Care
of The Skin
Your baby's navel
cord will come off spontaneously, usually by two weeks of age. There
may subsequently be drainage with slight bleeding. If drainage is not
decreased by 3 to 4 days after the cord comes off, notify the doctor.
Belly bands are not recommended.
Until the navel
cord drops off, do not bathe the baby. Instead, once a day, wash or
sponge bathe the baby with clear water with or without a plain, non-medicated
soap. In addition, wipe the skin surrounding the drying navel cord with
rubbing alcohol.
A healing circumcision
will do very well if you apply Vaseline® to the end of the penis.
Do not be alarmed at a red appearance with areas of yellowish scab -
this represents normal healing. No covering is necessary for the circumcision
site.
After the navel
and circumcision are healed, tub baths may be started. A plastic tub
is most convenient for this. Most babies receive a bath every day or
two with tepid water with or without a mild non-medicated soap.
Mild skin irritations
or rashes, especially on the face, are common during infancy. They are
of no concern, and usually clear spontaneously after several weeks.
The scalp may be
washed once or twice a week. The “soft spot” is not a dangerous
area, and may be scrubbed as vigorously as the rest of the head.
Cradle cap, consisting
of yellowish crusts and scales on the scalp, is a common and harmless
condition which usually requires no specific treatment.
Babies of either
sex may have some swelling of the breasts, and possibly a clear fluid
drainage from the nipple. This is normal and should not be squeezed
or treated in any way.
Infants often have
slight swelling around one or both eyes with a clear to whitish discharge
from the eye. This is usually due to blockage of the tear duct, and
it requires no specific therapy. If there is “pink eye”
or a persistent yellowish-green discharge from the eye, we should be
notified.
Following each
stool, cleanse the diaper area with plain water or a baby wipe. If the
skin is reddened, it may help to apply Desitin® or A and D Ointment®
after each stool. In cleansing a girl, always wipe from front to back,
so that you do not wipe bacteria from the rectal area toward the urinary
opening.
Occasionally a
slight bloody vaginal discharge may be seen in the female newborn. This
is a normal occurrence, due to hormonal changes, requires no treatment,
and resolves by one week of age.
For dry skin, bland moisturizers such as Eucerin® cream or Dermatology
Formula Cream can be applied three times each day.
