10 Tips for Newborns' Skincare

Caring for a new baby can be tricky--especially when it comes to their skin. Newborn skin is delicate and requires a special touch. Here are some tips for keeping baby's skin healthy.

1.) Don't bathe baby too often. Mistakenly, parents fall into the trap of thinking baby needs a daily bath. But think about it: Baby doesn't get that dirty during the first few months and doesn't require a head to toe tub bath every day. Washing a few times a week might improve dry skin. That being said, don't neglect the diaper area that will require thorough cleaning every day.

2.) Change that diaper! Diaper rash is caused by buildup of urine and feces. Keeping the area clean is the best way to avoid diaper rash (Tushies wipes are a wonderful natural wipe). If diaper rash has developed (a red, sometimes raw, angry rash) you'll need a good, thick barrier cream such as Nature's Baby Organic's Diaper Cream or Budro's Putt Paste. These thick creams will protect the skin and allow the irritated area to heal.

3.) Save soap and shampoo until the end of the bath. Splashing with baby can be a blast. Play away, but save the washing portion of the bath until the end. According to Dr. Jason Rubin, the founding physician behind Belli Baby Skincare, this will save baby's tender skin from unnecessary exposure to the drying elements in soaps and washes.

4.) Rubin also suggests looking for natural products and avoiding synthetic fragrances and dyes. At Belli each ingredient teratology screened (looking for anything that will cause a birth defect) and all baby products are screened for xenoestrogens--"Chemicals which can act like hormones that interfere with normal development of the reproductive system," says Rubin. In addition to Belli, other brands to consider include California Baby and Little Twig.

5.) Invest in a good moisturizer. Every time you bathe your child you wash away natural oils. A moisturizer such as Avalon Organics' Weightless Nourishing Baby Lotion will lock in natural moisture and add additional elasticity.

6.) The best time to apply moisturizer is after baby's bath. Cleaning strips the skin of its oils and this is the ideal time to replenish the surface of baby's skin.

7.) Don't forget the sunscreen. Mustela makes a terrific baby sunscreen. Additionally, the wipes from Shady Day are also perfect to tuck into a diaper bag. They look like diaper wipes and are a breeze to achieve a smooth allover application to a child.

8.) Skip the talc. Talcum powder has been linked to cancer and severe respiratory problems. Instead of talc, use a product with cornstarch to keep baby's diaper area dry.

9.) Be patient--some skin conditions simply require time. Milia (small white, pimple-like bumps on face or other areas) will most likely go away on their own.

10.) For more troubling conditions, such as eczema, talk to your pediatrician about treatment. Eczema has been linked to exposure to allergens. It can be quite uncomfortable and may lead to bleeding and infection when untreated.