Skin Care, Nail Care & Dental Care for Newborns

Skin care

Your newborn baby’s skin is very thin and fragile, and it needs special protection at any time of the year. Your baby is not able to wear sunscreen yet, so make sure to keep him out of direct sunlight, especially in the warmer months and between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. In summer, make sure he wears a wide-brimmed hat to protect his face. If your baby does develop a sunburn, seek medical attention right away.

In winter, make sure to keep your newborn baby warm, and cover up his skin as much as possible to prevent frostbite. Use a humidifier to keep the air in his room moist, but make sure to keep the device clean to prevent the build-up of mould. Mould can be transmitted into the air and cause respiratory problems.

Nail care

Even though your newborn baby’s fingernails are tiny, soft, and thin, they can still cause damage to his face if he is in the habit of scratching. Therefore, it is important to keep his fingernails well-trimmed. When using a nail clipper, push the pad of his finger away from the nail as you cut, in order to avoid cutting his finger. Using a nail clipper on your newborn baby may seem daunting at first, so if you feel uncomfortable, try filing down his nails with an emery board.

Your baby’s nails will grow much faster than you might expect. His fingernails will probably need trimming once or twice a week.

Dental care

Your newborn baby should not have any teeth yet, but now is still a good time to begin a dental care regimen. Simply dip a piece of gauze in water and wipe it along your newborn baby’s gums. Try to do this once a day, after your baby’s last feeding.

Some newborn babies are born with one or two teeth. If this is the case for your baby, make sure to brush his teeth with a soft baby toothbrush. Do this a couple of times per day: after the first and last feedings. Toothpaste is not necessary for babies under six months of age, and may lead to overdosing of fluoride.

Another way to avoid tooth decay is to refrain from giving your baby a bottle as a pacifier or in bed at night. Giving your baby a bottle of milk at night may cause permanent damage to his teeth when they do come in. If your baby has come to rely on having a bottle at night, fill it with water instead of milk.