Baby Beauty Tips

Parents are proud of their babies and like to show them off at parties and in pictures. There are simple ways for parents to enhance their baby's beauty while keeping their little one comfortable and healthy. And as a bonus for new parents, making your baby even more beautiful does not take a lot of time, money or materials.

Cradle Cap

• Cradle cap is characterized by dry, flaky skin that makes your baby look like he has dandruff. It can also appear as yellow or brown crusty patches on the baby's scalp. Babies commonly have cradle cap for the first few months of life (the cause may be hormonal), and it usually goes away on its own. You can treat cradle cap by sponging your baby's head with baby or almond oil. Comb the flakes out of your baby's hair and then wash his hair to remove the oil.

Uneven Hair and Skull

• Babies may lose some hair after they are born and wear away some of it while laying down. The fontanelles or cranial sutures of an infant's head take several months to start to close, which may leave your baby's head with a slightly irregular shape. You can hide bald patches and an irregular head shape by putting a hat or a headband with a large bow or flower on your baby's head. You can also try a wig or a headband with hair extensions, which are available specifically for infants, to give your baby's hair a fuller look.

Scratches

• Tiny babies have not yet developed motor control and can accidentally scratch themselves and others. Keep painful, sore-looking scratches to a minimum by trimming your baby's nails (do it when he is asleep if you have to) and dressing him in garments with hand covers built into them for the first couple of months. You may be tempted to cover the scratches with a makeup concealer, but the concealer may cause an allergic reaction, worsening the situation. Use a topical antibiotic cream to ease the pain, redness and swelling.

Rashes

• Babies' skin is very sensitive and can be prone to rashes. Use dye-free and fragrance-free laundry detergent, baby shampoo and soap to prevent rashes. Also, immediately remove wet bibs and clothing, and do not allow your baby to overheat, as moisture on the skin can exacerbate rashes.

  Use ointment formulated for babies on your child if she does develop a rash. For eczema, which appears as dry patches of skin, try a cortisone cream. For hives, which appear as welts that can spread rapidly, use an antihistamine cream. Hives are a sign of allergies, so watch your baby for signs of difficulty in breathing or swallowing.

Under-Eye Circles

• There's not much you can do when your baby is not sleeping and develops dark circles under his eyes. Help your child get to sleep by leaving a night light on, reading, singing or rocking him to sleep. Keep the room at an appropriate temperature so he does not overheat or get cold during the night. Getting enough sleep may make those circles disappear.

  The under-eye area is sensitive, but you can also try gently massaging the skin under the eye or placing a cool compress on the eye area for five minutes at a time, if your baby will let you.