The ideal temperature in your baby’s room

The Ministry of Health and Solidarity recommends a temperature of between 18 and 20°C in your baby’s room. This range allows him to sleep without being too hot or too cold. If a rather cool temperature is recommended, it is to avoid him having a sleep disturbed by perspiration, or difficulties to breathe. 

To check the temperature of your baby’s room, you can buy a thermometer. Some baby phones also have this feature and allow you to check the temperature remotely.

However, it is difficult to maintain the right temperature depending on your home and the weather. It is therefore essential to adapt your baby’s nightwear to these temperature variations. Diapers, pyjamas, sleeping bags, socks… Let’s see what are the good combinations of clothes to choose according to the different temperatures.

If the thicknesses and the types of clothing have their importance according to the temperatures, the choice of materials is also essential to offer to your baby the most serene nights possible.

For bodysuits in direct contact with the skin, it is recommended to choose cotton.

For pyjamas, choose materials such as velvet, fleece or terrycloth up to 21 degrees. Beyond that, cotton pajamas are sufficient.

For sleeping bags, you can refer to the TOG value (Thermal Overall Grade). It indicates the thermal capacity of a garment. If your baby’s room is cool (up to 21°C), choose a sleeping bag with a high TOG value, since the higher the TOG value, the warmer and more insulating the sleeping bag. When shopping, don’t hesitate to ask the experts for advice.

Please note: even if it is very cold, you should never put a comforter, blanket or even a pillow in your baby’s crib to avoid the risk of suffocation. Hence the importance of a good sleeping bag, to keep him warm in complete safety!After an overview of the clothes to choose for the night, let’s not forget the other essential: the diapers!

Why is a baby’s skin so fragile?

A baby’s skin is special: thin and sensitive, it is very vulnerable to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Why is this? Because it is immature and melanin production is not yet operational. As a result, the skin is less resistant and more permeable to aggression. The facts are now well documented: the damage caused by the sun in a baby or a young child can have consequences in adulthood. Basically, everyone has a sun capital at birth. This capital is all the more impacted when the skin barrier is attacked at a young age, because it is at this period that it is the most fragile and lacks resistance.

Understanding the risk

Do you remember your last sunburn? If so, then you know that our sunshine produces more than just a pretty tan. UV rays are harmful to adults if exposed for long periods of time, so think about the delicate skin of newborns. Babies’ skin is very soft, but it is also thinner and more fragile than adults’ skin. It is therefore mechanically much more vulnerable to the harmful effects of the sun. A sunburn can be very painful and cause blistering. Sunburn can also increase the risk of skin cancer later in life. In short, it’s no coincidence that it’s recommended that babies not be exposed to the sun before the age of one (some pediatricians even recommend 3 years)! Add to that the risks of dehydration, sunstroke or those for children’s sensitive eyes and you will understand that it is therefore imperative to protect them from the sun, especially when going to the beach.

Sunglasses on the nose

But who’s that baby trying to sneak by? Because they are particularly sensitive to UV rays, it is important to protect your baby’s eyes. It’s not rocket science: there are pairs of sunglasses designed especially for babies. In addition to being too cute, they block UV rays and also help protect your baby’s eyes from sand and wind, which can cause eye irritation. Stylish and practical!

Understanding the risk

Your baby’s first dip in the salty sea – what an adventure! Except that salt not only dries out the skin and causes irritation, it can also amplify the harmful effects of UV rays, increasing the risk of sunburn. Rinsing with clear water after swimming in the ocean is essential to protect your baby’s skin. Then, dry off well and reapply sunscreen if you’re staying on the page. And when you come back home, don’t hesitate to apply an after-sun lotion on his skin. The one developed by Biolane moisturizes, soothes and protects the sensitive skin of our babies and young children after sun exposure.

When to change a baby?

Some babies don’t cry when they need to be changed. So check regularly that your child’s diaper isn’t soiled, so that his bottom doesn’t come into prolonged contact with urine or stools.

Ritualize this gesture to protect your baby’s diaper area. 

For the first few weeks, change your baby according to the number of feedings, before or after each feed or bottle. Over the following months, changing will become less frequent. Make sure that your baby’s diaper is always clean before naptime or bedtime, so that he can fall asleep without being disturbed by a dirty diaper.

The essentials for changing your baby with peace of mind

Comfortable, raised area.

Before changing your baby, make sure you don’t leave him alone on the changing table.

Necessary products: liniment (or any baby cleansing lotion and water), absorbent cotton, water and, if necessary, diaper change cream or water paste if your child suffers from diaper rash.

A closed garbage can nearby, to avoid unpleasant smells.

When choosing your diapers or toiletries, avoid long lists of ingredients and opt for natural formulas. 

Oleo-limestone liniment

The natural solution for gentle diaper changes

Natural, minimalist composition

Limits the appearance of diaper rash.

