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Does your baby keep scratching their face?
Why do babies scratch their face anyway?
Is it possible keep your baby from scratching their face?
The short answer is YES! This post will tell you about how you can stop baby from scratching their face for good!
Scratch marks on your little ones face can be stressful and leave you feeling guilty and wondering how to stop it immediately.
Why is my baby scratching their face?
Infants can be scratching their face for numerous reasons like:
- Uncontrolled movements
- Emotions (bored, crying)
- Long nails
- Skin Irritations
- Teething
- Grip
1. Uncontrollable Movements
Babies, especially newborns, have not yet gained full control of their movements. They have involuntary movements called reflexes. Which includes movements of their arms, feet and face.
This is why babies get startled when they hear loud sounds, light or move too fast. This is called startle reflex.
These reflexes can result in baby throwing their arms in the arm and then bringing them back down, this can result in them scratching their face.
But don’t worry this won’t last forever around the 6 month mark babies usually have much better control of their movements.
2. Grip
Around the 2 month mark babies will start grasping whatever is put in their hand. As baby grows their grip will continue to get stronger.
Baby could find their hand on their cheek and their response could be to grab their cheek, resulting in face scratches.
Around the 4 month mark babies can start teething. With their teeth coming their natural response is to chew on anything including their hands which means the changes of
3. Emotions
When baby is hungry, needs to burp or has a wet diaper they can cry and throw a fit which can result in baby flinging arms around and scratching their face.
Babies can also scratch their face when they are bored. Babies tend to put their hands by their face to examine them which could also result in the nails getting too close to the face.
4. Long Nails
Newborns grow at a rapid rate and their nails are no different. Baby nails, though tiny, can be vicious. Those uncontrollable reflexes and sharp nails are a recipe for a scratched face.
If you breastfeed you may even notice you get scratched around your chest from baby holding the breast as they eat. OUCH!
How can I keep baby from scratching their face?
There are a number of ways to prevent baby from scratching their face, try these suggestions and see which one works best for you.
Trim baby's nails
Trimming baby’s nails is the most affective way to prevent them from scratching. I know trimming baby’s nails can be scary, especially if you’ve never done it before.
If you’ve never trimmed babies nails before the best thing to do is be calm it’s ok, you are not going to hurt baby.
Trim Baby’s nails when they are:
- sleeping
- eating
- calm
This is also the perfect time to take advantage of baby’s grip reflexes (if they are at that stage) and have baby grip your finger so you can trim the nails.
Getting a set of baby safe nail clippers that also comes with a nail file is the perfect way to prevent any sharp edges on baby’s nails.
Use Baby mittens
Baby mittens are the perfect solution for covering baby’s hands and preventing them from scratching their face. These tiny little hand coverings will prevent baby from being able to scratch their face.
Plus baby mittens are a great way to keep baby cozy.
Another idea is to use socks on baby’s hands. Baby socks are a great alternative to keep your little one from scratching their face (plus I think they stay on a little better than mittens anyway).
Swaddle
If baby’s jerky-reflex movements are what is causing face scratches then swaddling is the perfect solution! Swaddling keeps baby’s arms down and in place plus it soothes baby and reminds them of the womb.
Muslin blankets are the best for swaddling because they are light and big enough to wrap baby up like a perfect little baby burrito.
But if you have a super wiggly baby who somehow manages to get their arms out every time, then you might want to consider getting a swaddle up – this allows baby to put their arms up and wiggle a little more but still prevents hands from scratching face from startle reflex.
What should you do when baby scratches their face?
If baby does end up with a scratch on their face you should gently wash the area off with a warm cloth.
If baby breaks skin, applying an antiseptic can help heal the cut. Keeping the cut moisturized will help the skin heal as well as protect germs from entering the cut.
If the cut changes color, oozes or does not seem to go away or concerns you at all, then you should defiantly speak with your pediatrician about it.
Will my baby's face Scar?
Although it can be worrisome to see scratches on your baby’s face, the good news is that it is very unlikely that baby would be left with a scar or permanent damage from their own scratch.
Baby skin heals quickly and typically a scratch only affects the surface layer of skin.
Preventing the scratch the best solution to keep baby’s face scratch free! Of course proper treatment of an open cut is also extremely important.
In Conclusion
Keeping your baby scratch free is the goal. Of course of they end up with a scratch, don’t worry, it is only temporary with proper treatment and care.
Don’t be hard on yourself about a scratch, every baby has probably had a few!
