I remember touching my newborn daughter’s skin for the first time, it was the softest thing I have ever felt! I also noticed that it was very sensitive, even gently fragranced wipes would irritate her skin and certain fabrics. This is because babie’s skin is generally more sensitive than toddlers' skin. The skin barrier of newborns continues to develop from birth until around age 2. Skin thickness and immaturity are two reasons why babies have more sensitive skin than toddlers. Babies have thinner skin compared to older children and adults. Baby skin is still developing and its impaired barrier function which makes it more susceptible to skin irritation, moisture loss and infections.

How should you treat your baby’s skin different than older children?

Given that babies have more sensitive skin, you don’t need to bath your little one every day. When you do bath your little one, use warm water instead of hot water as hot can dry out the skin. To keep your baby’s skin hydrated consider adding by Dr Mom Beta Glucan to your baby’s bath every week. Use soap just in the areas that are soiled such as the diaper area. After taking your little one of out of the bath, pat skin dry instead of rubbing as that can be irritating to the skin.  

What are some of the most common ingredients that cause irritation in sensitive baby skin?

Babies have sensitive skin and are more susceptible to skin irritation. It is important to avoid ingredients that could irritate your little ones skin. I recommend looking for products that are fragrance-free as fragrances whether synthetic or natural can be a common cause of skin irritation for delicate baby skin. Avoid ingredients like parabens, phthalates, sulfates or dyes. These ingredients can be irritating for skin! Alcohol based products in some baby wipes can sometimes be too harsh for little ones skin. Some lotions and bathing products contain mineral oil which can cause skin irritation for some children. To avoid skin irritation, choose products specifically labeled as "fragrance-free” such as the by Dr Mom Beta Glucan cream. Additionally, when trying a new product on myself or my children, I recommend a patch test first. First apply the product to a small patch of skin. A good area to test is the inside of the forearm. Leave the product on the skin for as long as you as it normally would. So if we were testing a body wash, apply for 5 minutes or so and then wash off. Repeat this a few times over the course of the week to the same area of skin to see if there is any irritation.  If there are no skin reactions after a week of patch testing, it would be safe to use over the whole body.

Don’t forget to check the packaging!

Look for an expiration date and lot number on the product packaging. These details are essential for tracking and ensuring the product's freshness and quality. Before using the skincare product, ensure the product has an intact, sealed packaging. If the packaging appears tampered or damaged do not use the product. I recommend reviewing the website of the product to ensure there are customer reviews of the product, it is helpful to hear about other parents' experiences with a product. If you are ever in doubt about whether or not you should use a product for your baby, check in with your health care provider for product recommendations.

 What are some of the best ingredients for baby skincare to look for?

When choosing skincare products for your baby, I look for hypoallergenic and fragrance-free products. I also look for ingredients that can help promote a strong skin barrier. Products that I look for contain ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and beta-glucan. Ceramides are naturally occurring lipids which help keep moisture in the skin. Hyaluronic acid attracts and retains water providing hydration. Beta-glucan is a fiber that improves skin healing and hydration. Before trying a new product, I recommend patch testing new products on small areas of your baby’s skin for up to a week before using them more extensively to ensure no adverse reaction. Products don’t have to be very expensive and you don’t need a fancy skincare routine to keep your baby’s skin healthy and hydrated. Look for skincare products that are fragrance free, recommended by doctors and contain quality ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid and/or beta-glucan. We recommend the by Dr Mom Beta Glucan Bath and Cream for keeping your baby’s skin hydrated. If you are ever unsure of which product to use, as your healthcare provider for their recommendations.

Would you recommend reading ingredient lists on hygiene / skin products the same way we read ingredient lists on foods? (Ex. Is a safe rule to say that the first ones listed are in the highest quantities?)

Yes, I recommend reading ingredient lists. Similar to reading ingredient lists on foods, the top-listed ingredients are typically the highest in concentration in the product. When reviewing the list, look for known skin irritants such as fragrances and dyes. Also, avoid products such parabens, phthalates, and sulfates.

Reference: 

Kong et al. Change in skin properties over the first 10 years of life: a cross-sectional study. Arch Dermatol Res. 2017; 309(8): 653–658.

Rahma et al. Skin Barrier Function in Infants: Update and Outlook. Pharmaceutics. 2022 Feb; 14(2): 433.