"The cold weather that arrives in many areas signifies cozy sweaters, red wine, fireside hangouts, and holiday festivities — all things we love about the fall and winter months. However, as the temperature drops and the air becomes drier, it’s important that we all focus more on our skincare routines. As moms, we not only have to think about ourselves but our little ones as well.
Thankfully, our kids do not require fancy serums, eye creams, or oils. It’s more about finding one to two skincare products and practices and maintaining a consistent routine. Keep it simple, fragrance-free, and comfortable for your baby. Here are some skincare practices and products to help soothe your child’s skin during the colder months. As always, please check with your pediatrician first before introducing anything new into your child’s skincare routine.
Bathe every other day
We all know kids can get pretty messy between meals and playtime. However, unless they are diving into a muddy pile of leaves, it’s likely they can go without a bath every night. Having a fully submerged tub bath every night can dry out their skin and strip it of healthy oils. Instead, try giving them a sponge bath every other night with a warm washcloth. If bathtime is part of a solid bedtime routine, try doing the sponge bath in an empty tub, or use a fragrance-free cream wash in a full tub.
Try oatmeal and baking soda in the bath
Also good for when a baby has a diaper rash, a baking soda and oatmeal bath will help soothe and nourish baby’s skin. Fill a cheesecloth or gauze bag (these work really well!) with plain oats and two tablespoons of baking soda. Toss it into the tub while it’s filling with warm water so the oats and baking soda can activate. You’ll notice the water will be cloudy, similarly to when you make oatmeal for breakfast!
Use infant moisturizers
Most of the time we are so focused on lotioning up baby’s arms, legs, and trunk that we forget their cute little faces! Many babies hate to have their face cleaned let alone moisturized, so this can be a feat. But it is definitely an important part of a winter skincare routine because their cheeks and nose can get really chapped and dry. If you’re looking for something a little lighter than your typical baby lotion, try this infant light moisturizer.
Try a heavier eczema cream if needed
These are the months when many moms need to resort to the heavy-duty creams to treat bouts of eczema. Eczema is very common in young children and can many times be resolved using basic over-the-counter creams. Always consult with your pediatrician first before treating eczema. This eczema therapy cream has gotten great reviews and is pediatrician recommended. If you’re looking for a clean ingredient product, this eczema spot treatment will resolve those dry, itchy patches for baby.
Make sure sanitizer is alcohol-free
Ever wonder how hand sanitizer dries so quickly after being applied? It’s because alcohol is one of the main ingredients. That quick-dry feature is great until your hands feel like sandpaper! Since we are all using more hand sanitizer in the fall and winter to avoid sickness, I would recommend buying one that is alcohol-free and won’t dry out your skin. It also kills 99 percent of germs and is safe to use on baby’s sensitive hands after a trip to the park.
