It's time to change baby skin care practices

The rainy season has already begun and parents need to alter their baby care practices and routine to ensure the baby's skin is looked after well. A newborn baby's skin is 40-60 times thinner than an adult and hence needs the gentlest care and nourishment.

Pradeep Suryawanshi, Professor and Head, Department of Neonatology, BVU Medical College, Pune and Member of Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) shares a guide for the best skincare practices for babies during monsoon.

Massaging: Massaging the baby with oil is an age-old technique followed by almost every Indian household and has various benefits. According to the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP), massaging when done systematically with the right baby oil results in less stress behaviour, lower cortisol levels and improved cognitive performance in the baby. The ideal time to massage is when a child is relaxed and not hungry. Ensure the room is warm and begin with a small amount of oil by pouring it into the hands and gently glide over the skin. One should use light and non-sticky mineral oil with enriched vitamin E.

Avoid rigorous massaging, instead, do it gently with upward strokes and circular motions in the front and back. The process when done with the gentlest touch will improve the parent-child bond and add warmth to the baby's skin which is beneficial during the changing temperatures of monsoon.

Bathing with ease: Bath time like massaging is a good opportunity to engage with the child. During monsoons, a daily bath is not necessary, two to three times a week is ideal. Bathing should be done in a warm room with lukewarm water. Parents can choose to use a baby cleanser or baby soap for bathing the baby. One needs to ensure the products are free from parabens, dyes and phthalates, clinically proven mild and suitable for a child's skin.

Baby soap enriched with milk protein and vitamin E is best as it will gently wash away germs and leave behind soft and smooth skin. Like the soap, baby wash with ingredients like natural milk extracts, rice bran protein and 24 hours moisturizing are also easily available in the market. After bathing, the baby should be dried with a soft and warm towel. The creases should be dried properly to avoid rashes.