How to Apply Baby Powder to a Newborn

Baby powder is an optional addition to your baby's diaper care regimen.

Baby powder, a classic and popular baby product, actually poses surprising risks to your infant's health. If a baby inhales baby powder it can harm his lungs and cause breathing problems. A 2008 study in "Pediatrics" also found that use of baby powder increases the concentration of one kind of phthalates -- toxic chemicals that may damage a child's developing reproductive system -- in a baby's urine. It is best to avoid baby powder unless you have a medical need for it. However, if you really want to use baby powder on your infant, following certain tips can reduce the product's risk.

Instructions

1. Choose a baby powder made of cornstarch rather than talc. While any baby powder is a potential inhalation hazard, cornstarch particles are larger and rougher than talc particles making it more difficult for your baby to inhale them.

2. Store the baby powder container out of reach of your baby's flailing limbs. If she knocks over the container, powder could billow into the air, and she might breathe some of it in.

3. Clean any powder residue out of the folds in your baby's skin when you change her dirty diaper. Powder build-up may irritate her sensitive skin.

4. Dispense the powder slowly into your hand, away from your baby's face, to limit the amount of powder that ends up in the air. Sprinkle the powder onto her skin where it looks red, pink or dry.

Tips & Warnings

• If you use disposable diapers, you don't need to apply baby powder at every diaper change or even every day, since disposable diapers are highly absorbent. Limit powder use to when your baby's diaper area is becoming irritated -- and most likely to be extra sensitive to moisture and friction.

• Don't apply baby powder if your baby has a severe diaper rash. If your baby's rash blisters, bleeds, extends to other areas of his body, makes her cry if it is touched or lasts for more than a week, see a pediatrician rather than trying to medicate it yourself.

References

• BabyCenter; Is It Safe to Use Baby Powder on My Baby?; Jo Ann Rohyans, et al.
• "Pediatrics;" Baby Care Products: Possible Sources of Infant Phthalate Exposure; Sheela Sathyanarayana, et al.; February 2008
• Healthy Children; Make Baby's Room Safe; June 2010
• Desitin: How to Identify Diaper Rash