From Baby to Toddler: How Your Little One’s Skin Changes As They Grow

All About Baby Skin

In the womb, baby is covered with a coating called the vernix caseosa, which is made of water, protein, and lipids, such as ceramides, that help skin seal in moisture and keep impurities out. The vernix caseosa is designed to protect baby’s skin barrier as it develops.⁷ When a newborn loses this coating, dryness and peeling are common.⁸

Newborn (up to four weeks old) is thinner than baby (four weeks to three years old) or adult (18+) skin. In fact, research has shown that a baby’s skin barrier (also known as the stratum corneum) is 30% percent thinner in a baby than in an adult.⁹ The barrier layer, which helps keeps moisture in and irritants out, is immature and not complete for the first two to four years of life. That means infant skin is more susceptible to transepidermal water loss (TEWL), the process by which water or moisture escapes from skin.

What to Look for in Baby-Specific Skin Care

Using products formulated to support the skin barrier may help keep skin hydrated and healthy. Cleansers, lotions, and creams formulated with ceramides, help restore and maintain the skin’s natural barrier.

Because baby skin is more prone to irritation¹⁰, it’s also important to use products free of known irritants such as fragrance and parabens. CeraVe Baby Moisturizing Cream contains three essential ceramides for barrier support, plus dimethicone to form a temporary, protective layer on skin, helping to prevent water loss and irritation.¹¹

All About Toddler Skin

As your baby gets bigger, their skin changes, too. But that all-important barrier layer may not be fully formed yet. A child’s skin is more vulnerable to irritation from creams and lotions, so using gentle products, free of potentially irritating ingredients, is still important.¹² Toddler skin also has lower hydration levels than adult skin¹³, so supplementing with the right moisturizer—one containing barrier-supporting lipids, humectants such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid¹⁴, and skin-protecting dimethicone—help boost skin’s hydration levels.

As your child starts to cruise, toddle, and finally walk (and spends more time outside exploring), sunscreen becomes essential, too. Too much UV exposure can weaken your little one’s still-developing skin barrier layer¹⁵, which may lead to dryness and irritation—not to mention sunburn. Sunscreen itself can irritate baby’s sensitive and young skin, so choose one like CeraVe Baby Hydrating Sunscreen SPF 45, which helps protect against UV rays with titanium dioxide and contains ceramides and hyaluronic acid.

Your little one’s skin needs will change significantly through the years. However, armed with knowledge and care, you are on your way to keeping your child’s skin healthy looking and protected.