I started giving my baby facials when he was just weeks old. It helped him calm down when he was colicky.
Sarah McDaid, a beautician, gives her 3-month-old boy facials that help get him to sleep.
Her 2-year-old daughter loves to copy her mom's makeup routine using mess-free products for kids.
McDaid's TikTok videos have gone viral. People have asked her to do facials for their babies, too.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sarah McDaid. It has been edited for length and clarity.
I started giving my 3-month-old, Arlo, facials when he was just a few weeks old. He seemed to love the gentle pressure of my fingers on his cheeks, the bridge of his nose, and his forehead. It would soothe him to sleep.
He was a very colicky baby. I found that those slow motions with my fingers helped him calm down, especially during the "witching hour" — the time when babies are often tired and grouchy — about 7 p.m.
It became part of our routine at nighttime and before naps during the day. The facials lasted 15 to 20 minutes. I posted a video of the "treatment" on TikTok. It got over 10 million views and 1.6 million likes.
Check with your pediatrician before applying anything to your baby's skin
People saw that I owned my own spa in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They asked whether they could hire me to give facials to their babies. It's not something I would do. But I'd encourage moms and dads to copy us and have fun with their little ones. It goes toward that fundamental connection between the baby and the parent.
It's important to check with your pediatrician first. If they're OK with it, I'd recommend using a tiny amount of 100% natural-origin ointment such as Burt's Bees. I also use 100%-pure olive oil, either that or jojoba oil or coconut oil.
I start by stroking his face with small, organic cotton cloths — the same type of material used for burp cloths — that I've soaked in warm water. It hydrates his delicate skin.
Then, using oil, Burt's Bee ointment, or baby facial wipes, I do gentle rotations on the cheeks and a little bit of tapping. They're very gentle, soft, and soothing strokes, and all the oil gets absorbed. He really enjoys the feeling when I touch his temples and the area between his eyes.
My 2-year-old daughter is an expert at putting on makeup — pretend products, of course
I coat Arlo's whole body, including his head. The oils are also good for cradle cap. You should use specialized combs with very fine bristles because you really want to be careful of the soft spots on the baby's skull.
It's lovely to watch him drift off to sleep toward the end of the facial.
Meanwhile, my 2-year-old daughter, Autumn, has her own way of calming down. She often watches videos focused on autonomous sensory meridian response on TikTok before she goes to bed. Her favorite clips show people putting on their makeup step-by-step. She also loves to watch me apply my makeup in the mornings. She'll sit next to me in front of the mirror. I'll give her my brush, and she'll pretend to put powder on it.
I recently bought her a fake, mess-free makeup kit just for kids. I walked her through it, but she copied what Mommy did. She put on pretend eyeshadow, blush, and mascara. Her favorite part was pretending to put on lipstick.
There haven't been any negative comments on my TikTok account, but I guess some people may think my kids are too young for makeup and facials. But everyone deserves to be pampered.
Read the original article on Insider
