It’s time to bundle up your bundle of joy! You might be worried that the chill is too harsh for your little one—that he could get sick from the temperature drop. Good news: as long as you’re not keeping them outside, underdressed, in a sub-zero climate for hours, kids don’t “catch a cold” from cold weather. It’s actually exposure to germs, usually indoors, that spreads viruses, so some brisk air isn’t always such a bad thing. However, winter can be Enemy No. 1 to sensitive infant skin.
Here are four tips for protecting your baby’s skin from Mother Nature’s winter wrath.
- Cover up. Hats, mittens, bunting—bring out the full arsenal. (Yes, we know your baby will hate it. Yes, we know he will rip the hat off before you’re out the door. But the less skin you can expose, the better!)
- Better baths. Run warm water, not hot, to avoid drying skin. Avoid conventional baby bubble baths, which can be drying, and instead try an organic oatmeal bath like Aura Cacia Baby Organic Calming Milk & Oat Bath.
- Simple soaps. The heavy perfumes found in many baby washes can be irritating to the skin, during a time of year when a cold climate and drying indoor heating already are damaging. Your best bet is to use an all-natural, unscented baby soap like liquid such as Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile. If you miss the scents found in more traditional baby bath products, try adding a few drops of lavender essential oil into the soap.
- Don’t forget the lotion! Choose a moisturizer that’s alcohol-free and oil-based, like Shea Moisture Raw Shea Chamomile and Argan Oil. This will keep moisture from evaporating in colder air.