The winter skincare mistakes parents don’t realise they’re making
Plus, the winter skincare saviours designed to soothe, protect and nourish delicate skin.
Dry cheeks, flaky patches and irritated little faces. Winter can be tough on delicate baby skin. But when the temperature drops, it’s not just the cold air that can cause problems. Some everyday skincare habits may be making things harder for your baby’s developing skin barrier.
NICU nurse, mum and newborn educator Courtney Garland knows just how confusing baby skincare can be, especially when parents are faced with endless advice and product choices.
Here, Courtney shares the simple winter skincare swaps every parent should know, from why less is often more, to the common habits that could be drying out your baby’s skin.
4 baby skincare mistakes to avoid this winter
Bathing too often
Those nightly baths might feel like a soothing routine, but over-washing can strip away the natural oils that help protect your baby’s skin barrier. A bath every few days, or when they need one, is often enough.
Using water that’s too hot
A warm bath is comforting, but hot water can contribute to moisture loss and irritation. Keep baths lukewarm and gentle to help protect delicate skin.
Using too many products
When it comes to baby skin, more isn’t always better. Strong soaps, fragrances and unnecessary products can disrupt the skin’s natural balance. Look for gentle options with minimal ingredients.
Scrubbing instead of soothing
Baby skin doesn’t need vigorous cleaning. A gentle touch around folds and creases is enough to keep little ones clean without irritating their sensitive skin.
Courtney’s winter skincare essential? Keeping it simple.
“Babies don’t need complicated routines,” Courtney explains. Choosing gentle, skin-friendly products, like WaterWipes™, made with 99.9% water and certified skin microbiome-friendly by MyMicrobiome, can help support your baby’s delicate skin barrier during the colder months.
The best products for protecting your little one’s skin this winter
WaterWipes™ Newborn & Baby Sensitive Wipes
WaterWipes™ Baby & Newborn Sensitive Wipes are designed to gently clean, care for and help protect even the most sensitive skin, from everyday nappy changes to those unexpected little messes on the go.
Made with just 99.9% purified water and a drop of fruit extract, these wipes are fragrance and alcohol-free, with a thicker, softer 2X stronger† wipe to help tackle up to 100% of mess while staying gentle on newborn and sensitive skin.
QV Baby Moisturising Cream
QV Baby Moisturising Cream is a rich, concentrated cream designed to hydrate dry skin, lock in natural moisture and help create a protective barrier to keep delicate skin feeling soft and comfortable. With a pH-balanced, low-irritant formula free from fragrance, colour, lanolin and propylene glycol, it’s gentle enough for babies and suitable for sensitive skin, including skin prone to eczema, dermatitis and psoriasis. A winter essential for helping protect and nourish little skin, every day.
Bunjie Gentle Shampoo
Bunjie Gentle Shampoo is a soap-free formula enriched with silk protein to gently cleanse and strengthen new locks without irritating sensitive little scalps. Designed for newborns and sensitive skin, it leaves hair soft, shiny and tangle-free, while helping tackle common concerns like cradle cap. A gentle winter bath-time essential for keeping tiny heads happy and healthy.
ecostore Baby Oat Milk Soap
ecostore Baby Oat Milk Soap is designed to softly cleanse while helping care for your baby’s skin, enriched with creamy New Zealand oat milk and made with plant and mineral-based ingredients. Dermatologically tested for sensitive skin and formulated with vegan ingredients, it’s a simple, gentle choice to help keep little skin feeling clean, soft and comfortable all winter long.
Little Étoile® Care Head-To-Toe Wash
Little Étoile Care Head-To-Toe Wash For Dry & Eczema-prone Skin (0+ months) is an unscented, hypoallergenic head to toe wash milk for gently cleansing, soothing & moisturising delicate, dry, sensitive, and eczema-prone skin.
Specially formulated with Étoile’s TwinkleToesTM technology (Oat, Calendula, Provitamin B5 (Panthenol) & Glycerin), which work together to control skin dryness, soothe itching, fortify the skin barrier and heal aggravated areas, while protecting them from further damage.
Along with the calming effects of Aloe Vera and nourishing Sunflower Seed Oil, this unscented wash will have your little star twinkling bright before you know it.
Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Oil
Cold weather can exacerbate certain skin conditions, like eczema. A consistent winter skincare routine can help soothe and calm irritated skin. By using gentle, fragrance-free products
Mustela Stelatopia® Cleansing Oil is specially designed to soothe and take extra care of your little one’s delicate skin.
Mustela Stelatopia® Cleansing Oil is composed of 98% plant-based ingredients and enriched with plant-based Glycerin, to moisturise the skin.
Avocado oil helps maintain the skin’s natural protective barrier, and Avocado Perseose, a patented natural ingredient to help protect baby’s delicate skin.
