The best care for a newborn baby's skin

Pediatrician Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP, shares advice for parents on the best way to care for their newborn baby's skin to help prevent dryness
How to Take Care of Your Newborn Baby's Skin
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The best care for a newborn baby's skin

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You would think after a baby soaks in amniotic fluid for 9 months, they would be born with soft, silky skin, but that is not always the case. More often than not, babies do have dry skin, cracked skin and little red bumps or blemishes here and there. Mothers always ask me, 'What should I do for my newborn's dry skin?' Usually a newborn's dry skin doesn't bother the baby so you can leave it alone, but if you want to treat it, I recommend bathing the baby, once in a while - you don't need to bathe the baby every day, but 2 or 3 times a week should suffice, with a mild, unscented baby wash and some water. Right after bathing, if you want to apply a cream, or ointment, or moisturizer, use a clear ointment, like petroleum jelly or Aquaphor, otherwise a thick, unscented, white baby cream would be the next step and just put it on the areas that do seem a little dry or irritated, occasionally. Again, you don't have to treat the dryness, but if it makes you feel better, it's perfectly fine to do so.

Pediatrician Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP, shares advice for parents on the best way to care for their newborn baby's skin to help prevent dryness

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Tanya Altmann, MD, FAAP

Pediatrician

A leading medical authority for the popular press and entertainment industry, Dr. Tanya Altmann is a best-selling author, parenting expert and media spokesperson. A working mother and UCLA-trained pediatrician who practices in Southern California, Dr. Tanya is a designated spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics, communicating complicated medical issues into easily understood concepts.  She is a child health expert for numerous news programs and talk shows including Today (NBC), and KTLA (CW Los Angeles). She stays on the cutting edge through her position as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA, as the Chief Medical Advisor for the Newborn Channel and her private practice.

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