Helpful Parenting Tips for Baby Care

SkinCareBaby believes our customers deserve to have a baby care education filled with baby skin care parenting tips. We enjoy educating our visitors so to enable them to make the best possible choices about their children's baby care and skin care products. Please read and share the following baby tips with other parents, friends and family. Here's to your family's health!

Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Ingredients to Avoid!

SkinCareBaby has discovered that knowing what NOT to put on your baby’s scalp and body is as important as and maybe even more important than what you do. Therefore, we have made a list of the most dangerous and damaging ingredients commonly used in the skin care industry. Many baby products contain ingredients likely to be contaminated with formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, and possibly even nitrosamines, all of which are cancer-causing, highly irritating or both. Baby talc-based powders contain tiny particles that irritate the skin and may contain perfumes, a leading cause of allergy and irritation. Parents would be wise to avoid baby powders containing talc. Also, most pediatricians specializing in natural skin care warn parents to avoid petroleum jelly, which traps moisture against the skin and is also a common allergen. Some of the following chemical ingredients are listed on baby products using a different name; still SkinCareBaby will continually update this list to keep you informed of allergenic, irritating and possible carcinogenic pollutants in products that can be damaging to your precious baby’s skin. Some of these ingredients are more dangerous than others. SkinCareBaby suggests that NONE of the following ingredients be applied to your baby’s skin under any circumstances:

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: This synthetic substance is used in most shampoos for its detergent and foam-building abilities. It can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss, scalp scurf similiar to dandruff and allergic reactions. SLS is a detergent that poses serious health threats. It is used in garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers. Research indicates that exposure to SLS can result in eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation, and even death! Eyes may not develop properly if exposed to SLS. SLS can be transformed into nitrosamines, a potent class of carcinogens. Your body can retain SLS for up to five days and maintain residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs, and brain.

Synthetic Fragrances - The synthetic fragrances used in products can have as many as 200 ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since on the label it will simply say "fragrance". Some of the problems caused by these chemicals are headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper-pigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting, skin irritation, and the list goes on. Avoid buying a product that has the word "fragrance" on the ingredients label.

Alcohol - Alcohol is a free radical and can cause dryness and flaking of the skin. It is also very drying and is known to cause allergic reactions and skin irritation.

Imidazolidinyl Urea and Diazolidinyl Urea: These are the most commonly used preservatives after the parabens. They are well established as a primary cause of contact dermatitis American Acacdemy of Dermatology). These ingredients are derived from ANIMAL urine.

Methyl, Propyl, Butyl, and Ethyl Paraben: These are preservatives, or commonly known used as inhibitors of microbial growth, which extends the shelf life of products. Parabens are widely used even though they are known to be toxic. Parabens have been known to cause many allergic reactions and skin rashes. Methyl paraben combines benzoic acid with the methyl group of chemicals and is highly toxic.

Petrolatum: Petrolatum is mineral oil jelly, and mineral oil causes a lot of problems when used on the skin. It can produce photosensitivity (i.e., promotes sun damage), and tends to interfere with the body's own natural moisturizing mechanism, leading to dry skin and chapping, hence creating what the product is intended to prevent.

Propylene Glycol: Propylene Glycol is a vegetable glycerin mixed with grain alcohol, which are both "natural". Usually it is a synthetic petrochemical mix used as a humectant. Propylene glycol been known to cause allergic and toxic reactions and alcohols are drying to the skin and toxic.

Stearalkonium Chloride - A chemical used in hair conditioners and creams, which causes allergic reactions because it is highly toxic. Stearalkonium chloride was developed by the fabric industry as a fabric softener and is a lot cheaper and easier to use in hair conditioning formulas than helpful proteins and herbals.

Synthetic Colors - The synthetic colors used to supposedly make a cosmetic "pretty" should be avoided at all costs, along with hair dyes. They will be labeled as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6 / D&C Green No. 6. Synthetic colors are believed to be cancer-causing agents. FD&C Yellow 5, Red 40, Blue #1 are synthetic colors from coal tar that deposits toxins onto the skin, causing skin irritation. Absorption can cause depletion of oxygen in the body and death.

