Baby Skin Care: What You Need to Know
Share
Four basic products:
What soap, cream or shampoo to use? New parents, rest assured: there is no need to buy numerous products to protect and care for your baby's skin. A lot can be done with a wash cloth, warm water and a little soap.
Here are the four basic products that the experts consulted recommend placing in your baby's toiletry bag:
- a mild, unscented soap or soap-free cleanser (sometimes called a dermatological bar). These products generally have a pH close to that of the skin, which makes them minimally irritating;
- a mild, unscented shampoo;
- an unscented moisturizer to apply as needed only to dry areas;
- an unscented zinc oxide-based cream designed to combat nappies rash. If you use it for prevention, choose a concentration of 10 to 20%, or replace this cream with petroleum jelly.
- But if your child's bottom is very red, you need a cream containing up to 40% zinc oxide.
Not necessary, wipes for the buttocks: Wipes are convenient, but generally unnecessary. Wash cloths and soapy water are perfect for nappies changes. If you decide to buy wipes, choose them without alcohol, perfume and unwanted ingredients (Six substances to avoid).
And above all, never flush them down the toilet, even if the packaging indicates that it is possible. These products risk disrupting the proper functioning of wastewater treatment plants.
After a nappies change, the ideal would be to leave your child without a diaper for a while, so that their booty can air dry. However, this is not very realistic in most cases. To reduce the risk of erythema, gently wash the buttocks with water and pat them dry.
If there is minor redness, apply a zinc oxide-based cream (concentration of 10 to 20%) or petroleum jelly. According to the experts consulted, all powders, whether talc or cornstarch, are not recommended, since they increase the risk of your child suffering from respiratory problems.
In addition, the Minister of Health warns parents against cornstarch, which could cause or worsen an infection. Also take notice that, like perfumes, child care products may contain several other substances that are best avoided. Here are a list of six substances to avoid for baby skin care:- Sulfate derivatives such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are used, among other things, as detergents or foaming agents. They cause irritation in some people. SLES is also likely to contain contaminants considered carcinogenic by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
- Phenoxy ethanol, which is a preservative. It is not restricted in The United Kingdom, but it can cause eczema and hives. A French organization, the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products, also considers it toxic for the blood and liver and suggests limits for children aged 3 years. Specialists suggests that all consumers, young and old, avoid this substance as much as possible.
- Phthalates, which can be used, for example, as solvents in certain perfumed products. They are considered endocrine disruptors, capable of acting on the hormonal system.
- Parabens, used as preservatives. Like phthalates, they are considered endocrine disruptors, capable of acting on the hormonal system.
- Methylisothiazolinone (MI or MIT) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), which act as preservatives and are likely to cause allergies. In the United Kingdom, their use is restricted in cosmetics, but you may find them in products that require rinsing, such as shampoos and soaps. Since these substances can go by a variety of names, avoid ingredients that end in "thiazolinone."
- Alcohol, used as a preservative and solvent. This ingredient is too irritating for cleaning the baby skin.
Also pay attention to certain natural products Introducing new foods to your baby's menu is an important step, which allows you to check if he is allergic to certain products. Until this process is completed, it is also better to refrain from using care products containing potentially allergenic ingredients, such as oats or sweet almond or peanut oil.
True or false, the allegations? Baby care products make a variety of claims, many of which don't mean much. Be particularly wary of all therapeutic promises, since the Minister of Health does not grant a drug identification number (DIN) or natural product number (NPN) to cosmetics.
As for “organic” claims, look for those labelled 'Eco-Friendly' or 'GB-ORG-XX' code. The code shows the food is certified to the Great Britain organic domestic regulations. They attest that the plant ingredients contained in the cosmetic come from organic farming.
In contrast, most other claims you'll see on skincare products are unregulated. It is therefore the manufacturers who attribute meaning to them. The experts interviewed recommend still looking for the following claims.
- Unscented or fragrance-free. These products may still contain ingredients that mask the odour of other substances. We think, for example, of essential oils, such as lemon or eucalyptus.
- Hypoallergenic (or hypoallergenic), non-irritating or sensitive skin. However, keep in mind that certain substances may be irritating to one person and not to another. This is therefore not a guarantee.
- You will also see, on many products, the claims tested by ophthalmologists or tested by dermatologists. The Minister of Health indicates that this usually means that the product has been tested in the presence of a specialist doctor, to verify that it does not cause irritation to the eyes or skin. However, no regulations dictate the protocol for these tests.
Making your own products: the solution for some parents? Many parents choose to make their own creams and soaps.
If your skin is sensitive to perfumes and other irritating ingredients sometimes contained in commercial products, you should offer your baby products that are non-irritating and easy to make.
You can make a soap, a moisturizing cream, a balm for the buttocks, a protective balm for the cheeks in winter as well as a lip balm.
Making your own soap at home has many advantages, including the possibility of selecting quality ingredients in order to make homemade soaps that are healthy, respectful of the environment and your skin. Each homemade soap recipe is unique. You are free to choose the additions and fragrances you want to include in your homemade soap recipe. With a homemade soap recipe, the raw materials are those that suit you. You can make homemade soap for yourself and give it as a gift to your family or friends. If you know people who have sensitive skin, you can make a soap just for them. If you want a beauty product without animal fats, you can design a soap based solely on vegetable fats.
Here is a recipe for a baby soap, homemade: 100 ml of each ingredient:
- Olive oil 60%
- Coconut oil 20%
- Shea butter 20%
-
Superfatted soap
You can also find out in natural product stores about the ingredients you use and their effects before incorporating them into your care products. You can find a way to do it on internet. Normally, the 4 ingredients are mixed in a bain-marie and then cooled after being poured into a mould.
Some rules to follow before cleaning the baby skin:
- Clean instruments and utensils thoroughly during preparation. Prepare small quantities of cream, soap or balm.
- Avoid perfumes, essential oils and alcohol.
- Test the preparation on a small area of the skin.
- Wash your hands before using the cream – a habit to get into even with commercial creams to avoid contaminating them.
Please you can help us too:
If you would like to encourage us to continue publishing baby's articles, please visit our site Jem-wellness.com, whose niche is health and well-being. Many of our products are intended to be used to combat illness or disability.