Chapped Cheeks & Dry Patches: Your Guide to Keeping Baby Comfortable This Fall

This article is sponsored by Dove Baby, a supporter of Peanut and women alike.

Cooler mornings, crunchy leaves, and the first night you turn the heating on: cozy season is here.

For a lot of parents, it's also when you notice a few changes in your baby's skin - rosy, rough-looking cheeks after a walk, a dry patch on an elbow, skin that feels a little less soft than it did in summer.

It's really common, and it doesn't call for a whole new routine. 

A few small changes to what you already do each day can help keep your baby comfortable all season.

Bath time: keep it short and warm

Fall weather can bring drier air, which may leave baby's skin feeling more sensitive than usual. One simple way to help support the skin barrier is by adjusting baby's bath routine.

The best tips for a good baby bath routine in winter are:

• Keep water warm, not hot, and baths short.

• Pat skin dry with a soft towel, don't rub, paying extra attention to little creases.

• Keep a towel and fresh clothes within reach so baby isn't waiting in the cold.

Because baby's skin can be prone to dryness, look for a gentle wash that cleanses without stripping essential moisture, like Dove Baby Rich Moisture Wash.

If baby's skin is sensitive, a fragrance-free formula like Dove Baby Fragrance-Free Moisture Wash can help keep bath time simple and comfortable while replenishing skin's natural moisture.

For babies with eczema-prone skin, consider a wash formulated with colloidal oatmeal like Dove Baby Eczema Care Soothing Wash to gently cleanse while helping skin retain moisture.

Bath time can also be an easy routine to share. 

If you have a partner, grandparent or trusted caregiver around, letting them take a turn gives baby the same familiar care while giving you a few minutes back. 

Sometimes support for new moms looks less like a grand gesture and more like someone else handling bathtime.

Moisturize right after

Right after the bath, while skin is still slightly damp, is one of the easiest times to add moisture back into tired skin.

After gently patting baby dry, smooth a nourishing moisturizer over their skin, like Dove Rich Moisture Lotion. This gentle, hypoallergenic formula is suitable for newborn and sensitive skin, and provides 24 hours of moisture

Focus on the areas that tend to feel dry first: cheeks, hands, elbows, knees and legs. 

Warm the lotion in your hands, go slowly, and make it a moment. 

Eye contact, a silly song, a little baby massage.

Days out: think about exposed skin

Cheeks and hands are usually the first to feel the cold and wind.

• Dress baby in soft layers you can add or take off as you go in and out.

• A soft hat and mittens help on chilly days, and a stroller cover can help on windy ones.

• Gently wipe away drool through the day, since damp skin on the cheeks and chin can feel extra rough in cold air.

• Add a little lotion to cheeks and hands before heading out, and again when you're home.

At home: warm air, dry skin

Indoor heating is lovely for us but can leave the air feeling dry. 

Some moms on Peanut like to use a humidifier in baby's room, while choosing soft, breathable fabrics for pajamas and bedding to help skin feel more comfortable.

If you notice dryness that doesn't seem to settle, or anything that worries you, check in with your pediatrician. 

You know your baby best, and asking is always okay.

The bottom line

Your baby's fall skincare routine doesn't need to be complicated. 

Short, warm baths, moisturizing afterward, and a little extra thought for exposed skin on chilly days can all help keep delicate skin comfortable this season.

Join the conversation on Peanut, where moms are sharing their fall routines, go-to products and real-life tips, because community support for mothers starts with talking to each other.