Whether it’s because of the snow, cold air, or overheated houses, as soon as the temperature drops, our skin needs more moisture. Likewise, our baby’s skin in the winter needs extra love and care.
The cold dry air can lead to dry skin, chapped lips, heat rashes, or frostnip. With some simple prevention and soothing, your child’s tender skin can stay soft and healthy.
Avoiding chapped lips
Due to drooling these most precious little lips are easily prone to chapping. Keep a natural lip balm or salve in your baby’s bag and apply it a few times a day. This will create a protective layer and keep the lips supple and hydrated. Choose a product with natural ingredients like beeswax and free of parabens or other nasties.
Moisturizing baby’s skin in the winter
Right after a bath, when your little one’s skin is still humid, apply oil or cream all over the skin. Being well moisturized will protect the skin from irritation and prevent winter eczema.
Choose a gentle, natural oil such as apricot oil, coconut oil, or jojoba oil. These are extremely hydrating and offer additional properties good for the skin.
Heat rash prevention
As counterintuitive as it may sound, babies can also suffer from heat rash during winter. This happens when the baby is overdressed and feels too warm and sweats, or when staying in a position without air circulation on the skin for a long period (such as when seated in a car seat).
Thankfully, it’s easy to avoid this itchy rash. Select breathable layers, preferably natural fibers, that are easy to add or remove according to the temperature and the situation.
If your baby develops a diaper rash, use a natural cream or balm to calm the skin. It is possibly caused by sweat and humidity in the bum area. Make sure your child isn’t too warm and change its diaper more often. It can also be a good idea to let the skin dry with some diaper-free air time as well.
Frostnip protection
Midler than frostbite, frostnip can cause discomfort and irritation to your baby’s skin in the winter. The toes, fingers, and head are most vulnerable to the drop in temperature. Keep extremities warm with a blanket, socks, gloves, and a hat.
Again, select natural fabrics such as wool as much as possible. However, for outer layers, wind and rainproof fabrics are best.
Finally, of course, we need to bundle up our baby but don’t forget that a little sunlight goes a long way. So when it’s sunny, make sure to get a dose of Vitamin D by exposing a little skin to the light. Equip your baby with a pair of sunglasses for the full enjoyment of the sun, without any worry about the glare on the snow.
If you’ve enjoyed this article, you might also be interested in my tips for boosting your baby’s immune system naturally.
Until next time, Tania xx