In baby hygiene care, part of it is how to take care of the fine, sometimes fragile hair and scalp. However, how often to wash an infant's hair is a point of much debate in many parents' books. Too much washing can be irritating on the scalp, while too little washing builds up.
Understand your baby’s Hair and Scalp
Their hair as infants is different from the hair of adults. Newborns and infants generally have very soft hair that is also finer and produces less oil. Most babies are less likely to get oily and dirty. This is because, in an infant's scalp, the sebaceous glands are not as active as in adults. Thus, shampooing isn't needed that often.
Moreover, infant hair has no medulla. This part is the core of adult hair where natural oils are present. Thus, it makes such hair break easily. It also means that their hair and scalp need gentle care. This applies more to hair care during the first couple of months.
How Often Should You Wash Your Baby's Hair?
The duration you will need to spend on infant shampoo washing your baby's hair depends on their age and needs. Here is a rough outline for the maintenance of infant hair care routines:
- Infants (0-6 weeks)
For the first 4 to 6 weeks, you are strictly discouraged from giving any shampoo on a baby's hair. Commonly, the NHS and pediatricians want you to bathe your newborn in just water and, for this stage, his or her skin and scalp are quite sensitive, and water is enough for cleaning.
Gently massage your baby's scalp once or twice a week at bath time. Newborns do not appear to produce much oil or sweat, so frequent washing is not required. You can just keep their scalp moist simply by lightly tapping it dry with a soft towel after each bath.
- Older Infants (6 weeks and beyond)
As your baby grows, you will begin introducing infant shampoo into the hair care regimen. By this time, it can be allowed to be washed between 1 to 3 times per week. Their hair is still so fine, and their scalp produces hardly any oil at all, hence is no need for daily washing.
You are free to rinse their scalp more frequently in case your baby has a pretty sweaty day, played dirty, or whatever the case may be. Avoid daily shampooing, though; that tends to dry out the scalp.
How to Choose?
Cleaning up a baby's hair is a very delicate job; one need
s to find the right kind of shampoo for infants as these are designed to be very gentle on infant scalps without any irritation caused by such chemicals or fragrances used in regular shampoos. Tear-free also is one of the key words when buying an infant shampoo as you do not want stinging water hitting your baby's eyes while bathing him or her.
The baby's scalp, especially its sensitive areas, should be considered when determining shampoo ingredients to avoid. Sulfates, parabens, and artificial fragrances can be too harsh for the baby's scalp. Natural and hypoallergenic shampoos are good for babies, offering gentle cleanliness without the stripping of important moisture.
Tips for Baby Hair Washing
- Shampoo Drop: Babies do not use much shampoo. A small drop will be enough. Just gently lather it on their scalp.
- Gently: Always gentle while massaging shampoo into a baby's scalp. Do not rub or scrub hard as the scalp is very sensitive.
- Rinse Precisely: You have to rinse all the shampoo properly without leaving any residues that may irritate the skin of the baby.
- The baby should be pat dried: First, rinse your baby. Then you simply pat him or her dry with a towel. The thin hair does not take long to dry in the air.
- Managing Common Scalp Conditions
A very common condition of infants is cradle cap, which presents as flaky, patchy skin on the scalp. It tends to clear up spontaneously in a few months. You may use a soft baby brush with some oil and infant shampoo for gentle treatment. Use a small amount of oil-think coconut oil and place it on the affected areas. Let that sit for a few minutes. Brush the scalp gently, then shampoo.
Bath Time: Soothing, Bonding, and Hair Washing
Bath time may be an opportunity to make the experience of washing your baby's hair soothing and bonding. Massaging the shampoo into your baby's scalp while making gentle strokes tends to keep their hair clean and even calms them down. When trying to get the little one to bed, do not forget hair washing is part of the bedtime routine to calm them beforehand.
When it comes to maintaining your baby's hair, less can indeed be more. Usually, a mild infant shampoo is enough to keep them clean and healthy by washing their hair 1-3 times a week. Always maintain contact with the needs of your baby, and for this reason, ensure that the shampoo you will use is without severe chemicals to keep their scalp soft and irritation-free. The proper way of hair washing can be a peaceful and enjoyable addition to your infant's daily routine.
