Caring for Your Baby's Skin: Bathing, Dry Skin and Diaper Rash

When your baby is first born, she is covered with a cheesy substance called vernix. After the hospital staff washes it off, the skin may peel a bit. You may also notice an assortment of birthmarks, rashes, wrinkles and other strange markings on your baby's skin. Most of them are normal. If a rash is widespread, or refuses to go away, make sure to show it to your doctor at your next visit.

Babies don't really need baths every day. A couple times a week is more than enough. Wipe down the diaper area after each change with a wet washcloth. And wipe his face and hands after eating. That should do the trick. You don't need to use commercial wipes, but they certainly can be easier to carry and store in a diaper bag.

You don't need to put moisturizer on a baby either, unless she seems really dry. If you find a dry patch, use lotion instead of oil - it lubricates better. Don't use adult skin products on babies; they contain alcohol, perfumes and other chemicals that can irritate your baby's skin.

Almost all babies will suffer from diaper rash at one time or another. The usual cause is leaving a diaper on too long. Chemicals in the urine or stool irritate the skin of the lower abdomen, buttocks, genitals and thighs. Leave it untreated, and the irritation becomes an infection.

Modern disposable diapers are both a blessing and a curse when it comes to diaper rash. They keep wetness away from baby's skin a lot longer than cloth diapers, protecting the skin from diaper rash. But some parents become complacent and leave the diapers on too long. The inner absorbant core swells and ruptures, exposing the baby's sensitive skin to the wet absorbant core. The practical upshot is, disposable diapers need to be changed when wet, just as cloth diapers do.

If you do use cloth diapers, make sure your baby is not allergic to the detergent or softener used to clean the diapers. By the same token, a baby who is allergic to the materials used to make disposable diapers could also suffer from a rash similar to diaper rash.