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Basic Guidelines for caring for all
children’s skin, including sensitive or dry skin
To keep skin soft and hydrated, use natural and organic products on your child’s skin. Chemicals can irritate and dry skin out. Products containing the fewest number of ingredients and no fragrance are best; this is especially important for children with sensitive skin or eczema. Mild, natural soaps (such as cucumber) or glycerin-based soaps are less drying and leave no residue. Try different products exclusively for one week at a time. Discontinue use immediately if your child develops a rash or other reaction.
More moisture, more often. Ashy, cracked, or bumpy skin is dry skin. Apply oil or cream immediately after bathing; if your child’s skin is very dry, apply oil at least once a day. More moisture will be needed in colder climates and during the winter.
Many adults shower daily, but a child’s skin will dry out sitting in a bath every night. Use baths when a child needs to be cleaned, not just to play. Do not use bubble bath. Babies especially (only nursing or bottle-feeding) need a bath—at most—once a week. In-between full baths, give sponge baths and moisturize.
Add a little apricot kernel oil or jojoba oil to the bath when running the water to improve very dry skin or eczema. With oil in the bathwater, you may need to wash your child’s hair with fresh water from the tap, depending on their hair texture. (Fine, straight hair is most susceptible to looking oily if washed with oil-bath water.) |
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Skin Care Products & Web Resources
Buy organic oils, if possible, for body care (available at health food stores and co-ops) |
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Olive Oil
Coconut Oil
Apricot & Jojoba Oils
Un-Petroleum Jelly
Shea Butter
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Caring for a child’s hair can be daunting, especially if your child’s hair type or texture is unlike your own or if you have very short hair. However, hair care can be simple and fun once you have the right tools and develop a few new basic skills.
Your child was born with a genetically-designed, beautiful head of hair (or bald—but that hair will grow). Children’s hair should be kept in its natural form to protect the child’s changing hair texture and growing body from the chemicals in perms and straighteners.
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again—never truer than with your child’s hair. Try new products (Resist the urge to use more than one new hair product at a time; whether it works well or not, you won’t know which product to blame or thank.) With hair styles, the more you practice, the neater the hair will look and the faster you will achieve your desired style.
All parents can easily master three simple styling techniques: ponytails, two-stranded twists, and three-stranded braids. With these three skills, you can create an endless variety of hairstyles. For style ideas, look in children’s clothing catalogs, magazines, and books from the library or at the hairdresser.
Your child’s hair will need varying amounts of moisture and different hair styles depending on the weather, seasonal activities (swimming, sports), and how often they wear hats or helmets.
Trust yourself to learn the new skills needed to care for your child’s hair. Be honest with yourself—does your child’s hair look healthy and strong? If not, talk to a professional stylist, do some online research about your child’s hair-type and the care it needs, or get some books out of the library (most books are available through inter-library loan if your library does not have them—talk to your librarian). |
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TOOLS All of these tools are available at most supermarkets and pharmacies. They also can be purchased online at www.walgreens.com. |
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Boar Bristle Brush
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Wood or Plastic Bristle Brush
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Rat-Tail Comb
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Wide-Tooth Comb
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Pick
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Cloth Hair Bands
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Plastic Barrettes or Snaps
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PRODUCTS A list of basic hair care products |
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Shampoo Conditioner
Leave-In Conditioner Detangler
Oil & Water in a Spray Bottle
Water in a spray bottle
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WEB RESOURCES Where to find hair care products for your child, if they are not available locally |
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California Baby
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Aveda
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Aubrey Organics
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Beauty without Cruelty
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BOOK RESOURCES |
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Kinki Kreations
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Happy to Be Nappy
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I Love My Hair
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