Newborn Grooming Items Checklist

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by which products to buy and which to pass over when preparing for a new baby. Your baby might not have much to groom at first, but it won't be long before regular grooming will be necessary to keep her from scratching her skin or exacerbating common newborn ailments like cradle cap, according to the online baby resource The Nurture Center.

  1. Hair

    • Your baby's hair is ultra fine, and taking the time to comb and brush it soon after birth will help prevent those delicate strands from forming tangles. Brushing your baby's head with a soft brush twice a day also soothes her skin. The soft bristles of a baby brush help stimulate her scalp and distribute the natural oils found naturally in your infant's skin, which can help alleviate cradle cap, according to HealthyChildren.org.

    Nails

    • Your newborn's little nails will quickly turn into tiny talons if you don't keep on top of regular trimming. Newborns are still developing basic muscle control, so her flailing hands can accidentally scratch and nick her delicate skin. KidsHealth.com, a website by the Nemours Foundation, recommends using nail scissors or infant nail clippers to give your baby's nails a short, rounded shape. Clippers can make the process a little faster, but can also nick or cut a squirming baby.

    Gauze or Washcloths

    • Small pads of gauze come in handy for a variety of tasks, including cleaning the area around the umbilical cord or circumcision site and cleaning your baby's gums. Even before your baby has any teeth, getting her used to the sensation of your finger inside her mouth, wiping her gums gently with a small pad of gauze or washcloth, will make it easier to brush her teeth later on, according to KidsHealth.

    Cotton Swabs

    • Cotton swabs are a safe and useful grooming tool when properly used. Use cotton swabs to clean behind and outside your newborn's ears. This will allow you to remove large flakes of skin or wax that came from your little one's ear without actually sticking anything in or around her ear canal, which could potentially damage her delicate ear drums, according to the Cleveland Clinic. Use baby-safe swabs so that even if your infant squirms, the larger outer edge of the cotton bulb will prevent the tip from entering her ear.

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