12 Ways to Soothe and Protect Baby Skin in Harsh Weather Introduction
- Introduction
- 12 ways to soothe and protect baby skin in harsh weather
- Conclusion
Babies’ skin is delicate and tender, and without proper care, they can get clogged, dry, or flaky, which will discomfort them. All kinds of weather may be harsh on their skin, either during cold/chilly, sunny or harmattan periods; babies’ skin can be affected, especially during the sunny and harmattan periods. Babies’ skin suffers moisture loss most of the time if their skin is not treated according to the various weather that may occur. The weather can exacerbate babies’ skin if not well taken care of. Heat rashes can occur both in the rainy and dry seasons; therefore, it is important to acknowledge ways parents can soothe and protect their baby’s skin in every weather, especially harsh ones.
Here are 12 ways to protect babies’ skin:
- Keep Bath Time Short and Gentle
Most parents believe during sunny periods, babies must be bathed frequently to avoid heat rash and cool them off. However, this process can lead to irritation, exacerbating heat rash or causing flaky and dry skin. Surprisingly, the best way to handle this period is to keep the baby’s bath time short and gentle. The best thing to do during this time is to avoid hot water and use lukewarm water to avoid drying out the skin. Bath time shouldn’t take over ten minutes. Babies can use soothing bathwashes to keep their skin rash-free and avoid itchy skin. Also, a moisturiser with soothing ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, lavender, honey, and many more can be used to strengthen protection against skin discomfort.
- Moisturize Frequently, Especially During Harmattan
Harmattan dries out the skin due to moisture loss that occurs in both adult and baby skin. This effect on babies’ skin is more severe due to their delicate and tender skin. In this period, moisture is important to keep the skin properly moisturised to avoid dry, flaky, and discomforting skin for babies. Moisturisers with natural ingredients are mostly recommended in this case to protect the skin safely and gently. Shea butter, aloe vera, coconut oil, and honey are important ingredients to look out for in babies’ moisturisers to give ample hydration against the harsh, harmful weather. Applying this moisturiser to babies’ skin twice a day on damp skin will allow penetration into the skin, protecting the skin adequately.
- Dress for the Weather
Dressing for the weather is a great way to protect and soothe babies’ skin against every weather. During high humidity, babies need to wear breathable clothing to avoid suffocation and uncontrollable sweating. Clothes made with natural fibres like cotton will allow adequate air circulation without stifling babies. This lowers the risk of heat rash and provides comfort for babies during warm seasons. Wearing synthetic clothes for babies during this period will cause discomfort and exacerbate skin conditions like heat rash and itchy skin. This causes clogged pores by keeping sweat stuck on babies’ skin. Using a cotton cover during this period will ease babies’ breaths as it promotes air circulation.
- Hydrate from the Inside Out
The heat wave in Nigeria may aid quick moisture loss, making external hydration insufficient. For fully hydrated and moisturised skin, it is important to support external moisture with internal moisture. This entails giving babies sufficient fluids, either from breast milk, formula or water for older babies. This helps significantly reduce the risk of heat rash and conditions like eczema. Every nursing mother must also stay hydrated by taking water to keep their babies adequately moisturised. Breast-feeding mothers can also take foods rich in water content, like watermelon, pineapple, apple and so on. This will help keep babies’ skin soft, radiant and supple.
- Apply Sunscreen When Outdoors
Babies older than six months can apply sunscreen to their skin to protect them from harmful UV rays. Nigeria’s weather experiences lots of sunny periods that may damage babies’ skin; using a natural baby sunscreen with at least SPF 30, which offers broad spectrum protection, can shield babies’ tender skin. Babies might spend long hours outside due to their parents’ schedules. Protecting their skin with sunscreen will keep skin conditions like dryness, sunburn and skin rash at bay. For babies under 6 months, wearing clothes with proper coverage or using a UV ray protection umbrella can shield them from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
- Minimize Baby Powder Use
Lots of parents abuse the use of baby powder. Overusing baby powder can cause clogged pores and powder stains on babies. Truly, it helps absorb sweat, which is why it is needed; it is, however, important to use it appropriately. Using a natural baby powder free of talc is more gentler on the skin. Use this powder sparingly to manage babies’ perspiration and avoid choking them, especially when applied on the face, as this may affect their breathing and respiratory system.
- Prevent and Treat Heat Rash
Heat rashes are quite common during the rainy season since sweats are trapped in babies’ pores. This can cause discomfort to the skin and babies in general. To prevent heat rash, parents can put their babies in breathable clothes that will protect them from cold as well as avoid trapped heat in their skin. To avoid overclogged pores, parents can invest in lightweight moisturisers instead of thick ones to avoid further clogging babies’ pores, which exacerbates heat rashes and discomfort. Babies’ skin can be protected with aloe vera, chamomile and honey during this period to provide adequate moisture to the skin without clogging it.
- Shield Against Harmattan Dust
To soothe and protect babies’ skin, it is important to shield them from harmattan’s dust, as it affects the eyes, respiratory system, and skin. Harmattan periods are usually dusty due to the lack of moisture in this period. Dust can irritate babies’ eyes, skin and respiratory system. Using moisturisers during this period will protect babies’ skin from dryness. On the other hand, wearing breathable clothes with proper coverage will also protect their skin from drying out. During these periods, babies must avoid overexposure to the outdoors to protect their eyes and respiratory system.
- Use Humidifiers Indoors During Harmattan
Harmattan air causes both external and internal moisture loss, which is why many suffer sore throats and dry eyes during this period. A humidifier can be used to keep babies’ rooms moist, which protects their skin and respiratory system. This will help prevent dry skin, keeping babies’ skin smooth and supple. Also, this humidifier will aid air circulation for babies, preventing sore throats and moist airways.
- Opt for Gentle, Natural Skincare Products
Gentle and natural skincare are usually safer on the skin since they are free from chemicals and harsh chemicals alike. Natural soothing ingredients can protect and heal babies’ skin compared to synthetic skincare. Natural skin care products are packed with vitamins and other powerful properties that keep the skin from oxidative damage and common babies’ skin conditions. Chemical ingredients like sulphate and alcohol can strip babies of natural oil, causing flaky and dry skin over time. Looking out for ingredients like shea butter, honey, chamomile, and aloe vera can moisturise the skin and provide the daily required nourishment for the skin.
- Monitor for Signs of Dry Skin and Irritation
It is important to check babies’ skin during the harmattan period to identify dry spots or discomfort in general. Dryness usually occurs in the legs, hands, and face since it is the most exposed body. Diaper rash may also exacerbate in this period, causing discomfort for babies. Monitoring babies’ skin can help reduce the risk of discomfort on the skin; hence, helping parents to take necessary actions like moisturising dry spots or using a natural remedy to eliminate rash and inflammation.
- Keep Your Baby’s Environment Clean and Dust-Free
Due to the lack of moisture in the environment, dust increases and even gets indoors, making items in the house dust if not cleaned properly. To maintain babies’ health and skin, everything they touch frequently must be cleaned properly. This prevents skin irritation and keeps the respiratory system in good health. Dust can accumulate indoors during harmattan and irritate a baby’s skin and respiratory system.
Protecting babies’ skin from every weather, especially harsh ones, will protect and soothe their skin, promoting skin comfort and good health for babies. Moisturising babies’ skin adequately, limiting bath time during harmattan, and using gentle and natural skincare products on babies will help keep their skin healthy and supple. Every weather calls for unique skin treatment for every baby. With these few tips, babies’ skin can enjoy comfort and skin health in every weather.
