What is a sensible approach to baby skin care? We'll explain that here. Newborn babies have much thinner and more sensitive skin than older children and adults. Their immune systems are still developing, and they therefore require extra care.
In theory, we want to protect them from all harmful elements in our environment, but in practice, it's not that easy. Here are some points that are relatively easy to implement or at least worth considering.
Choose fragrance-free
Fragrances are allergenic and can also contribute to the development of eczema. If you as a parent have allergies or sensitive skin issues, you should be extra cautious.
Switch to fragrance-free laundry detergent. Babies smell good naturally anyway. Skip fabric softener completely.
If you want to use ready-made wet wipes (instead of water and oil on a washcloth), it's good to choose an organic version without unnecessary additives like fragrances. Natracare offers good organic wet wipes that are enriched with organic oils from apricot, linden, and chamomile. These can be advantageously used when you're traveling or where clean water is not available.
Choose fragrance-free diapers.
Choose unscented skincare products without synthetic fragrance.
Hygiene & Skincare Products
Babies and young children don't need to bathe every day. They don't sweat very much and don't get particularly dirty either. Of course, you should take care of intimate hygiene daily and rinse away any vomit, but making it a habit to bathe every day means washing away natural skin oils and thereby drying out the skin.
Don't use shampoo or shower gel routinely. Oil and water work very well for a long time on little ones.
Bubble baths or foam baths are quite unnecessary for babies. Only older children enjoy bubble baths. Remember that anything that lathers a lot can be drying to the skin. Water + oil is the ultimate combination for newborns.
Mild skin irritations or light eczema can often be treated with persistent application of skin creams or oils. If you have a good functioning oil, you can mix it with a baby lotion or cream for extra moisture. Try our "7 natural tips that soothe eczema on baby & children's skin" before considering hydrocortisone, which can thin the skin. A small tip against itching is potato starch. It might sound a bit strange but it works wonderfully. It keeps the skin dry, and the best part is that potato starch calms itching immediately, especially in the diaper area.It keeps the skin dry, and the best part is that potato starch calms itching immediately, especially in the diaper area. Replace talcum powder and dare to try potato starch! It's completely natural, inexpensive, and effective. 6. The best oils we can recommend for baby skin are jojoba oil, almond oil, and sesame oil. Very few babies react to these oils. Use them to moisturize the skin as well as for washing and bathing. Remember that the skin should be slightly damp when you apply the oil.
Baby Clothes
It's easy to believe that clothes for babies and children are always non-toxic. But that's not the case. They can contain residues of pesticides used on cotton plantations and are colored with dyes/bleaching agents as well as added chemicals to make the color stay. Some clothes are also "preserved" to keep pests away during storage and shipping. A better alternative to conventional children's clothing without eco-labeling is to buy second-hand or organic clothes (GOTS).
If you're buying new items (that aren't organic), you should consider this:
Avoid black clothes completely for babies and children. The black dyes are especially allergenic and toxic.
Choose solid colors and natural-colored garments as much as possible, especially for items that will be closest to the skin.
Wash clothes at least 2 times before use. Use a fragrance-free and natural laundry detergent. Skip the fabric softener.
Avoid plastic-like fabrics that feel sticky. These can be made of PVC which contains vinyl chloride that is carcinogenic and phthalates that can damage the child's reproductive abilities.
Buy outerwear with PFAS-free membrane and waterproofing.
