A winter within children's reach: useful tips

Between dry skin and freezing temperatures, winter can be a real challenge for you and your baby.

Winter has always been considered a "dangerous" season for children’s health: as immune defenses weaken , little ones can become more fragile, and their skin also tends to dry out more easily, causing small cuts and annoying cracks.

Actually, winter is a season that’s friendly to your child’s health: during the colder months, it’s perfectly normal to choose to let children play indoors in the warmth, out of fear that exposure to the cold might make them sick more often.

But this is a myth worth dispelling: most adults associate winter with colds and illnesses like the flu. However, it's not exposure to cold that causes these viruses; on the contrary : it’s more likely due to increased time spent in poorly ventilated indoor environments, where bacteria and viruses can linger. By encouraging outdoor play in winter, children get a full dose of vitamin D , which is necessary for healthy bone and muscle development and a good mood. They also breathe fresh air and stay in direct contact with nature, a continuous source of stimulation and learning.

Why outdoor play is important

Children are curious by nature. Their brains and intellectual abilities are constantly developing, so they absorb and store the information and inputs that stimulate them.

So, during spring and summer, children become familiar with green foliage, blooming flowers, and warm weather. Seasonal change helps them notice and register different details in the same environment, such as bare soil, fallen leaves, and the formation of ice.

These changes provide children with new experiences and opportunities , such as learning about the seasons and the life cycles of plants and nature. Through outdoor play in winter, children also learn to see their environment through a different lens and move from being unconscious and subconscious observers to conscious, aware ones .

Dry skin in winter: how to prevent it

One common cold-season issue is dry skin. In general, children have thinner, more delicate skin than adults. For this reason, they can lose moisture more easily, leading to cuts or chapping. How can you prevent dry skin and still enjoy the benefits winter offers for well-being?

Here are some practical tips to protect your child’s skin, support immune defenses, and dress appropriately, so you don’t have to give up the joy of being outdoors, even in winter.

Wear it properly

Dress your child in layers

Adjust the diet for the winter season

Winter is full of foods rich in vitamins and minerals that can help you get through the cold season without ailments. Say yes to root vegetables like carrots, potatoes, radishes, beets, and sweet potatoes, which are rich in antioxidants and beta carotene and are good for the immune system and the eyes. Also include green leafy vegetables (spinach, lettuce), a good source of minerals such as sodium and potassium, as well as vitamins A, C, and K—an easy way to help keep your child’s immunity strong. Finally, cruciferous vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli are rich in fiber, B vitamins, and antioxidants. They not only support immune defenses but also help slow cell degeneration, promoting the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases.

To find inspiration for many tasty recipes for your baby , download the it app LILLYDOO and discover them in your personal feed!

Make sure your child drinks enough.

Skin health primarily depends on proper hydration, both internally and externally. If you want your child’s skin to look bright, feel soft, and stay free of chapping, start by making sure they drink enough: after weaning, a preschool-aged child’s daily fluid intake should be at least one liter.

Avoid too many baths

Baths are better than showers because they help keep dry skin hydrated, but baths that are too frequent or too long can have the opposite effect. So, there’s no need to wash your baby every day ; and when you do give a bath, keep them in the water for less than 10 minutes. Remember to keep the water temperature warm : hot water can dry out the skin and also activate nerve endings, making them more sensitive and increasing the urge to scratch.

Use fragrance-free and gentle cleansers on the skin

Do not use the body wash that you adults use: these products often contain detergents that can strip the skin of its natural oils and make it more prone to dryness. Additionally, fragrances and other chemicals can irritate the skin. Your child’s skin is very sensitive and needs special care . Make sure the soap you use to wash your baby is fragrance-free, deodorant-free, and hypoallergenic.

Use fragrance-free and additive-free creams

Hydration is an important part of soothing winter dry skin. Moisturizers are available as creams, lotions, and ointments, and should be applied to damp skin so it retains more moisture. It is important that they are free of fragrances and additives. If your child’s skin is irritated, you can use a moisturizer up to twice a day: daily, consistent use can reduce the likelihood of rashes and itching.

Use LILLYDOO almond oil

A product suitable for children (but not only) that has no contraindications for use is our LILLYDOO almond oil , made with 99% pure almond oil . Gently cold-pressed to preserve the oil’s beneficial properties, it helps maintain an optimal level of hydration for dry or sensitive skin and protects the skin barrier . The different uses of almond oil are many, and because it is 100% natural, it can be used on damp skin multiple times a day, whenever it dries. .

Choose natural fabrics and detergents

Dressing your child in cotton clothing right after applying moisturizer can help protect the skin by preventing chafing and helping it retain moisture. When doing laundry, consider using detergents without dyes or fragrances . For bed linen, use cotton or bamboo sheets and pillowcases: they tend to be soft, breathable, and less irritating to the skin.

Apply sunscreen even in winter

This is good practice even for adults: the sun is still present in winter, and it can be just as strong. For this reason, it’s important to protect skin from direct UV exposure, especially for children. Apply a layer of SPF 50 sunscreen to sun-exposed areas; it helps support proper hydration of the epidermis and prevents dryness, sun spots, and other dermatological conditions.

Keep the indoor environment sufficiently humid

How? For example, by placing a basin of water on the radiator or using a room humidifier : water vapor will help prevent indoor air from becoming too dry, reducing the risk of it turning into a reservoir for dust, viruses, and bacteria—the primary carriers of respiratory and viral diseases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions

Why does the cold dry out the skin?

Due to various factors, skin becomes dry in cold weather. Here are the main and most important ones: Low air humidity: especially when the temperature drops. Wind: can further increase the evaporation of moisture from the skin. Low sebum levels: cold weather can affect sebum production, the natural oil produced by the skin's sebaceous glands. Hot baths and prolonged showers: in winter, many people tend to prefer hot baths or extended showers to warm up. However, hot water can remove natural oils from the skin, contributing to dryness. It is advisable to use lukewarm water and limit the duration of showers and baths. To combat skin dryness during the colder months, it is important to adopt a proper hydration routine. This can include the use of moisturizers or oils, such as LILLYDOO almond oil, avoiding very hot baths, wearing appropriate clothing to protect the skin from the wind, and maintaining a home environment with good humidity. Additionally, drinking enough water can help keep the body hydrated, indirectly contributing to skin health as well.

Which vitamin is lacking when you have dry skin?

Skin health is influenced by various vitamins and nutrients, not just one. However, if you have dry skin, there may be a deficiency of vitamin E. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant that helps protect skin cells from damage caused by free radicals . Additionally, it helps keep the skin hydrated. A deficiency of vitamin E can lead to skin problems, including dryness, flaking, and itching.

What to put on children's chapped skin?

Moisturizing creams, lotions, or ointments to be applied on still damp skin, so that it retains more moisture. It is important that they are free of fragrances and additives. If your child's skin is irritated, you can use a moisturizer up to twice a day. A product suitable for childhood (but not only) and that has no contraindications for use is LILLYDOO almond oil , which is 99% based on pure almond oil . Perfect because it has beneficial properties: it helps maintain an optimal hydration level and protects the skin barrier.