A Guide to Buying Baby Safe Skin Products

19 Jun A Guide to Buying Baby Safe Skin Products

Being an expectant mother can be fun, but overwhelming. You are constantly being hit from all angles on what to buy, what not to buy, what to eat, what not to eat. As you anticipate the arrival of your bundle of joy, you may be wondering what products are safe to use on your little one. We have you covered with a guide on things to avoid when buying the essentials and some suggested options that offer baby safe products.

In general you should avoid products with phthalate and parabens as those chemicals can be harmful to newborns. A lot of phthalates are found in fragrances, so it is also useful to avoid products with fragrances as they may cause skin irritation. Try to use natural products when you can and look for products that are based with vegetable oils.

Baby wipes:
Look for wipes without bronopol, DMDM hydantoin, and fragrances.

Sunscreen:
Infants under 6 months of age should not be in the sun or wear sunscreen, but older babies should wear a sunscreen that provides UVA and UVB protection. You should use a sunscreen with an SPF 30 or greater and look for sunscreens that contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. Some top picks can be found here: https://www.momtricks.com/babies/choosing-best- sunscreen-babies/.

Baby powder:
Baby powder can easily be skipped, but if you choose to use it try to find one that avoids using talc. Talc and cornstarch can cause breathing problems and damage the developing lungs of an infant.

Diapers:
Look for diapers that are fragrance-free, chlorine-free or unbleached, like these from Seventh Generation: https://www.seventhgeneration.com/diapers-for-sensitive-skin.

Diaper Creams:
Look for creams without BHA, boric acid, and fragrances.

Baby Laundry Detergent:
You should find a detergent specifically for babies, as normal detergents can be too harsh for newborns. Look for a detergent that does not include perfumes or dyes.

Shampoos:
Again, avoid fragrances, parabens, phthalates. Also avoid sodium lauryl sulfate, which can burn baby’s eyes. This baby shampoo by Burt’s Bees is a top pick: http://www.burtsbees.com/ product/baby-bee-shampoo-%26-wash/VM-72799-00-1.html.

Often times infants will develop a build up of scalp scales, a condition called cradle cap. To combat this cradle cap, simply apply a fragrance-free baby oil or mineral oil to the scalp and brush away the scales of skin with a gentle toothbrush.

References: 1. https://www.ewg.org/skindeep/top-tips-for-safer-products/#.WWjrF7pFzug 2. https://www.ewg.org/ skindeep/browse/baby+shampoo/#.WWjslrpFzuh 3. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/what-baby-skin-care- products-do-you-need-your-newborn 4. https://www.seventhgeneration.com/diapers-and-wipes? gclid=CJGqpPicidUCFchSgQodvSQJNQ&gclsrc=ds 5. http://www.webmd.com/children/features/infant-skin#1 6. http://www.webmd.com/parenting/baby/features/baby-skin-care#1