Triethanolamine (TEA) - Often used in products to adjust the pH, and used with many fatty acids to convert acid to salt (stearate), which then becomes the base for a cleanser. TEA causes allergic reactions including eye problems, dryness of hair and skin, and could be toxic if absorbed into the body over a long period of time.

Saccharomyces Magnesium Ferment is an acid from yeast which causes damage to the insulin producing beta cells and pancreatic cancer.

Butylene Glycol - an acid that may be narcotic and cause asphyxiation.

Aqua Biomin Saccharomyces/Magnesium Ferment - This is a yeast and an acid that causes diabetes and other topical yeast infections that can lead to a host of serious symptoms.

DMDM Hydantoin - releases a powerful acid and neurotoxin formaldehyde which causes joint pain, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Exposure also irritates the respiratory system; triggers heart palpitations or asthma, and aggravates coughs. Other side effects are a weakened immune system and cancer.

Cocomidopropyl Hydroxysultaine - has added chemicals in the processing of the coconut oil which are carcinogenic.

Tea lauryl sulfate - is hormone disrupting chemical that can form cancer-causing nitrates. This ingredient is restricted in Europe due to the carcinogenic effects. Repeated applications can result in liver and kidney cancer.

Lactic Acid - This is a cancer causing agent. An acid found around all cancerous tumors.

Parenting Tips: Common Baby Skin Care Problems

Are you the first-time parent of a newborn baby? If you are, you may be surprised at how red, splotchy and broken out your new baby's skin appears to look. Where you expecting smooth, blemish-free skin that is typically featured on babies on television and in magazines? While your baby's skin may eventually look like that, he or she probably was not born with it.

Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Dry Skin

Your newborn baby goes through hormonal changes, just like you do. Often these changes can affect his or her skin. You may notice that your baby's skin is flaky and dry, especially on his or her hands and feet. This is a normal condition. You can help to moisten his skin by applying a baby skin care lotion. Steer away from using baby powder on your baby's skin.

Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Acne

Newborn babies can suffer from acne. That's right, acne. Most of the time, this baby skin condition may clear up on its own, however; if it continues to be a problem, ask your pediatrician to prescribe a topical baby skin care ointment to help clear it up.

Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Eczema

Eczema typically doesn't appear until babies are a little older, at least two or three months old. Eczema usually affects certain areas on the baby's body, specifically the neck creases, the backs of ears, and behind the knees, and the face. This condition is more than just dry skin. It can be very uncomfortable. If your baby scratches the area, it may also become infected. If your baby has this condition, your doctor can help you treat him or her.

Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Cradle Cap

Cradle cap is a mild form of eczema that affects the top of a baby's head. You can usually get rid of this dry, flaky skin by washing your baby's head with a mild baby shampoo, then gently brushing the area. Finally, you can rub a small amount of baby lotion into the dry area to lubricate the skin. Eventually, your baby's natural oils in his or her skin will eliminate this condition.

Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Heat Rash

There may be times when areas of your baby’s body are covered with tiny red bumps, and this probably means he or she has a heat rash. Sometimes simply removing him or her from the heat and cooling her down by removing some of his or her clothing can make the rash disappear within a few hours.

Parenting Tips: The Correct Way to Apply Sunscreen

What is the right way to apply natural mineral sunscreen?

How much should you apply?

Should the zinc in our product remain white on your skin like those lifeguards' noses of the 80’s?

Well we’re going to answer that last question first with a big, NO! No one, especially not kids, likes to be all white and sticky on the beach! SkinCareBaby's sunscreen will not have you and your family looking like Frosty the Snowman & Co. in the middle of the summer. Our mineral sunscreen has micro particles of zinc which have been found to be safe and efficient in protecting your skin, without leaving that sticky white residue. So when you apply our sunscreen, rub it in all the way because you don’t have to see the minerals sitting on your skin to still have the full protection. This is why we LOVE our minerals!

Now that we have that settled, we’ll move on to how much you should apply each time. If you’re getting ready for the day, adults should use about 1 ounce of sunscreen for your entire body (think shot glass). Baby Skin Care Tip for kids, you should use an adult’s handful worth of sunscreen. This is before you get dressed for the day.

