Soft As A Baby's Bum: Natural Skincare For Baby
You have this beautiful new little human to care for and, with your new addition, a million questions. A common area of concern for new parents is how to care for their baby’s skin. With all sorts of information buzzing around the Internet, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure. You may be second-guessing some of your decisions or be giving way more thought to diaper cream than you ever thought possible. That’s ok.
Your job as a parent is to keep your children safe and protected. So it’s understandable that you would put so much thought into seemingly small details.
Your baby's skin is brand new and adjusting to the world that we live in may result in all sorts of rashes and irritations. One of the most important things you can do to help protect your loved one’s skin is to keep it softened, moisturized and nourished. At Wild Carrot Herbals, we strive to help you do just that by using natural botanicals that work harmoniously with your baby’s needs.
Here are some common areas where we get questions regarding skincare for babies. Please note that we are merely sharing information and not diagnosing a medical condition or prescribing a cure. If you need this, please consult a medical professional.
Cradle Cap: It’s estimated that around 70% of babies get cradle cap. It typically shows up in the first few months of life and ends at around one year. Cradle cap is the common term for infantile seborrheic dermatitis which is essentially a form of eczema in infants. It shows up in areas that have many oil-producing sebaceous glands like the scalp, behind the ears, the forehead and the eyelids. In most cases, cradle cap will clear up on its own; however, there are some things you can do to help support your little one's scalp throughout the process. First, as tempting as it may be, don't pick! This can lead to more irritation and the possibility of infection. Gently rubbing the scalp with a warm, wet washcloth will help aid in removing skin that is ready to come off. Along with gentle cleansing, we have gotten many happy reviews on how our scalp-nourishing Baby Cradle Cap Drops has helped reduce our baby customers' cradle cap. To use, we recommend that you apply it to either a wet or dry head; it’s particularly soothing after a night time bath. This allows it to penetrate deeper into the scalp. In the morning, you can use a fine-toothed comb to remove flakes that are ready to come off.
Fragrance vs Essential Oils: Essential oils are made from naturally occurring substances found in different parts of plants. Fragrance oils are their artificially derived counterparts. The large majority of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream. Which means we want to be especially diligent about the products that we use on ourselves and our babies. When it comes to scented products, opt for those that contain only essential oils, and know that even in the world of essential oils, quality can vary greatly. Things to look for when choosing a product are whether or not the essential oils are organic as well as the company’s transparency about their production processes. Because of their potency, it is important to use essential oils in small amounts and to always dilute them before applying. Wild Carrot Herbals products use baby-approved essential oils like calming chamomile and loving lavender. A great way to introduce a baby to them is by doing a post-bath massage using our Baby Body Oil.
Cloth Diapers: Although they may seem intimidating at first, cloth diapers can be a great choice for your family. They can be used solely or in conjunction with disposable, biodegradable diapers. The options for cloth diapers these days are endless, making them a lot more accessible and easier to navigate. There may even be a diaper service business in your area. These businesses will pick up your diapers on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and launder them for you. Some benefits to using cloth diapers are: saving (a lot!) of money, not exposing your baby to the many toxins in traditional diapers, minimizing rashes, preventing leakage, and protecting the environment. You can even resell them when you’re done. While you do have to be cautious about which diaper creams you use with cloth diapers, our skin soothing Baby Bum Balm is cloth diaper tested and approved!
What about Mama?
Breastfeeding and Nipple Care: To be able to nourish your sweet baby using the liquid gold your body produces is such a gift. As beautiful and straightforward as it may seem from the outside, breastfeeding can be complicated. Along with this magical bonding time can come chafing, irritation, discomfort, frustration, pain, and even infections. If your babe is brand new and you are both still adjusting to breastfeeding, a specialized lactation consultant can come to your home and help you assess your baby’s latch and, for the shape of your breast, advise on optimal positioning. While your milk can be used to treat a number of skin ailments (yours and baby's) including your own sore nipples, for extra support in keeping nursing nipples as happy as possible, we recommend our Calendula Nipple Whip. Made with food-grade shea butter and organic olive oil infused with calendula, this product helps to gently “whip” your nipples back into shape, ready for baby’s next meal. Swelling, pain or burning of the breast accompanied by a fever or general feeling of being ill may be a sign of mastitis, a treatable infection of the milk duct. Consult your healthcare provider if you experience any of the above symptoms.
Given all this, the most important part of caring for your baby and their skin is to trust your intuition. The journey of parenthood is eased by understanding the vast resources that you already have inside of you. Tune in to your and your baby’s needs, listen for answers, and enjoy all the magical moments.