Winter weather, and all that comes with it, can be extremely stressing for newborns and toddlers’ skin. Knowing what you can and cannot do or put on your child can be confusing. Consider these tips for keeping your young one’s winter skin replenished, refreshed, revived and safe.
Don’t over-bathe
For kids and adults alike, if we bathe too frequently, our skin can dry out — and this can disrupt the skin barrier and let allergens in. Bear in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends bathing babies no more than three times a week for the first year. With older kids, note that hot, long showers can dry out skin by removing protective natural skin or oils. Keep your bath and shower water warm, not hot and limit the duration to less than 10 minutes.
Apply Sunscreen
For many parents, sunscreen is the last thing they think about putting on their children in the middle of winter. It is important to remember that the sun shines year round and is needed every day, not just on beach days. UV rays reflect off the snow, so outdoor activities like sledding and skiing puts your child at an increased risk of UV exposure. Our Solar Mineral sunscreen is vitamin and mineral-based solar protection.
Use Moisturizer Regularly
Moisturizer is a must if you want to keep your child’s skin healthy in winter. After bathing your child, pat them dry with a towel and apply a moisturizing lotion or cream within the first three minutes of getting out of the water to help the skin retain some of the water from the shower and prevent extra drying. Even if your child’s skin does not look dry or flaky, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t itch or feel uncomfortable.
Invest in a humidifier
Turning the heat on in your home can make the air very dry. Investing in a humidifier for your child’s room and running it at night will add moisture to the air. This added moisture will help prevent dry, itchy skin, dry throats and nosebleeds. You may also add a humidifier to your heating system which can help increase the moisture in the air coming from the furnace.
Limit your child's exposure to other household irritants.
Aerosol products such as furniture polish or air-freshening sprays, pet hair and dander, and wool or synthetic clothing can irritate your child's skin. “Fragrance-free” on product labels — specifically laundry detergent and moisturizers — is key. We also recommend avoiding preservatives too. Preservative ingredients such as formaldehyde and propylene glycol can trigger skin allergies, she warns.
