Hydration elements for infant and toddler skin mainly come from foods and supplements you feed. They provide internal hydration methods which have long lasting impact.
When they are effectively combined with recipes for skin wash, shampoos, creams, lotions and skin packs you can expect your child’s skin and connected internal organs to be completely hydrated with water and essential fluids.
Sweating is a normal and healthy phenomenon which removes many toxic elements from the skin during all seasons.
Hence it is suggested that you avoid any chemical or synthetic recipes and products which could block the skin pores and prevent natural sweating. At the same time the ingredients should provide cooling effects to avoid excess of sweating which may lead to dehydration conditions.
Internal Hydration for Infants
- Water and fruit juices are recommended by most of the paediatricians for balancing the hydration levels during all seasons. You can start feeding your baby with one “feeding bottle” of water once in two hours every day. During summer you can even make it one in an hour. You need not worry about excess water retention as it gets eliminated through urination and sweat.
- Water melon, coconut water, milk (consult your paediatrician about thinking the milk to make it digestible as thick milk may not be digestible and it may result in milk related allergies), pomegranate, almond milk and sweet orange juice can be fed to your baby once he is 3 months or elder. You should take special care while selecting the oranges as some varieties of orange could be acidic in nature.
- Veggie soups are said to be highly nutritious and hydrating in nature for toddlers from the age of one and above. You need to boil them till they become soft, blend them and feed to your child. Tomato soup is one recipe which can help in hydrating the skin along with enhancing the complexion and brightness.
Take two ripe sweet tomatoes (make sure they are free from sourness), one sliced carrot without skin, 1/4th of beet sliced and ½ of lemon. Boil the veggies (except lemon) in a bowl till they become soft enough for your toddler to digest. Blend them till they become soupy and add the lemon juice. Add salt to taste and let your toddler enjoy the soup.
It enriches the skin cells and tissues with essential vitamins, carbohydrates and proteins from all the veggies that you have added. This is one method of keeping your toddler’s skin hydrated.
- Once your toddler is 2 years old you can feed him raw vegetable and fruits which contain water, carbohydrates, vitamins and proteins along with fiber. Veggie and fruit salad is one recipe which can help in hydrating the skin and body along with providing skin nourishment ingredients.
Take two slices of watermelon, one grated carrot without skin, 1/4th of beet sliced and grated, two three slices of cucumber and ½ of lemon. Cut the veggies and add them to a bowl. Stir well. Add salt to taste and the lemon juice. Garnish with dry fruits like grapes and almond (almond needs to be soaked in water until it softens and peeled).
It enriches the skin cells and tissues with vital vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates and proteins from all the veggies that you have added. This is another method of keeping your toddler’s skin hydrated through foods.
Skin Hydration Treatment
- External treatment of your toddler skin is also highly essential for hydrating his skin. Take one cup of Epsom salt add it the tub (in which your toddler bathes every day) of warm water. Mix well until the salt dissolves.
Let your toddler enjoy the salt water bath for 10 to 15 minutes before showering him with normal warm water. This recipe is said to be highly useful in enhancing the protection from UV rays and retention of moisture within the skin cells.
- Take one teaspoon of vitamin oil, one teaspoon of sweet almond oil, one teaspoon of coconut oil and one teaspoon of Aloe Vera liquid in a bowl and mix well. You can add ½ teaspoon of sodium borate and 1 cup of demineralised water.
You need to heat the ingredients in low flame for about 5 minutes. Cool to room temperature and add it to the bath tub water. Let your toddler soak his skin in this recipe for 15 to 20 minutes. Then you can wash his skin with warm water.
Tips for Skin Hydration at Home
Skin hydration methods also include addition of mineral oils, essential oils, vitamin C oil (antioxidant), vitamin E oil (skin nourishing agent) and honey (natural moisturizer and antioxidant).
- Take two teaspoons of these ingredients and mix them well in a bowl. Apply on your toddler’s skin uniformly and massage for about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Let the ingredients soak his skin for about 15 minutes.
- Then you can wash with warm water.
This recipe helps in restoration of vital elements like tensile strength, normalization of collagen (Excess collagen can lead to thickening of skin layers and hence you should be careful) and hydration of skin layers.
- Take one teaspoon of castor oil, one teaspoon of olive oil, one teaspoon of coconut oil and one teaspoon of Aloe Vera liquid in a bowl and mix well. You can add ½ teaspoon of vitamin c powder and 1 teaspoon of vitamin E powder.
- You need to mix the ingredients to form a thick liquid.
- Apply on your toddler’s skin areas and let it soak his skin for about 15 minutes.
- Then you can wash his skin with warm water.
Castor oil is highly recommended for providing elasticity and tensile strength to your toddler’s skin layers.
All the skin hydration home recipes listed in here are based on practical experiences from parents. Some of them may not be suitable for your toddler depending on his skin type and condition.
Hence you need to consult your paediatrician before using any of them to treat your child for skin hydration.