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Outdoor fun – Explore nature with your baby
How to protect your baby’s skin from the sun, wind and cold
Explore the world with your baby. Learn how to protect your baby’s delicate skin from the elements, even while underway with a baby sling or stroller.
Unique qualities of baby skin
Parents adapt both their actions and skin care products to their baby’s needs. When it comes to baby skin care, parents should take a minimalist approach. A general rule of thumb is quality before quantity. Before making a decision, consider the following questions: What does my baby need right now for support? What kind of skin care does my baby need in winter – what kind in summer? How does a baby’s skin differ from adult skin, and how can we respect this difference?
As with adults, a baby’s skin is a physical boundary to the outside world. It helps regulate body temperature, acts as a barrier against moisture loss, germs, and viruses, and stores fat. While adult skin can handle these tasks reasonably well, newborn skin is not yet fully mature. It gradually develops and adapts to life, like much else in a child’s development. Baby skin is about five times thinner than adult skin. The sebaceous and sweat glands are not yet fully active. Because the skin barrier is less developed than in adults, baby skin dries out more quickly, and pathogens can penetrate it more easily.
Proper care for delicate baby skin
By supporting the development of our baby’s skin, we help to strengthen its natural resilience. In winter, it’s good to use rich skincare products that protect the skin from the cold and moisture loss. In summer, a light, cooling lotion is more suitable for skin care. In holistic and anthroposophic medicine, the yellow and orange blossoms of the calendula plant are prized for their restorative and strengthening effects on the skin Calendula’s protective and nourishing qualities make it an excellent choice to meet the unique needs of baby skin. Despite belonging to the Asteraceae family of composite flowers, calendula has a low allergenic potential.
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Benefits of being outdoors with your baby
Even a short walk can leave us feeling rejuvenated and refreshed. Fresh air is usually somewhat moist, which benefits the mucous membrane in the nose and lungs. In winter, alternating cold and warm air helps to boost your circulation. Spending time outdoors in nature is good for children of all ages. Physical activity in the fresh air makes them tired and happy. Being outdoors is an opportunity to discover new things, observe animals, and let off steam. But it’s not just air and exercise that are good for us. Children and adults also benefit from sunlight. Natural light stimulates the formation of vitamin D in the skin.
Sunlight on baby skin
Although the skin needs and benefits from sunlight, ensuring proper exposure to sunlight is also important. Too much sunlight can negatively affect us, especially babies and young children. Skin damage can occur even before sunburn develops.
Children produce less melanin than adults, and their skin is still very thin, making it especially sensitive. Sunburn in babies can occur after just a short time in the sun. Sunburn symptoms are like any other burn: the skin becomes red and, in extreme cases, can form blisters. Sunburn in childhood can significantly increase the risk of developing skin cancer later in life. Scientists believe this is because young skin is not yet capable of adequately repairing the cellular damage that can occur when exposed to the sun’s rays.
Proper sun protection for babies
Babies should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Although babies need sunlight to form vitamin D, they get enough exposure outdoors in the shade. If babies are carried outside in a sling or carrier, they should wear UV-protective clothing to keep their skin from excessive contact with the sun’s rays. Using sunscreen products with a high sun protection factor (SPF) also helps protect the skin. If your baby is in a stroller, it is wise to use the sunshade, but ensure that the air circulation is not blocked underneath it. Draping the top of the stroller with a cloth nappy, for example, can dangerously cause heat to build up inside it.
Tips to enjoy time outdoors with your baby and toddler
- The younger the children, the more important it is for them to stay out of the blazing sun, especially during midday. Babies and toddlers should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
- Make sure they are adequately covered, for example, by a sun hat (with neck protection) and light cotton clothing in summer.
- Apply a sunscreen (SPF 30 and above) generously before going outdoors and reapply several times to maintain protection.
- Sunscreen should also be applied to the ears (do not put sunscreen inside the ear canal), bridge of the nose and the tops of the feet.
- Ensure your child wears weather-appropriate clothing, for example, a hat and warm clothes if it is windy and cold.
- Even with sunscreen, children should not be exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods. Even sunscreens with high SPFs do not provide complete protection against UV rays.
A multifunctional balm for rough weather: Calendula All Purpose Balm
In cold, windy, wet and harsh weather, Calendula All Purpose Balm gives the skin immediate protection to keep it from drying out. This natural all-purpose balm for the face and body provides intensive care and strengthens the skin’s resilience. It protects the skin barrier, soothes dry skin and lips, and relieves chapped skin on cheeks, chin and hands. Apply to dry, chapped or reddened skin areas as needed – at home and on the go.
Cocoa butter and sesame oil retain moisture in the skin and leave it feeling soft and supple. Candelilla and carnauba wax form a protective film on the skin. Calendula extract soothes the skin, while millet extract nourishes the skin.