Oh! Baby!

You have done it. You spent 9 months creating a beautiful, perfect human being. You toiled through labor, or maybe even the rigors of a C-section and brought to the world another life. You are presented with your little miracle, and wonder what's with the little bumps? Are these splotches birthmarks? This is your guide to baby's skin.
Many of us imagine a newborns skin to be perfectly flawless. However you will find that most newborns come with with tiny white bumps called "milia". These bumps are comprised of dead skin cells trapped in the pockets of the skin, most commonly on the nose, cheeks and chin. Milia are not painful or harmful to your baby, and they will disappear usually in a few weeks. Never squeeze or try to scrub away these little white spots. This could lead to scarring or infection.
On occasion, an infant may develop baby acne. These outbreaks will manifest as whiteheads and blackheads. This is often a result of hormonal changes during baby's development, and will go away on it's own within a few weeks. Again, do not try to "pop" or scrub away the acne spots. This will only irritate baby's skin further and possibly cause infection.
Your infant may have a birthmark called a "stork bite" or "salmon patch". This is a red discoloration generally found on the forehead, eyelids, or the nape of the neck. This spot may grow darker when baby cries or becomes tired. Stork bite birthmarks are created by distended blood vessels, and will most likely fade by the age of 18 months. The only exception are those marks on the nape of the neck. While they may remain present through adulthood, these patches are normally covered by the hair.
If you are a woman of color, you may be surprised that your baby is so light. Melanin in the skin won't develop completely for a day or two. The best indicator for your babies skin tone is along the pinnae of the ear.
Another skin consideration for ethnic newborns is what is referred to as a Mongolian Spot. This is a flat, irregular birthmark commonly found at the base of the spine which may be gray, black, or even blue in color. These spots are simply a concentration of melanin which require no treatment, and normally disappear by age 7-13.
Diaper rash is a common skin problem in newborns. Be sure to clean your infant thoroughly with each change. There are lots of nooks and crannies to check, and always clean your baby girl from front to back to avoid infection. If baby does get a diaper rash, the important factor in healing is to keep the area dry. You should allow baby to spend some diaper free time, and use a diaper cream when the diaper is on. Don't scrub at reddened areas, this will only irritate and possibly open the skin. Rinse with warm water to clean using a bulb syringe, or if baby is old enough, sitting in a tub of warm water will soften the soiled area enough to gently clean and blot dry.
So now that you have the scoop on common marks and changes with baby's skin, How to take care of it? Babies need bathing only about once or twice a week. As tempting as it is to bathe your cutie everyday, frequent bathings can dry out baby's skin. You know that newborns skin is very delicate and sensitive, so be sure to use products specifically for baby. However the market is flooded with products for baby that are loaded with extra fragrance and artificial coloring. There are fragrances to help baby sleep, wake baby up, clear his nose, or just smell in general. Keep in mind that these products will not only exacerbate sensitive skin issues, but it's doubtful they will live up to their claims. Besides, there is no better fragrance than that "new person" smell!