don’t need it. In fact, bathing your little one daily might even strip off the natural oils in his skin. This will lead to excessive dryness if you’re not careful.

But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t give him a warm bath regularly.

When Do Babies Get Their First Bath?

There was a time when the norm was giving babies a bath immediately after they are born. But that’s not the case now. Most hospitals delay giving babies their first bath for at least 12 hours after they’re born. The World Health Organization even suggests delaying the bath of a newborn infant for 24 hours.

This is because getting bathed for the first time can be a stressful experience for your baby. He’s also very sensitive to the cold. To lessen the stress he might feel, a delay can help him acclimatize better to his surroundings first.

When Can I Bathe My Baby?

But if you’re thinking about when to give your baby his first bath at home, the answer is: it’s up to you.

Gauge how your baby is feeling and if you are ready to give him a sponge bath for the first time. You can even delay until a week after you get home from the hospital. Until then, use lukewarm water and a soft washcloth to clean your baby.

Just expect your baby not to like it at first. It’s always different. Some infants love bathing while others have no patience for it. You should also use a very soft washcloth. Plus, don’t rub vigorously. Gentle pats are enough.

If you want to watch a step by step tutorial on how to bathe a baby for the first time, check out this video: