Aloe Vera Soap (gentle cleansing for babies)

Many babies don’t even need soap for bath time, but if used, use a gentle soap like soothing aloe vera. Look for bar soaps wrapped in paper or cardboard, not plastic.

Aloe calms red, itchy and sensitive skin, so is good for babies prone to rashes or eczema. Commercial baby washes often add harsh foaming agents, so avoid.

This aloe vera soap bar is ideal to keep little bottoms clean, without animal ingredients, palm oil or fragrance. And also good for adult sensitive skin.

Handmade in a Yorkshire village (and illustrated by local artist Louise Lockhart), it’s made with rapeseed oil and shea butter (not for latex allergies).

Unless there is pee and poo (!), babies don’t need a daily bath, just ‘top and tail’ (hold them on your knee or lay on a changing mat) to wash the face, neck, hands and bottom.

Safety for baby baths

• NHS has a good 2-minute video by a midwife, on how to safely bathe babies. Never leave babies alone for a second (even with older children).
• Do not use baby bath seats, these can quickly detach and drown babies, even in a few centimetres of water.
• Run cold water first (then add hot water, testing with your wrist or elbow). Keep your baby’s head clear of water.
• Don’t bathe straight after feeds, or if hungry or tired. Avoid baby oils in baths, due to risk of slipping.
• Avoid talcum powder, it’s linked to ovarian cancer and increasingly banned in many countries. Don’t use cotton buds to clean baby’s ears (the cause of nearly all infections).