Effective skin and hair care tips for your little one

Your baby's skin is extra-sensitive, so proper care is essential. Taking good care of a child's skin can help prevent some skin issues and alert you to potential concerns in a timely manner so that you can notify your child's doctor.

Little ones should be taught the right way to take care of their skin by imbibing good skincare habits while they are young. This will help them develop healthy hygiene practices to carry into their teen years and beyond.

Massage and oils

Massaging your baby's skin with hot oil adds an extra layer of moisture to her sensitive skin and helps restore the right balance of the oils in the skin cells. Use mild soaps or gentle body wash to wash your child's body. Make sure to select products that are fragrance free and dyes as these ingredients can dry out or irritate your child's sensitive skin.

Grandma's Tip: Prefer mustard oil over other oils for your little one's massage. If you have appointed a maalishwali bai for the child, make sure you watch her well that she gives the right massage to your child. Olive oil can be your second preference.

Bathing essentials

Remember to check the temperature of your baby's bath water. It should not be too hot or cold. You need to use lukewarm water to wash your baby's face and body. Rub soap into a soft washcloth when bathing a baby and move from the head down, paying close attention to your baby's face, behind her ears and in between her skin folds.

Ideally, one must wash young children a few times a week and check their groin area, face, and folds for dirt or oil. Always apply a mild and unscented moisturizing lotion on your child's skin if it gets dry, scaly or itchy. Gently massage the lotion on her body. You should not apply lotion to the child's hands since they tend to put them in their mouths.

Dealing with rashes and cuts

Always apply a good diaper rash cream whenever you are changing your child's diaper. Use baby wipes that contain glycerin and milk cream. You can use the soft wipes to cleanse your baby's face as well as other body parts.

Apply antibiotic cream on the cuts, burns and other open sores to promote healing and change the bandage at least once a day until the wound heals completely to avoid any infection. Be sure to wash anything that will touch your baby's skin before she wears it. Prefer cotton or soft fabric for your little one's delicate skin.

Warnings

Talk to your child's doctor about any concerns you have about her skin. While rashes, dryness and other minor skin problems are common from time to time, a doctor should evaluate chronic skin issues to check for an underlying illness or medical condition.

How to take care of baby's hair

A baby's hair care regime needs to be carried out with special care. Make sure that you enjoy each and every moment of washing and combing your baby's hair. Whether it's thin, thick, curly, or practically non-existent, parents love to run their fingers through their baby's hair just for the pure pleasure of it. At this time you are starting to notice a texture change in your child's hair. Noticing this change can help you start to know what products work and do not work in your toddler's hair.

Shampoo

Keep your baby's hair and scalp clean, but don't over wash. Over washing can cause dryness, which is not good if you want your baby's hair to grow. Use shampoos carefully and lather it in gently. Rinse with lukewarm water. Apply a little oil after washing, but try not to overdo it.

Combing

If your child's hair is long enough to need detangling, use a wide toothed comb and detangle gently starting from the ends. While combing your child's hair, do not start from the top. Instead, begin at the ends and work your way up. Gently pull apart knots with your fingers, without tugging at your child's scalp.

Hair wash and hair clips

Using a mild baby lotion to rub onto your baby's hair and scalp after a hair wash will make both the skin and hair moisturized and nurtured.

Use Hair clips only for the special occasions or functions. Over manipulation and the use of heavy barrettes can snap your child's hair off right at the hairline. They may also pose a choking hazard if they slip off.

Trimming

The hair should be trimmed on a regular basis, lest it falls into the eyes and ears and irritates them. Using coconut oil regularly should also help in preventing any fungal activity. In winters, it is good to apply warm oil on the head. Cocoa butter is a lightweight butter that is a good conditioner and it will not clog pores. Castor oil stimulates hair growth if you apply it on your child's hair and scalp. It helps in blood circulation and frees the scalp of any bacterial and fungal infections and dandruff.