Throughout the day, reapply standard sunscreen every 80 minutes (this is really if you are outside for most of the day). If you’re swimming and not wearing a water resistant protection, reapply every time you get out of the water. However, if you are wearing water resistant sunscreen, protection is retained for 80 minutes when swimming or sweating. You should only need a couple of handfuls to cover all of your exposed skin.

Contrary to chemical sunscreen, our sunscreen is mineral based so protection is immediate. If you are using a chemical sunscreen you will want to put it on 20 minutes before you go out into the sun.

What’s the difference? Our sunscreen is mineral based which means it sits on top of the skin for a physical protection. Chemical sunscreen must be absorbed into the skin before it works.

We hope these parenting tips for baby care help, and please feel free to contact us if you have any other questions.

Exactly How Much Sunscreen?

Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Use the “rule of 9’s”. If you think of your body as being split up into 11 sections and each section equals 9% of your body surface area you should apply at least TWO fingers worth of sunscreen onto each section. That means the length and width’s worth of two fingers for each of your 11 sections to be fully protected for your day in the sun.

We took the following chart directly from the University of Washington’s page to show you exactly how this is divided up!

Head, neck and face = 9%
Left arm = 9%
Right arm = 9%
Upper back = 9%
Lower back = 9%
Upper front torso = 9%
Lower front torso = 9%
Right upper leg and thigh = 9%
Left upper leg and thigh = 9%
Right lower leg and foot = 9%
Left lower leg and foot = 9%

Have a wonderful, sunny day!

The following are easy-to-follow Parenting Tips for Baby Care for the whole family that can help you maintain healthy skin:

Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Drink lots of water. Water replenishes, cleanses and detoxifies your body and your skin.
Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Regularly cleanse your skin. Cleansing at least twice a day can help you wash away pollutants and dirt from your skin. This skin care tip is essential especially for people who are mostly outdoors.
Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Use lukewarm water when cleansing or washing your face and neck. Water that is too hot or too cold water can damage the first layer of skin. Skin can become dry, dull or cracked due to extreme temperatures.
Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Use gentle or mild strokes when exfoliating. The process itself uses abrasive products to remove dead skin cells; hard strokes or rubs can damage the inner layers of the skin.
Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Avoid using too many skin care products. Limit your skin care regimen to only a few products that you need.
Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Moisturize your skin everyday. It is advisable to apply moisturizing creams when the skin is still damp.
Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Avoid soap on your face and neck. Bar soaps, no matter how gentle they are, can still be harmful to your facial skin because of their ingredients. Use soaps below the neck and body only.
Parenting Tips for Baby Care: When going outdoors, use sunscreen. Sun or no sun, protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Get enough rest and sleep. Sleep helps replenish the body's energy and promotes cell renewal. If you lack sleep, your skin can slack and the skin below the eyes can form wrinkles or bags.
Parenting Tips for Baby Care: Live a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy and exercise regularly. Avoid bad habits such as smoking and alcohol. Skin care starts from within and it is essential to take care of the rest of your body in order to have healthy and youthful skin.

Parenting Tips From SIDS Alliance: Preventing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Parenting Tips from SIDS Alliance: You have a new baby or you've just found out you're pregnant! Here are some important tips for new parents, grandparents and infant caregivers to help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and accidental infant deaths. Based on the latest research, we provide them to you in the hope of giving every baby the best possible chance to thrive:

Place your baby on their back to sleep at night and naptime.
Use a firm mattress, covered only with a sheet, in a safety-approved crib.
Remove all loose and fluffy bedding from your baby’s sleep area. This includes pillows, blankets, quilts, comforters, bumper pads, sheepskins, positioners, stuffed toys and other soft products.
Do not place your baby to sleep on a sofa, waterbed, pillow, soft mattress, or any other soft surface.
Be careful not to overheat your baby with excessive clothing, bedding or room temperature. We recommend 65-71 degrees Fahrenheit.
Don't allow anyone to smoke around your baby and do not let your baby spend time in an area where others have smoked.
Educate babysitters, day care providers, grandparents and everyone who cares for your baby about reducing the risk of infant death.
And don't forget to enjoy your new baby!

Parenting tips: Click here for more Baby Safety Tips!

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