Newborns often look fair at birth with skin that sometimes has a pinkish tone. The pink tint comes from the red blood vessels which show through your newborn's thin skin. Most parents assume that this is their baby's actual skin colour. But a newborn's skin darkens slightly as more of the natural pigment 'melanin' is produced.

Your baby's skin colour, whether dark or fair, is determined by his genes at the time of conception. Nothing you did during pregnancy or do now will change your baby's natural complexion.

Conditions that can change skin colour just after birth;

1 Reddish tinge - Normal phenomenon as the skin is thin and abundant blood vessels visible.

2 Yellowish tinge of skin - Newborn jaundice.

3 Bluish tinge to the skin - Cyanosis due to inadequate oxygen supply.

4 Pale skin - Due to anaemia or other skin conditions.

Many mothers try to change their baby's complexion by applying homemade pastes, ubtan or creams. These are unlikely to have an effect on your baby's complexion and may even prove harmful for your baby. Milk cream tends to make the skin greasy and may cause rashes in the summer heat or even in winter if it's not washed off properly. Also, the coarse nature of gram flour and turmeric may cause slight scratches or rashes on a baby's sensitive skin.

Some mothers apply lots of talcum powder on their babies to make them look fair. Not only will this not work, but using talcum powder on the face is not recommended as your baby can breathe in the small tale particles.

It can actually take up to 6 months for some babies to get to their final skin tone. Skin colour and complexion is genetically determined and nothing can change the basic genes your child is born with! Try not to put your preference of skin colour onto your baby and appreciate your child for how mature has made him/her.

Instead of changing the complexion of your baby, be grateful for having been blessed with a healthy baby!