Babies cry because they have no other way to let their parents know of their discomfort. In some cases, the answer is simple: hungry, sleepy, dirty diaper. But with colic, illness, teething, and allergies, the answer may be harder to identify. Allergies themselves can manifest in a number of forms, including insomnia, rashes, broken skin, and overall fussiness. Oftentimes, you may need to visit a pediatrician to identify your infant’s precise allergies, but even before that you can help prevent exacerbation and even eliminate it entirely in certain cases.
Opt for Specifically Labeled Non Toxic Soaps and Lotions
Dry skin, rashes, and baby acne can all be caused by allergic reactions to soap and lotion. Many parents just pick up the nearest bottle of baby lotion without checking the ingredients. But you may inadvertently be causing more problems for your little one’s skin. Chemical components or semi agitating substances like mineral oil can create or worsen an allergy. Even dyes and fragrances can cause problems. Web MD warns parents that even the term “hypoallergenic” does not mean that the product will be gentle on the skin. It just means that it is “less likely to cause an allergic reaction.” For babies with particularly sensitive skin, hypoallergenic is probably not enough.
Choosing organic products manufactured by a reputed retailer like The Honest Company bath and body products that are specifically developed for children with sensitive skin will help prevent allergies and reduce allergic reactions while keeping your baby’s skin healthy. Oftentimes, the ingredients listed on these products will be names you recognize rather than chemicals.
To soothe your baby’s agitation and pain, you can purchase products intended to soothe allergic reactions and irritations. You can also prepare a tepid bath with a quarter cup of ground oatmeal or two tablespoons of baking soda can help reduce the itching and agitation. Just make sure to pat your baby’s skin dry after you’re through rather than rubbing. Just remember to apply a liberal amount of chemical free baby lotion to further nourish your baby’s skin.
Be Strictest While the Rash or Symptoms Are Present
You will want to avoid perfumes and dyes while your little one is struggling with a rash. Even if these components are otherwise labeled as safe or even hypoallergenic, they can still cause problems for newborns whose skin is particularly sensitive. “How Safe Are Your Baby’s Diapers” agrees that most of the perfumes and dyes included in these products are not harmful in the long term, but an infant’s rash may be enflamed even by small exposure.
Your baby will always be more sensitive and likely to increased breakouts and reactions while the allergy is in full swing. Just as burned skin is far more sensitive to temperature changes than normal, your baby will be more sensitive to certain products while dealing with an allergic reaction. You shouldn’t overreact by banning all products forever. But while your baby is healing, it’s important to eliminate all but the gentlest of products. A skin irritation can develop during the healing period, which is distinct from an allergy. “Baby Skin Allergies 101” explains that skin irritations can be circumstantial rather than related to a specific allergen.
If you are breastfeeding, you may also want to avoid common allergen related foods like gluten, dairy, peanuts, shellfish, and so on. What you eat may not cause your baby to have a full allergy, but those foods can exacerbate a current allergy or create a temporary food sensitivity, according to Healthy Children.
Visit the Doctor
New parents in particular have reputations for worrying too much. And it’s little wonder given all the new things a parent must learn. But when your baby displays certain symptoms, you shouldn’t discount your concerns. The following symptoms will often require a visit to a pediatrician or family doctor, particularly if they do not disappear within 48 hours:
Bleeding from cracks and sores
Bumpy or oozing rashes
Swelling
Severe scabbing
Blistering or splitting of the skin
Hives
If these are combined with a fever or vomiting, you should book an appointment as soon as possible. Kids Health warns that if the baby struggles to breathe, then you should take him to the emergency room immediately. Redness of the face when combined with an overly rapid heartbeat are also indications that the baby needs emergency attention.
Milder symptoms may not require immediate medical attention. But if your baby has had a minor rash for more than two weeks, it may be wise to talk to a doctor.
Trying to meet your baby’s needs beyond the basics can be challenging, particularly if the allergy is not readily apparent. Even if you do not identify it specifically, you can sometimes soothe your baby’s symptoms. Opt for soaps, lotions, and products that are specifically made for infants with delicate skin, take extra precautions while your baby recovers, and consider visiting a doctor.
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My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
