Reasons to Switch to Natural Baby Skincare

Welcoming a baby brings a world of choices, and it’s important to protect their delicate skin, as around 60% of what we put on our skin, is absorbed by the bloodstream.

The Konjac baby sponge is made from Japanese potato fibre and can be cut up and composted after use. Perfect with plain water or create a nourishing lather with scent-free baby soap.

Apply a small amount of product to inside wrist and wait 24 hours, in case of reaction (if in doubt, talk to your GP).

Avoid nut oils for allergies, and shea butter for latex allergies. Avoid essential oils for babies/pregnancy/nursing and affected medical conditions. 

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).

Coconut Oil (pure moisture for babies)

Kokoso Coconut Oil is one of the better choices for baby skincare, which can be used for baby massage and dry skin patches. It locks in moisture, without blocking pores, or irritating delicate skin.

Organic, cold-pressed coconut oil has a mild scent, and is better than commercial baby oils, which often contain unnecessary fragrance and mineral oil (a petroleum by-product).).

Coconut oil has natural anti-microbial compounds called lauric acid. These can help stop the growth of some germs and fungi.

Cradle cap shows up as dry patches or oily scales on the scalp. Rubbing a small amount of coconut oil into the scalp, can help loosen these flakes. Let it sit for a while, then brush off.

Often made worse by cold weather, cradle cap is common in babies, but usually goes away in a few months. Use a plant bristle baby brush to gentle brush away loose flakes.

Don’t worry if hair comes way on massage, it will grow back. Don’t pick the scales, this could cause infection. View this amazing before/after pic of a baby whose cradle cap cleared up in a week, using Kokoso coconut oil.

 

Earth Conscious Baby Balm (Isle of Wight) is made from organic virgin coconut oil, shea butter, almond and apricot kernel oil.

Packed with fatty acids, it’s ideal for dry patches or nappy rash . Discontinue for irritation, avoid on broken skin. This is a multi-use product that can also be used for eczema-prone skin, chafing relief, tattoo aftercare and cycling bottoms!

Aloe Vera Soap (gentle cleansing)

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).

Managing eczema (oatmeal baths)

It’s common these days for babies to develop skin conditions like eczema. Ask your GP or midwife first for reasons (some are due to breastfeeding mothers having dairy allergies etc).

Before reaching for medicated creams, try soothing oatmeal baths made by adding a handful of oats to a muslin bag or washcloth, in the bath water. Oats help to calm red and inflamed skin. You could follow with a tin coating of coconut oil, to seal in moisture.

It also helps to choose clothes (and reusable baby wipes) made from cotton or hemp, and choose unscented biodegradable laundry detergent. This can protect sensitive skin, without triggering new reactions.

Avoid scents, as these can cause small airways to become irritated, and babies with eczema have a stronger risk of asthma or breathing difficulties. Studies have pointed to a link between scented products and higher rates of wheezing and respiratory issues in young children.

Bria Organic Skin Cream is used by many for babies (over one month) and children with eczema. Made with a blend of rich fatty oils (borage, jojoba, rosehip, chickweed) and shea butter, it’s fragrance-free and also good for chapped skin, dry scalp and scars.

Take a look at the company’s Instagram page, to find amazing transformations of babies with eczema. It’s working to get the cream available on NHS prescription.

Coraline Soaps (for dry sensitive skin)

Coraline Soap was created by the parents of a baby with Down Syndrome, who could not tolerate ‘sensitive skin’ soaps. The chamomile soap has anti-inflammatory ingredients to relieve dry itchy skin.

For 3 months and up only. Check for nut allergies. 

Skin experts often recommend Coraline Soaps for people with sensitive skin. Their formulas are tested to make sure they’re safe and kind. Learn how to help people with eczema.

Don’t bar soaps dry skin out?

Scent-Free baby care (in eco packaging)

Green People Scent-Free Baby Wash is made with organic vegan ingredients, for babies over 1 month. Ideal for sensitive skin and babies with eczema, you can also use this as bubble bath or for cradle cap. Contains aloe vera and lightly-lathering aloe vera.

Contains zinc oxide, wash off any skin before letting pets lick or kiss you!

For dry skin, try rubbing in organic softening baby lotion (also scent-free) that also contains aloe vera and calming calendula (also good for expectant mothers).

Sknfd baby balm

Sknfed baby balm is a mix of babassu oil, jojoba oil, shea butter and olive oil, with other gentle ingredients, including jojoba oil. Apply sparingly, a little goes a long way.

Again keep away from pets, due to zinc oxide.

Organic oat body powder (for sensitive skin)

Novapure Naturals Body Powder is made with organic oats, arrowroot, kaolin clay, chamomile and calendula. Ideal to prevent rashes, there are before/after photos of babies whose skin has healed in weeks (sometimes hours) of use. .

Keep this powder away from water and open flame. Keep away from pets, as it contains zinc (also found in sunscreens, wash off before letting pets lick you!)

The product was created by a mother (who has achieved a monumental task of creating this business, after being diagnosed with MS)) who got incredible feedback from users with psoriasis,  eczema, acne and athlete’s foot. It has a shelf life of 12 months, store out of direct sunlight/heat and keep dry. Sold in travel tins with refills.

Vets may wish to look at this. Although zinc oxide is toxic to pets (a reason why you should always wash off sunscreens and cosmetics before letting them lick or kiss your skin), it is used in small percentages for some veterinary healing creams (not to be licked, but medical topical ointments that are sealed).

This product does contain zinc oxide, and there’s a before/after healing photo of a canine wound, which vets may be interested in exploring further.