Before You Go Out
It’s good to get out of the house, but babies are especially sensitive to
temperature changes, so make sure your child isn’t too cold—or too warm.
At Bathtime
Take advantage of this perfect
child from head to toe and keep
PROTEC T AGAINST Chapped lips
Babies’ lips are always wet thanks to
drooling, lip-licking, and drippy noses,
and that moisture can break down the
protective top layer of skin. This leaves
lips vulnerable to cold, windy air, says
Sandra Marchese Johnson, M.D., a
dermatologist in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
SKIN SAVER Apply a thin layer of
petroleum jelly or lip balm to create
a barrier against the elements and to
moisturize already chapped lips.
PROTEC T AGAINST Heat rash
It’s not just a summer thing. If your
baby’s bundled up, he can become
overheated. Itchy red bumps appear
when tiny sweat glands get clogged.
SKIN SAVER Dress your baby in
breathable layers, and remove one
if he’s hot. Use a 1% hydrocortisone
preparation to help with the itchiness,
suggests Dr. Johnson, but the rash will
go away on its own after a few days.
PRO TEC T AGAINS T Frostnip
This mild form of frostbite makes skin
red and tender. “Exposed skin, fingers,
and toes are particularly susceptible,”
says Parents advisor Jody Alpert Levine,
M.D., a pediatric dermatologist in New
York City. “When your baby gets cold,
it’s a natural reaction for her body to
send less blood to her extremities in
order to keep her vital organs warm.”
SKIN SAVER Dress your baby in
mittens and a hat or hood, and don’t
stay out too long. Extend the cover
on your stroller to block the wind. If
your baby’s skin looks red, give her a
lukewarm bath. Call your doctor if her
skin color isn’t normal in a couple hours.
PROTECT AGAINST Dry skin
Red, flaky skin can appear anywhere
on your baby’s body, especially on his
face. It’s particularly common during
the winter because cold air doesn’t
carry as much moisture as warm air.
SKIN SAVER It’s fine to bathe your baby
every day; just don’t use water that’s
too warm. “Avoid soap or shampoo
that contains fragrance or alcohol,”
says Robert D. Greenberg, M.D., a
dermatologist in Vernon, Connecticut.
Make sure you smooth a nonperfumed
moisturizer such as Eucerin on his skin
within two minutes of his bath.
PROTECT AGAINST Eczema
Extremely dry, itchy skin tends to run
in families. Babies with eczema have
an insu cient barrier on their skin for
keeping moisture in and irritants out.
