With no extra help from the nurses at the hospital, looking after your baby can seem like an impossible task and many new parents have no idea which skin care products to go for.
Must Have Knowledge Regarding the Top Skin Care Products for Babies
There are a few main types of skin care products which are regularly used for taking care of our babies skin, but just what should you know about each one?
Bubble Bath
Whilst you may think that your baby will love bubble bath, the bubble bath may not necessarily love your baby! Most bubble baths that are created for children tend to damage a babies acid mantel.
They also tend to cause infections such as vaginitis and urinary tract infections in babies. If you do wish to add a little fragrance to your babies bath, you could always add a couple of drops of Lavender oil into it. You will only need around five drops and it is important not to overdo it!
Shampoo
The shampoo that you use on your babies will all depend upon what type of hair your baby has and how long it is. Usually during the first year, babies who have really thin hair do not need their hair shampooing that often. When a shampoo is needed it is always better to choose a really mild one which does not contain synthetic fragrances or artificial colors. It is also important to avoid shampoos which contain Diethanolamine (DEA) or Triethanolamine (TEA), as these ingredients often penetrate the skin. You can always find good baby shampoos in health food stores.
Oils and Lotions
Oils and lotions really do come in handy with newborn babies as they help to relieve any skin irritation. However, it is really important that you make sure that the products which you use are completely free of petrochemicals. These include mineral oils and they are often irritants which will irritate your babies soft skin. Some of the best lotions and oils contain healing herbs.
If you are looking for some good ones, ones which contain Chamomile or Aloe are often the best to go for. They are really gentle on the skin and they have soothing properties which can really help baby skin. You should always avoid lotions and oils which contain artificial colors and use only gentle preservatives.
One ingredient you may notice which is used a lot in baby lotions is Lanolin and unfortunately that can sometimes be harmful to the skin. It is derived from sheeps wool and can sometimes contain parts of insecticide if the sheep was subjected to them. The ingredient can be quite harmful as it is absorbed through the babies skin and it can cause problems with the nervous system and also it can potentially cause cancer.
Baby Powder
Baby powder is often used on babies in order to keep their skin soft and smooth. However, most parents do not realize that a lot of baby powders actually contain particles that can irritate the skin and the ones with fragrance often cause allergies and irritations. It is advised that you avoid baby powders which contain talc as in recent studies; talc has been linked to cancer.
Overall, baby products should be carefully looked at before you subject your baby to them. Once you know what you can and cannot use, you will find looking after your newborn is fairly easy apart from the sleepless nights! Just take the time to research what you are putting on your babies skin and never be afraid to ask your doctor or nurse which products are better for your baby.
