Baby, It's Cold Outside: Winter Skincare for Baby

by Ann Douglas

Winter weather is tough enough on grownups' skin, let alone the tender skin of young babes. Here are some tips on protecting your baby's skin at a time of year when "dry skin" takes on a whole new meaning.

Don't bathe your baby too often.

Allow the oil in the outer layer of your baby's skin to moisturize your baby's skin naturally. According to the Canadian Paediatric Society, babies don't need to be bathed every day. You can wipe your baby's face with a damp cloth and wash her diaper area with soap and water in between baths.

Go easy with the soap.

Plain water is all you really need to bath a very young baby -- newborns don't get that dirty -- but if you do choose to use soap at bath time, make sure you choose a mild, unscented soap and that you rinse your baby thoroughly.

Pat dry.

When it's time to dry her off, pat, don't rub. Patting will minimize irritation to her skin.

Use gentle moisturizers.

Apply moisturizers to your baby's skin right after her bath. Skincare experts say it's important to apply the moisturizer within three minutes of the end of baby's bath in order to seal the moisture back into her skin before it has a chance to evaporate.

Ann Douglas is the author of numerous books about pregnancy and parenting including the bestselling "The Mother of All Pregnancy Books." She regularly contributes to a number of print and online publications, is frequently quoted in the media on a range of parenting-related topics, and has appeared as a guest on a number of television and radio shows. Ann and her husband Neil live in Peterborough, Ontario. with the youngest of their four children. Learn more at her site, having-a-baby.com.

Copyright © Ann Douglas. Permission to publish granted to Pregnancy.org.