How to Choose the Best Lotion for Your Baby’s Skin Type

Baby lotions for newborns are needed! Newborn skin can be dehydrated and sensitive. When looking for the best fit for your baby/newborn’s skin, there are some things to consider. You want something suitable for their skin type, safe ingredients, affordable but not cheap (you don’t want it to irritate), easy to find, able to moisturize well and no harsh chemicals.

When you are expecting or already have a newborn in your home, please be sure they are kept out of the sun as much as possible. Most babies under six months do not need sunscreen, but make sure they are re-applying lotion if they’ve had any skin-to-skin contact with you or have been in the sun for more than 1 hour.

Below we hand picked our top 3 recommended baby lotions, but be sure to check out our detailed baby lotion review.

Seven Things You Didn’t Know About Baby Lotion

When caring for your baby’s skin, you want to ensure that they have the best of everything. You can’t go wrong with a good quality baby lotion! Baby lotions are designed specifically for the delicate needs of babies and toddlers. But what is actually in these products? Here are seven things you didn’t know about baby lotion:

1.The Right Ingredients

When it comes to baby lotion, most people want to make sure they use the best ingredients. Even though your baby’s skin is delicate, you can still find great baby creams that will provide them with enough protection!

You can’t go wrong with hypoallergenic ingredients! Try looking for products containing natural oils like coconut oil, olive oil, and aloe Vera extract. These will help hydrate your child’s skin and provide a protective layer.

Shea butter is also another great ingredient to look for in baby lotion, as it helps soothe and repair skin that has been damaged by dryness or eczema. If you are buying your baby’s first bottle of lotion, be sure to read the label carefully! Look for products containing these ingredients, as they are generally safe to use on babies and toddlers.

2.Your Child’s Skin Type

When choosing a baby lotion, it is essential to consider your child’s skin type. If they have dry or sensitive skin, choose products that are moisturizing and made for these conditions. Products containing shea butter and natural oils will do wonders for children with dry skin! These ingredients work together to strengthen the moisture barrier of the outer layer of the skin and provide a protective coating.

If your baby has dry or sensitive skin, stay away from products containing synthetic fragrances, as they can irritate children’s delicate skin. These ingredients may also cause allergic reactions in some babies! If you want to keep things simple, choose unscented lotions for dry or sensitive skin for your child.

Baby lotion is a staple item that every parent should have in their diaper bag! Without it, your baby’s delicate skin will become dry and irritated—not precisely what you want to happen on the go!

3.Benefits Of Using Baby Lotion

-Moisturizes your child’s delicate skin

-Provides the essential nutrients needed for healthy development

-Protects against dryness and irritation caused by things like diaper rash, sunburn, bug bites, etc.

-Helps protect the outer layer of your child’s delicate, developing skin

-Gives long-lasting moisturization to keep your baby feeling soft and comfortable.

4.Moisturizing Properties

It is essential to make sure that your baby lotion has good moisturizing properties. If you are looking for a product with long-lasting protection, look for one that contains petrolatum or shea butter, both of which seal in hydration and protect the skin from environmental damage like sunburns!

If you want something light and easy to apply, look for products that contain mineral oil and glycerin. These ingredients absorb quickly into the skin and provide a thin layer of protection without any greasiness or tacky feeling.

5.What Some Moms Think About Them

If you are looking for a baby lotion to use on your child, there is no problem with asking other moms what their opinion is! Moms are the best resource for any new parent, and they can give you great tips on what has worked for them.

Most moms agree that fragrance-free products are beneficial for babies with sensitive skin or allergies for baby lotion!

If your child is still small enough to share a bed with you, keep in mind that certain products can cause them to break out in a rash if they come into contact with it. So you should also be aware of the products you use for adults, like shampoos and perfumes, if you are planning on sharing a bed with your child.

6.When To Apply It/How Often?

It is important to apply baby lotion often during your child’s early years. According to most pediatricians, you should be using it at least twice a day! When your children are babies and toddlers, their skin is still developing—so the more moisture they have in their environment, the better.

Be sure not to wait too long to apply the lotion, though. The skin needs moisture to stay healthy, so you want it hydrated at all times!

If your child is older than three years old and still has dry skin patches or rashes, check with their pediatrician for a more specific regiment of application time/amounts. Sometimes children have different needs depending on their age.

It is also essential to apply it on a clean skin surface, so be sure to wash your child’s skin and remove any impurities like ear wax or phlegm before applying any lotion or cream. 

You don’t want to mix it in with dirt or other impurities that can cause an allergic reaction to your child in contact with the lotion.

