The arrival of a new baby in the family is always a period filled with happiness, yet with some worries too. One of the concerns for you as a parent may be how to properly care for the baby’s delicate skin since baby’s skin is more vulnerable and susceptible to damage or irritation compared to adult skin. To do so you’ll need to pay attention to what goes into the baby wash products that you are using. There are a some things you need to avoid when choosing a baby wash for your little one.
- Parabens are added to prevent bacteria growth in products thus allow them to last much longer. But these are neurotoxins and are linked to reproductive toxicity, hormone disruption, and skin irritation;
- Synthetic fragrances are added for the purpose of creating pleasant smells or to mask the odour of the nasty chemicals used and that is why you should always go fragrance free;
- Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a detergent and foaming agent that makes products foam and cleanse, but it might not be the safest. Also known as an insecticide, SLS has been linked to cancer, liver damage, rashes and other harmful effects on the body;
- Polyethylene glycol is a skin and respiratory irritant and also a penetration enhancer, allowing other chemicals to absorb into the skin more easily, however, as mentioned, at a cost.
When it comes to being better prepared when shopping for baby wash products, all you need to do is stick to items that claim to be natural and void of harsh synthetic ingredients and make sure you buy from a reliable seller. What you should look for is organic products that base their formulations on safe ingredients that come from nature.
- Sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate (not to be confused with the similarly sounding sodium lauryl sulfate) is an incredibly mild surfactant, and is considered to be one of the safest on the market. Surfactants are found in most cleansing products as they degrease, emulsify oils and fats, and suspend oil in order for it to be washed away and while some can be drying and irritating, this one is mild and gentle;
- Naturally moisturising oils, such as calendula, olive, sweet almond, coconut or avocado oil can be added for hydration;
- Chamomile, aloe vera, and oat extracts can be also added to calm, sooth and nourish the baby’s delicate skin.