Created for JOHNSON?S® Baby
Your baby?s oh-so-fresh skin is actually super delicate?it?s up to 30 percent thinner than an adult?s skin and it loses moisture quickly. This is especially true in the dry winter months when the humidity level drops and skin loses moisture more rapidly in general. The skin is also a barrier between your baby and the outside world and a weakened skin barrier can lead to dryness in babies. The good news is, parents can play a role in keeping their baby?s skin soft and healthy with these bathtime tips.
Don?t bathe too often: Less is more when it comes to bathing your newborn, says Dr. Jennifer Leavitt, who works at St. Paul?s Maternity Clinic in Vancouver. ?Frequent bathing of a baby can lead to a weakened skin barrier and increased dryness,? says Leavitt. Short baths, under 10 minutes long, two to three times a week is sufficient. Of course, if your baby is visibly dirty with spit up or has had a poop explosion, you?re going to wash that off, but you don?t necessarily need a full bath to do so?just gently wash the soiled area with a washcloth. Keep your baby comfortable: The bath water should be lukewarm?Leavitt suggests touching it to the inside of your wrist to ensure it is not too hot or too cold. Cold water is just unpleasant, and babies get cold faster than bigger people do. Hot water could burn them and too warm water can also break down the skin barrier. You can bathe your baby in a specially-designed infant tub, or an insert that goes in...