Shopping for products for baby’s delicate skin is a major stressor for new moms. As if baby food choices and potential allergens weren’t enough to make postpartum hair loss worse, we have to use our mommy radar to weed out the irritating ingredients in popular baby products.
Luckily, it’s never been easier to find natural baby products to protect your bundle of joy. Since there are as many choices as purees, we are here to help you. We’ll cover quality baby brands and products, ingredients to avoid, and skin protection tips that will get you going. goo goo ga ga!
Why it’s important to protect the skin at a young age
There’s a reason we all want to have “baby-like” skin: it’s super soft and smooth. Skin like a baby’s bottom is the ultimate goal of skin care. It’s a blessing that babies are literally born with – and they don’t even know how much they have!
However, at birth, babies have an underdeveloped skin barrier that is very vulnerable and fragile, and unable to fully perform all essential functions. Key functions between an infant’s skin and ours include hypersensitivity and overreaction to chemical or environmental stressors.
Here are other differences that make a baby’s skin both soft and ultra-delicate:
#1: More permeable
Since a baby’s epidermis is not quite attached to the dermis layer, substances can more easily work their way through a baby’s skin. This means that exposure to certain stressors, such as chemicals or environmental factors like sweat or wind, can cause minor irritation to your baby’s delicate skin.
#2: Less able to retain moisture
You know those cute snack buns? This skin is considerably thinner than yours and less able to maintain appropriate humidity level necessary for proper cell function.
#3: Less able to regulate temperature
Internal thermometers for babies are not yet as effective as those for adults. They lack the ability of blood vessels in the dermis to widen or narrow in order to regulate body temperature. That doesn’t mean you have to wrap them tightly in a baby burrito, but it will come into play when choosing body creams and more.
#4: Sensitive to irritation
Infant skin pH levels are higher than those with adult skin, making their skin more prone to irritation. Indeed, the acid mantle is not fully developed, which reduces the defense system of the skin. This is why special attention should be paid to certain topical ingredients. Parabens, sulfates, dyes and fragrances can cause allergic reactions, rashes and acne on your baby’s delicate skin.
What ingredients to avoid for baby’s skin
While we strive to put only the healthiest foods in our baby’s belly, it’s equally important to apply the healthiest and safest products to their skin. Avoiding harmful chemicals in your baby’s topical products can seem daunting, but you really need to know what to look for. Keep an eye out for the following toxic ingredients:
Sulphates
Often used to create a lathering effect in store-bought baby soaps and cleansers, sulfates (like sodium lauryl sulfate) are chemical agents and skin irritants. They can be very harsh and harsh on the skin, stripping away natural protective oils – something babies desperately need!
Fragrance
While these fruity scents may tempt you to snack on your little one, fragrance-free products are actually much gentler on their skin. Artificial and synthetic fragrances have a high potential for allergic reactions, can upset the pH of the skin, and may contain harmful phthalates.
PRO TIP: For some essential oils, natural by-products like limonene and linalool can even trigger contact dermatitis on particularly sensitive skin.
Tinctures
Pretty in pink and Baby boy has the blues may sound fun, but the chemicals responsible for these colors can cause skin irritation. As for bubble baths and colored soaps, ingesting artificial colors can lead to diarrhea, nausea, and more severe symptoms depending on the amount consumed. If your little one likes to splash around and explore in the tub, this is something to keep in mind.
Parabens
Parabens are synthetic preservatives widely used in skin and body care products to make them last longer or remain stable over time. They are usually listed under methyl, ethyl, propyl, isopropyl, butyl, or isobutyl parabens. These harmful ingredients can trigger skin irritations and allergic reactions, especially the sensitive skin of babies. They have been shown to mimic or mimic hormonal activity in the body – a definite risk to the baby’s developing systems.
The best natural baby products
Your baby’s skin is delicate and precious, so you’ll want to protect it as best you can. Natural baby products are an easy way to protect your bundle of joy, and we’ve found a few brands that aim to keep their skin hydrated, hydrated, and irritation-free throughout their early years.