Leaves a moisturizing film on the diaper area.

Preparing the bath

You can use the bathtub in the bathroom or a free-standing bathtub to put in the shower

Ideally, the changing table should be located in the same room with all the equipment available, so that your baby is never left alone on the changing table or in the water

The temperature of the room should be around 25°C. Wait until the bath is full before undressing your baby, so that he or she never gets cold

A baby’s skin is particularly fragile and sensitive. Use products that are adapted to his skin and that do not sting the eyes: a cleansing gel for corns and hair with a physiological PH, and an extra grease-free product if he has dry skin.

The water in the bath should ideally be at 37°C. To check the temperature, use a bath thermometer or dip your elbow in the water. If the temperature is neutral, it is the right one.

Bathtime Procedure

Pick up your baby safely by putting your arm under his neck and holding him by the arm. This position allows you to hold your baby securely, while freeing up one hand for washing.

Gently lower your baby into the water. Start by immersing his feet, then his buttocks and his whole body so that he doesn’t get cold… Don’t hesitate to immerse their head in water up to their ears, leaving their face out of the water: it’s very pleasant for them.

Once washed, if your baby is comfortable in the water, you can make the bath last a little longer. Don’t hesitate to talk to him, smile and play with him so that the bath becomes a real moment of pleasure.

Body and hair cleansing gel

The 2-in-1 cleansing gel for a gentle bath

Does not sting the eyes

Convenient because only one product for the body and the hair

Soap-free and enriched with a greaseproofing agent

Liniment

THE essential product for changing your baby’s diaper. It’s a traditional preparation based on olive oil and lime water. It helps prevent redness and irritation by leaving a protective film against external aggressions (urine, stools, rubbing diapers, etc.). 

For optimum efficacy, shake well before use.

Place the liniment on a clean cotton pad and start cleansing your baby’s diaper area: ALWAYS from top to bottom, to avoid contaminating the genitals with stool.

Liniment can be used on its own if there’s only urine and doesn’t need rinsing.  

In the case of stools, first wet a cotton pad with water for initial cleansing. Then use a clean cotton pad to wipe off the water! To avoid irritating your baby’s skin, do not rub or pat. Once your baby’s skin is dry, apply a little liniment with a clean cotton pad.

Because you should never apply dirty cotton to a clean one, you need to change the cotton, fold it or turn it over each time you use it.

Diaper change creamniment

If you notice that your baby’s diaper area is slightly irritated and shows signs of redness or pimples, you can use a diaper change cream specially designed to protect and effectively repair diaper rash and irritation.

With its non-greasy texture, it will absorb excess moisture and insulate the epidermis from the daily aggression of urine and stools.

On dry skin cleansed with water, apply a thick layer to the diaper area and folds, paying particular attention to irritated areas and redness.

Biolane Diaper change cream also helps prevent the appearance of redness in the diaper area. Don’t hesitate to apply it at every diaper change!

Do boys and girls have different diaper-changing routines?

Whether boy or girl, you need to take the same care in cleaning all the little folds, particularly in the groin area, but also on the upper back, especially in the event of explosive stools. However, depending on the sex of your baby, certain techniques are different:

For girls

Take particular care to clean from top to bottom, to avoid urinary tract infections. Clean the surface of the genitals, from the pubis to the rectum, to avoid damaging the secretions that protect the vagina from bacteria.

For boys

Start by washing the testicles (not forgetting any folds underneath). Then clean the penis without untangling it if the foreskin is sticking to the glans. You could hurt him.

Why is it (absolutely) necessary to use a moisturizing cream for your baby’s skin?

You love the smell of it, and you could smell it for hours… Ever since he was born, your baby and his soft skin have become the apple of your eye, haven’t they? But as you can probably imagine, this silky-soft skin is highly sensitive, fragile and particularly vulnerable to external aggression. In fact, it’s estimated that a baby’s skin is five times thinner than that of an adult. So it needs at least five times more protection!   

In winter, with the cold, rain, wind and so on, the hydrolipidic film on your baby’s skin is often put to the test.

Moisturizing cream, Cicabébé®, sweet almond oil… The products to moisturize your baby in winter

Does your baby have “normal” skin, with no major redness or chapping? 

You can use traditional skin care products! A nourishing and moisturizing cream or moisturizing body milk will be perfect! 

Does your baby suffer from irritation in the mouth or other localized areas? 

On these dry areas, apply Cicabébé®, formulated for : 

• Localized dryness: this care moisturizes, intensely nourishes, and isolates dry areas to maintain the skin’s natural moisture level.
• Peri-oral irritation: the addition of bisabolol and phytosterol, active ingredients recognized for their soothing properties, effectively relieves and repairs irritation around the mouth.    

