3 Hero Tips to Take Care of your Baby’s or Toddler’s Skin in Winter
Ever wish your skin was “as smooth as a babies…”? Or so the saying goes. The thing is, not all our babies and toddlers have smooth skin. In fact, our little ones are more likely to suffer from dry skin, eczema or red, sore patches than we are.
Babies and toddlers have very sensitive skin. As their skin has fewer elastic fibres than adults, their skin is more permeable. This means that substances can more easily make their way through a baby’s skin layers.
Environmental factors such as the cold, products containing certain ingredients as well as minerals and chemicals in hard water areas can all have an effect on our little one's skin, as well as genetics.
In this post, we’re going to talk about different ways that you can take care of your baby’s or toddler’s skin in winter so that it’s as healthy and soft as possible.
Kokoso coconut skincare for babies
We’ve all heard about the benefits of coconut oil for our hair and skin, yet do we know enough about where our coconut oil comes from and how it’s processed? Supermarket shelf coconut oil is great for cooking, but it can be thick and oily on your baby’s skin. That’s why Kokoso was formulated. Kokoso uses 100% organic, hand picked coconuts put through a unique process that preserves all the nutrients but produces a lighter, silkier coconut oil- making it easily absorbed with no greasy residue. Perfect for sensitive skin like a baby or toddlers.
The bonus is it’s actually really good for your skin and hair too, and according to reviews, has been helping parents with their own sensitive skin!
Kokoso now has several products available, including gentle hair and body wash for toddlers and babies.
Natural, soft fabrics
Just because a fabric is soft, doesn’t mean that it’s good for your little one’s skin. Manmade fabrics like polyester can often look good or seem practical, but these fabrics aren’t breathable. This means they make it harder for the body to regulate its own temperature and can trap sweat next to a baby’s skin, making it more likely they could suffer from skin irritation or nappy rash.
Manmade fabrics are also often created with petrochemicals and harsh chemical processes that can be damaging to the environment
The key is to look for natural fabrics that have a natural softness. Natural fabrics such as wool (especially soft varieties like merino) cotton, linens and bamboo are soft to the touch but also allow your baby’s skin to breathe.
Apart from being kind to the skin, with care (always read the label of course), clothes made with natural fabrics wash well and last longer than their man-made counterparts.
At Matchstick Monkey we use natural fabrics to make our soft bamboo baby blankets and organic cotton muslins to make sure they’re as kind as possible to your little one's skin. We know that nothing is safe from a baby’s mouth, so if they have a good ol’ chew it’s ok, they’re not ingesting any manmade fibres.
Baby massage moisture treat
Usually, adults tend to moisturise their body after washing. This is fine for us, but more delicate or sensitive skin might need some extra TLC.
Use your baby’s moisturiser to give them a massage to give their dry winter skin an extra helping hand. There are loads of baby massage classes on Youtube you can check out if you’re not 100% sure on the best way to do this!
Adult massaging oils may contain ingredients like essential oils or scents that are irritating to a baby’s soft skin, so use something especially for babies. Pure almond oil, coconut oil or the Kokosa baby moisturiser are all great for gently rubbing in to chubby little baby limbs. It can be a relaxing and bonding activity for both parents and baby!
Does your little one have exceptionally dry skin or skin that’s prone to irritation? If you have any tried and tested tips for dealing with it, let us know on Instagram or Twitter @matchstick_monkey - we’d love to hear your ideas!