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Baby Skin Care and Massage

Soft as a baby’s bottom. We all know what that means….ahhhh…and babies smell so goooood...mmmmmm….

So how do we maintain healthy, soft, supple skin in our precious little one?

The first step is that we must remember that the skin is not a raincoat, it is an organ. It absorbs and excretes. It “breathes” in its own way, and so what we put on the skin is just as important as what we let come out of the skin. Babies absorb much more through their skin that adults do, due to the softness (their skin is thinner), and to the fact that their skin, relative to their body size, is much larger, ie. the surface area is greater.

The skin itself is also an essential aspect of a baby’s immune system; it keeps stuff out, it is a baby’s first line of defence, and the acid mantle of the skin is essential to this defence. The acid mantle is destroyed by many harsher skin products, and must be replenished, leaving your baby vulnerable in the interim. Such products include most soaps, surfactants, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS). Also avoid parabens. Avoid chemical preservatives and colourings. Avoid shampoos that say they prevent tears. Use caution with essential oils, as only the most dilute solutions are needed for baby.

Choose products for your baby’s skin wisely:

• Use natural PLANT oils and never mineral or petrochemical oils. Even extra virgin organic olive oil is great for baby massage!
• Natural is best; make sure that when is say “natural” it isn’t just a marketing ploy! Many products even say ‘organic’ or ‘herbal’ but still contain chemical additives and ingredients which are not good for your baby. If in doubt, ask. The simpler the formula, the better.
• Quintessence Baby Massage Oil is specially developed to moisturize, nourish and protect your baby’s skin
• Quintessence Sweet Almond Oil; this can be added to baths or used for massage
• Quintessence Calendula Oil
• Weleda Calendula Oil
• Made 4 Baby products
• Tui Bee Balme is an excellent cream for nappy changes (one 500g pot lasts for atleast a year)
• Weleda Nappy Change Cream

DO massage your baby! Every day. Benefits of baby massage include:

• Increased bonding and communication between mother and baby
• Reduced stress in babies
• Babies sleep better and are soothed more easily
• Babies are more alert, sociable, and gain weight more easily
• Babies cry less!
• Improves immune function
• Encourages development of babies nervous systems

Nb: This is the section on General Skin Care for Babies;

For specific concerns, see also:

• Nappy Rash
• Eczema and dermatitis in babies and small children
• Cradle Cap