Biolane’s little plus: sweet almond oil to reinforce hydration.

Directly into your hands to gently massage your baby (and enjoy a real moment of exchange and complicity, while taking care of his or her skin). You can also combine it with your usual moisturizing cream. For all our advice on the best techniques for massaging your baby, read our dedicated article!

A few spritzes directly into bath water, before applying moisturizing cream. 

Apply moisturizer, bath frequency… The right steps to protect your baby in winter.

Moisturize your baby’s skin once a day with a moisturizing cream or other suitable product:

Preferably after bathing, once he’s thoroughly dry. To dry your baby’s skin gently, remember to pat rather than rub. You know that particularly unpleasant sensation of a rough towel on your skin? Then imagine it on your baby’s sensitive skin…

• Before each walk, apply some cream 

To all areas exposed to external aggression (mainly his face). It’s not a problem to add a layer on top of the moisturizer already applied earlier in the day.

• Give him 3 baths a week maximum

Until he’s old enough to get dirty. Then you can increase the frequency of baths. Be extra vigilant when it comes to bath time. Water temperature, for example, should not be too hot to avoid drying out the skin!

• Choose clothes made from natural fibers

To let the skin breathe as much as possible and avoid perspiration (cotton, linen, wool…).

The virtues of massage

• Massage benefits the parent-child relationship through contact. It promotes mutual understanding, strengthens communication, and stimulates alertness.
• Before naptime or bedtime, massage can also help children fall asleep.
• For children with minor digestive problems, a belly massage can also have a beneficial effect on digestion.

Tips before massaging

• Massage can be performed from birth. 
• Choose a quiet room with a temperature between 22 and 24°C. 
• Use a moisturizing body lotion or vegetable oil to massage your baby. 
• The massage lasts around 15 minutes, depending on when your baby returns. 
• Massage areas that are usually touched on babies, such as the hands, torso and legs, then massage the whole body. 
• Your baby may not appreciate these massages right away, but don’t worry. Change the massage area or stop and resume later.

Massage techniques 

You don’t need to be a specialist to massage your baby. Just make yourself comfortable and let your baby’s emotions guide you. 

• Back massage: place your baby on his or her stomach, place your thumbs on either side of the spine and apply gentle circular pressure. 
• Arm massage: wrap your thumbs and forefinger around your baby’s arm, working in a circular motion down to the wrist.
• Leg massage: one hand holds the ankle while the other massages in criss-crossing movements. Pay particular attention to the pressure exerted, to ensure that this is a pleasant moment for your baby.
• Hand and foot massage: wrap the hand (or foot) around your palm, then move down each finger, massaging between thumb and forefinger. 
• Belly massage: slide your hands in a circular, clockwise motion around the navel. This will relieve your baby’s gas or constipation.
• Face massage: with your hands on either side of the face, caress the cheeks from the top of the jaw to the chin.

How to prepare your maternity suitcase?

• Tip no. 1: make a list of everything you’ll need, and tick off what you’ve got as you go (that’s what this article is all about!).
• Tip no. 2: make two different bags.  A birth bag and a bag for your stay in the maternity ward.
• Tip no. 3: Organize your suitcases as well as possible, for example with small pouches or compartments to make finding everything as easy as possible.

Different ways to pollute with sunscreen products

Just like diapers (link to eco diapers articles), the use of a sunscreen impacts nature. By slathering on sunscreen to protect ourselves, we unwittingly contribute to water pollution. In fact, when you introduce your child to the joys of swimming, your child’s skin and your own skin release a small amount (estimated at 25%) of sunscreen into the water.

When you consider the number of people swimming all the time and all over the world, the bill ends up being quite high. Every year, some 25,000 tons of sunscreen are insidiously dumped into our seas and oceans.

In addition, the spray formats let some of this sunscreen escape into the air and fall back onto the sand to be eventually washed into the ocean.

Chemical components in the collimator

Two chemical components of sunscreens are particularly pointed out: oxybenzone and octynoxate.

These substances, in particular the sunscreens present in sunscreen formulas, are known to be harmful to the aquatic environment.

Being aware of the problem, some states like Hawaii have even decided to ban certain sunscreen products deemed harmful to the environment.

Choosing an ocean-friendly sunscreen

However, it is not possible to do without sunscreen. Cosmetology researchers have found a compromise between effective sun protection and the fight against marine pollution.

Sunscreen products made from mineral ingredients such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are less hazardous. Although biodegradable and more natural, it cannot be proven indisputably that they are perfectly neutral.

And to continue in a coherent approach, the companies which invest in this ecological way generally choose eco-designed packaging.

The protection of marine ecosystems has become an imperative that cannot be ignored. À

individual level, opting for an eco responsible sunscreen and, in particular

respectful of the oceans, represents a concrete ecological gesture.