You’re finally feeling like you’ve got this motherhood thing in the bag when suddenly you see a scratch on your baby’s face. Oh no!
It’s totally normal to feel upset, mama. After all, that little perfect face is your whole world now. You promised yourself that your top priority will be your baby’s welfare. So it can be distressing to see a few scratches on your little one’s skin.
While scratches are normal due to a baby’s sensitive and delicate skin, there are ways to prevent this from happening.
1.) Don’t forget to trim their nails.
Babies love exploring and touching their face and body parts. During these times, they may accidentally scratch themselves. So it’s important to keep their nails short. Baby’s nails may be thin, but they grow pretty fast and are sharp enough to leave some cuts on the skin.
- Bebeta Nail Cutter with Cover White
- Combi BL Nail Cutter
2.) Use mittens.
You have your baby’s mittens to thank for keeping your baby scratch-free when you miss on their nail upkeep. Since newborns don’t have full control over their body, they can easily get startled by loud sound or movement. These jerky body movements can sometimes result in a scratch. So keep those mittens on your baby!
- Cotton Stuff Mittens (Pack of 3)
- St. Patrick Mittens (Blue)
- Cotton Central™ Mittens Premium 100% USA Cotton (Pack of 3)
- Enfant Mittens - Polka
3.) Use bath products that are gentle on their skin.
Harsh chemicals on bath and body products can cause skin rashes and irritations. The itchiness can make your little one scratch their face or body. So choose products that are mild and hypoallergenic on the baby's delicate and sensitive skin to prevent this from happening.
- Tiny Buds Rice Baby Bath (200ml)
- Baby Dove Hair To Toe Wash Rich Moisture (200ml)
4.) Keep their skin moisturized.
A baby’s skin is susceptible to moisture loss. Avoid dry skin that may cause itchiness and scratching by applying lotion or dry skin treatment.
- Cetaphil Baby Baby Daily Lotion (400ml)
- Johnson's CottonTouch Face & Body Lotion (200ml)
5.) If there is a skin problem, seek treatment.
Consult with a medical professional if you suspect your precious child is suffering from skin conditions like eczema that can make them scratch more frequently because of the itchiness and irritation.
6. Offer comfort when the baby cries.
Babies don’t know how to express their frustration other than crying. And when they cry, they can accidentally scratch themselves. So check the reason why they are upset — they might be hungry or their diaper is wet — and offer comfort.
So how do you deal with the scratch situation?
Wash the affected area gently but thoroughly. When it’s dry, you can apply an antiseptic cream or moisturizer.
If you’re worried that it may get too deep or be infected, you can opt to cover it with a bandage.
Don’t worry too much or feel guilty about this, mama. A little scratch cannot change how perfect your baby is. It will heal by itself in just a couple of days. Just ensure you prevent it from happening over and over again by checking out the tips above.
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