While I’m a fan of winter comforts such as Woolies soups, more red wine, fleece pyjamas and lounging on the couch with blankets while watching series, I cannot say I enjoy the winter cold and chill that comes with them. But if there’s anything that’s more uncomfortable than waking up in the cold and dark to get going in the morning, it’s having to deal with scaly dry skin.

My son battles too, and apparently because young skin is so delicate, it’s even more susceptible to becoming dry, and breaking out in dry patches. A baby’s skin in particular doesn’t have as much as oil as adult skin, and is prone to dehydration. That coupled with warm and woollen clothes that sap moisture from our skin, and heaters that dry the air too, and it’s a rough ride. Literally.

My son hates having cream applied to him, so there have been times where I’ve sneakily slathered him while he’s sleeping, or added drops of baby oil to his bath water to minimise moisture loss during bathing.

There are other ways to prevent and treat dry skin:

Reduce bathtime

Bathing dries a child’s skin because it removes the skin’s natural oils along with the dirt. We’re not saying ditch the bath, but rather cut down to around 10 minutes. Use warm water and gentle, non-drying soap or cleanser like Johnson Baby Aqueous Cream.

Add oil to the bath

Adding a few drops of oil, like Johnson’s Baby Oil, locks in 10 times more moisture on wet skin than many lotions on dry skin.

Put on moisturiser

Apply moisturiser as soon as your child is out the bath and patted dry. Applying it soon after the bath will lock in the moisture that’s still in his skin from the bath. Try Johnson’s Baby Moisturising Lotion.

You can also moisturise in the morning too, when you’re getting your baby or child dressed.

Use a humidifier

If the air in your house is dry, a humidifier will help to add moisture, especially if there are heaters on as these draw moisture away.

Keep your child hydrated

This isn’t always easy in winter, but proper hydration goes a long way to prevent dry skin.

Use good products

Try moisturising products such as:

Johnson’s Baby with a range of gentle moisturisers that are perfect for baby and the whole family

Johnson’s Baby Oil to lock in moisture and allow the skin to breathe naturally. Massage onto damp skin or add a few drops to the bath water

Johnson’s Baby Aqueous, which can be used as a cleanser or a moisturiser. It’s gentle and non-irritating and is suitable for all skin type

Johnson’s Baby Lotion, which has gentle, nourishing emollients and leaves skin feeling silky soft and smooth. And of course, it has that gorgeous, gentle JOHNSON’S Baby scent

Johnson’s Baby Jelly, which seals in moisture and provides barrier protection by keeping wetness away.