7.Other Things To Consider

Consider what type of package the lotion comes in. Some parents prefer a pump bottle because it is easier to dispense small amounts at a time, while others like flip-top lids so they can get every last drop out of the package.

The price is usually a deciding factor for most parents—something that is affordable and works well is what everyone wants!

The size of the bottle or package you buy should depend on how often you plan to use it. If you are using it multiple times a day, look for something more significant to save money in the long run.

If you want to try out a brand you are unfamiliar with, you should only buy a sample or small package to test it out first. You want to make sure that your child’s skin reacts well with the product before you commit to buying something in a more extensive package!

How To Choose The Best Baby Lotion

When purchasing lotion for your kid, keep the following in mind:

• Ointment, Cream, or Lotion: Look for ointments if you have severely dry skin or problems like eczema. These are often the thickest types and are ideal for healing and retaining moisture in the epidermis. Creams are thicker than lotions, and, as they are made with higher oil content, they tend to have a more oily feel that doesn’t rub into the skin; they’re excellent for treating dehydrated baby skin and preventing it from drying out any further. Lotions are water-based products that, when applied correctly, usually rub in smoothly and deliver light moisture for normal skin.
• First Ingredient: Examine the ingredient list. The product’s main component is listed first. It will primarily give you hydration if it’s water. If the first component is oil, it will provide your baby’s skin protection (but feel greasy). Check to see if the product you’re considering meets your requirements.
• Skin Condition: Do you want to heal a medical skin problem or keep your baby’s skin hydrated? If you’re treating a problem, search for products that are intended to aid with it.
• Fragrances: If you’re using lotion as part of a bedtime routine, you might want to use lavender to help with nighttime soothing. If you want your infant to smell nice after a bath, honey-scented products might be the answer. And if your baby has sensitive skin, avoid fragrances entirely since fragrance additives have the potential to irritate it.

How To Apply Baby Lotion?

Make lotion time a part of bath time. After rub-a-dub-dubbing in the tub:

• Take your baby out.
• Dry off the skin.
• Apply a lotion within two minutes to lock in moisture.

Massaging the lotion into the baby’s skin may help with more than just bonding: it can also aid in the reduction of Atopic Dermatitis symptoms.

The first step to baby lotion application is to take a quarter-size amount of baby lotion and smooth it over your hands. Rub your hands together to warm the lotion up.

Afterward, gently massage it into the baby’s skin, starting from the neck and working down. Spend more time massaging areas such as the chest, behind the knees and feet, and other dry-prone areas like the diaper line.

Additional tips:

Keep the face moisturized with a thin layer of lotion to prevent chapping and redness. A day at the beach calls for a quick swipe of baby sunscreen, followed by a thin coating of unscented lotion on top – this ensures that your little one’s delicate facial skin is protected from the sun, chapping, and dryness without clogging pores or irritating sensitive facial skin. If you need to moisturize your baby’s hair, gently work some lotion into the scalp as well.

Most importantly, whether it’s a quick swipe of lotion after a bath or more extensive application, enjoy this time with your little one!

Here is an instructional video on further tips for applying lotion on your baby’s skin:

Common Skin Conditions That May Benefit From Lotions Or Moisturizers:

Dry Skin: Dry skin is caused by environmental factors, exposure, or unknown reasons. It typically looks dry, flaky, or ashy. A baby lotion for dry skin easily treats these issues, though an ointment may best serve in extremely dry skin cases.

Eczema: Many babies suffer from eczema, which looks like a red, bumpy rash but does not appear in the diaper area. It typically appears on the face first but can spread to other areas of the body. It’s itchy. Eczema should be treated with thick cream, ointment, or special eczema creams that will not only moisturize the skin but protect it as well.

Baby Acne: While the exact cause of baby acne is unknown, it’s prevalent in babies. Baby acne looks like small red bumps or tiny pustules — basically just like adult acne but smaller. Baby acne is not itchy or painful and typically resolves on its own after a few months. Most doctors recommend simply washing and drying a baby’s broken-out skin without adding lotions or moisturizers. However, if you feel that your baby is experiencing dryness in addition to acne, you may choose to use an oil-free product.

Conclusion

Skincare for babies is important because it helps prevent the development of skin conditions that affect infants’ health and quality of life. Lotions are great for moisturizing dry skin, soothing eczema rashes, healing baby acne, or preventing common problems like chafing in the diaper area. When applying lotion on your baby’s sensitive skin, make sure you avoid fragrances if they can irritate their delicate facial skin; instead, use unscented products whenever possible. After lotion application, make sure you massage your baby’s skin to increase bonding and help treat atopic dermatitis. Before buying the moisturizer that suits your baby best, we hope you consider all the valuable tips provided in our article to make an educated choice before buying.