3 The right way to dry your baby to keep it safe and comfortable

Is it necessary to dry a newborn?

Usually parents dry their newborn babies every morning in front of the house in direct sunlight.

But actually, is it necessary to expose a newborn to the sun every morning?

In a history written by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), in the mid-19th century it was found that sunlight had a therapeutic effect for rickets disease (bone disorders due to vitamin D, calcium, and phosphate).

Then in 1958, sunlight was used as a therapy for yellow babies. Drying the baby for 10 minutes in the room with sunlight from the window, can help therapy in mild jaundice neonatorum (yellow baby).

But in 1940 skin cancer cases increased and became epidemic in 1970, researchers realized that sunlight has a negative impact.

On the other hand, quoting from the official website of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI), sunlight is indeed important to increase vitamin D in the skin.

However, the most important and safe option for therapy in yellow babies who need additional vitamin D intake is phototherapy, not sun exposure (sunbathing).

Newborns need to be exposed to low levels of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation to produce vitamin D.

This is because most babies are born with low levels of vitamin D in the body

Vitamin D is needed by the body to help absorb calcium and phosphorus from food. Both of these minerals are essential for the growth of bones and teeth.

So, exposing your baby to the morning sun is a simple way to increase vitamin D levels in your baby's body.

But keep in mind, there are safe ways to dry your baby that need to be practiced.

How to dry the baby right

Drying the baby has benefits for bone health, but there are a number of things that must be considered.

Here's how to dry the baby properly, quoting from the official website of the Indonesian Pediatrician Association (IDAI):

1. Dry in a short time

The Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI) recommends exposing the baby to the sun for a short time, about 15-20 minutes.

In addition, it is best to dry the baby below 10 am and above 4 pm.

This is because at that time, UVB radiation tends to be low. In contrast, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. is the time with the highest amount of UVB radiation.

If you are drying at this time, your little one's skin can actually be damaged.

2. No need to remove clothes

Some people think it is necessary to remove the baby's clothes when they are going to dry, but that way is not necessary.

In fact, IDAI recommends parents to wear clothes, hats, and sunscreen when exposing their babies to direct sun.

Even if you wear clothes, sunlight can still penetrate and provide additional vitamin D to your little one's body.

Taking off your little one's clothes can actually increase the risk of other diseases, such as colds, to skin cancer and melanoma.

However, not all babies need sunscreen. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that children under 6 months of age should not use sunscreen.

This is because the baby's skin is still sensitive and easily irritated when applied to sunscreen.

Therefore, if you want to dry the baby, it is better if it is under 9 in the morning or when the sun is not too hot.

If your little one is more than 6 months old and wants to put on sunscreen before drying, you should choose a sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and apply it to your baby 15-20 minutes before going outside.

This is a way to dry a baby that is often neglected but it is very important to pay attention to it.