Baby laundry detergent
Puracy Natural Baby Laundry Detergent
This high-efficiency formula was developed by doctors and is specially formulated for the most sensitive skin. It uses plant enzymes and natural cleaners to safely clean clothes and eliminate odors without damaging the skin. It only requires ¼ ounce per load, reducing waste by over 80% – less plastic, water and energy! It is also allergen-free and completely non-toxic.
PRO TIP: When shopping for baby laundry detergent, look for “Free & Clear” in detergent titles for a formula completely free of dyes and fragrances.
Baby body, hair and skin care
Babo Botanicals
With a mission to use only natural, clean ingredients that will nourish your family inside and out, it’s no wonder Babo Botanicals is great for babies, kids and adults! They offer a full line of natural skin, sun, and hair products with science-backed certified organic ingredients. With the gentlest blends of nourishing botanicals, skin is soothed and protected. For those who prefer variety, they offer a wide selection of unscented and scented products.
Pipette
There’s a newcomer to the world of babies who makes all the rattles tinkle: Pipette! Born out of the need for gentle, non-toxic products that work, Pipette has reinvented clean personal care for babies and moms using as few ingredients as possible from the purest sources possible.
With squalane derived from sugar cane as their star ingredient, they have a line of clean and baby products tested by dermatologists to nourish and protect even the most delicate skin.
Layers
The honest society
Known for its on-trend designs and accessible transparency, The Honest Company’s line of baby products crafts everything with natural, safe ingredients to keep your baby healthy, protected and looking great.
The brand is ecological and hypoallergenic diapers are made with sustainable plant-based materials. Made with everything you need (and nothing you don’t), your baby’s bottom will float in cloud-like comfort. No latex, chlorine treatment, perfumes or lotions.
PRO TIP: For an eco-responsible approach, try a cloth diaper service. Use organic or bamboo-based materials free of dyes, latex and fragrances. It’s recommended to avoid latex diapers for potty training, as they can prevent proper moisture wicking, which can harbor bacteria that are particularly harmful to little girls.
Baby wipes
Hello Bello
If there’s one thing babies are good at, besides being so cute, it’s doing little messes. With countless amounts of bottom wiping sessions per day, it’s important to have something that’s gentle and non-toxic, but doesn’t skimp on cleaning power.
Hello Bello done fragrance-free baby wipes with plant-derived ingredients like aloe and chamomile. This brand also manufactures layers, nasal wipes (for boogies), and herbal disposable wipes for the whole family.
PRO TIP: Celebrity parents are making a splash on the natural baby products scene! Jessica Alba co-founded The Honest Company, while Hello Bello was co-founded by Kristen Bell and her husband Dax Shepard.
Baby Safe Cleaning Products
Attitude
Attitude manufactures a range of natural and ecological cleaning products. The company’s products get EWG’s highest rating – they are not only free from sulfates, preservatives and mineral oils, but also from enzymes (which are used to break down dirt). All products are hypoallergenic, vegan, plant and vegetable based only and made with renewable resources.
Made of
We couldn’t pick just one for this category, so here’s Made Of: a truly transparent collection of baby-safe products. Their collection of dish soaps are certified organic, certified biopreferred and certified cruelty-free. That means they’re safe enough for bottles, teethers, and any other items that might end up in baby’s mouth.
Subscription box for moms and babies
As a new mom, if there’s anything we’re strapped for besides enough helping hands, now’s the time! EcoCentric Mom has found the perfect solution with a monthly gift box filled with eco-friendly and healthy products for busy moms or moms-to-be.
Every month, they ship you quality products from small brands, free of chemicals and toxins, and tailored to your stage of pregnancy or the age of your baby. Mom and baby can now unpack together!
Your baby’s skin is a protective envelope against the outside world – all the more reason to protect it against toxic ingredients and harsh products. Keep your mom scanner up to date on the good and bad ingredients, and remember: you’re totally rocking this mom thing!
