How To Choose The Best Bath And Skincare Products For Your Baby’s Sensitive Skin

As a mother, parent or caregiver you will always want what’s best for your baby and one of the most important things you can give them is good health. Expecting mothers and new parents, you’re probably looking for the best body care products for your baby. 

New parents are always concerned about their newborn’s sensitive skin. It’s pretty common for newborn babies to develop minor skin problems from birth such as dry skin, redness, irritation, bumps and diaper rashes. Most babies go through all these early stages of skin issues! 

Understanding the Baby Skin and its Sensitive Nature 

The quest for soft, flawless baby skin often gives a feeling of distraught to new parents. Moreover, since the newborn’s skin is delicate and prone to dryness, parents seek the best efficacious products to ‘treat’ these minor skin problems. If left ignored, they could become a bigger cause of concern and worry for the parents.

The skin is the largest organ in our body and when it comes to babies, it is not only more vulnerable, but also more sensitive and needs all the help it can get to grow beautifully.  

Did you know?

Some good to know awareness facts about baby skin in its first few weeks after birth:

• The three layers of skin (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) are not fully formed.
• The epidermis layer’s cells are not yet bound to one another making a baby’s skin more permeable and extremely sensitive.
• The sebaceous glands are not fully functional and the skin is therefore not yet protected by a lipid film. This is actually the reason why a baby’s skin smells so good!
• Baby skin has a neutral pH and is not protected by the acid mantle (protective film) that limits the multiplication of pathogenic germs. A healthy skin mantle is mildly acidic (ranging between pH 5.0~6.0), hence a pH of 5.5 is highly recommended and suitable as per child dermatologists.
• Baby skin does not yet produce melanin and is therefore not protected from the sun.
• Finally, it takes about a year for a baby’s skin to fully develop and protect itself from external allergens, pollutants or irritants.
• Since a newborn baby's skin is delicately thin, it loses moisture more quickly than adults and its protective layer does not renew itself as quickly. 

So What Do I Look For? Are Natural Baby Products Really Better?

All babies have soft, gentle skin which is mild and sensitive. This requires special attention and products which are specially developed to suit delicate and sensitive skin. This attention goes a long way in preserving that sensitive skin.

Children are more vulnerable to the effects of contaminants, allergens, pollutants, irritants etc. than adults. The impacts these substances may have are even more worrying on newborns and children as they tend to get greater exposure and on avg. are ten times more vulnerable during the initial and critical stages of development and growth before attaining the age of two at least. 

Owing to these reasons, many parents are looking for ultra-gentle, certified, fragrance or perfume-free, hypoallergenic products specially formulated for a newborn’s epidermis.

Natural and organic products are your best friend. There are many ingredients available which will help your baby’s skin by nourishing it. Don't get completely misled by brands that simply advertise the words ‘safe’, ‘organic’ or natural without reading the label. It’s always a good idea to read the label and check the ingredients regardless of what’s on the packaging and whether it is labelled natural or organic. Why? Just because a product is natural doesn’t mean that it will be suitable for your baby’s fragile skin.

There are credible certifications that natural-organic certified brands have such as 

• EWG 
• Ecocert 
• MadeSafe
• NATRUE
• PETA Cruelty and Vegan Free
• BDIH
• SOIL 

Also, a tag of dermatologically tested and mildly acidic pH 5.5/balanced are good indicators of a better baby product.

Another way to differentiate would be to look at the shelf life of the product - high scale industrial additives tend to boost the expiry date of the product. These don’t add value to the actual product but only harm them. A good natural product usually has a shelf life of 6 months to a year. Go for brands that have credibility.

Some Must-Haves For Your Baby’s Skincare Routine

You can opt for these body care essentials for your baby:

• A hypoallergenic moisturizing lotion or cream, especially for dry and sensitive skin: Choose a hydrating, light, pH-balanced and non-greasy one, that doesn’t clog the skin, keeps skin nourished and can prevent drying and eczema.
• A gentle and hypoallergenic shampoo or body wash: The 2-in-1 version is practical for baby’s bathtime as it reduces the exposure time of babies to temperature changes. A mild acidic pH-safe shampoo, which is SLS/SLES free and dermatologically approved can do wonders in keeping away rashes from the most vulnerable area - the scalp. This is something you can use on your baby's skin daily to keep it clean and dry. Moreover, the gel-based wash is non-drying compared to soap or bubble baths.
• A non-nano Zinc Oxide diaper rash cream or talc-free powder to help repel dampness that leads to diaper rash: You will need a baby diaper rash cream or powder to apply over your baby’s buttocks mainly to keep the area dry and avoid moisture from accumulating over these sensitive areas. This prevents fungal infections and diaper rashes as well.
• Non-nano zinc mineral sunscreen (do not use before six months of age)
• Natural, biodegradable baby wipes
• Choose plain water over a bubble bath 
• An all-purpose baby cream: An all-purpose cream is different from a lotion as creams have antioxidants, and medicinal properties and aren't for just moisturising. Such creams can be used for topical application on rashes or allergic areas and they clear up easily.
• A well-balanced baby oil: If you’re wondering why you need an oil and a lotion, oil is used for massages which is often a practice in the early months as it promotes better movement, blood circulation and development not to mention calms and soothes the baby. It is important to choose an oil which is not heavily scented and has all the properties that will soak into the skin and help it. 

Quick Tips And You're Set

• If your baby is allergic to particular substances, check the label for those before you buy them and always do a patch test before trying on your baby.
• When you are unsure even after a product has matched your criteria or you are confused between two identical ones - customer reviews can be the lifeline you need.
• Even with the right products, ensure you still keep those products clean, safe, and away from direct sunlight, and discard them by their expiry dates.

Truly Blessed Strives to Develop Clean and Safest Baby Products!

Despite having all this information, you may be feeling a lot of pressure to now pick the correct items. But in the end, the mother knows best so just trust your instincts and you will take on motherhood or parenthood and rock it!