Two Simple Rules for Infant Skin Care

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Dina Goda

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Keeping your little one clean, dry, and comfortable can feel like a full-time job, and the array of products available can make the whole prospect overwhelming.

There are two simple things to keep in mind when choosing infant skin-care products:

Choose products made specifically for babies and from organic ingredients. Pay special attention to products that contain essential oils; conventional extraction methods can use toxic solvents.
Avoid products with fragrances and synthetic chemicals, which can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can overwhelm a baby’s sensitive respiratory system.

Sustainable body care for babies doesn’t stop at buying the right products. Here are five tips to help make body care healthier for you and baby:

Limit baths. With all the diaper-area and face cleanings throughout the day, babies don't need daily baths, which tend to dehydrate their delicate skin.
Some products, like powder, are unnecessary. A thorough air-drying is infinitely more effective at fighting irritation than messy powders
Instead of disposable wipes, try using a clean washcloth and water to clean your baby during diaper changes. For times when only wipes will do, choose fragrance-free products.
Diaper rash is a common problem, but the solution can be simple. A bit of air circulation and time without a diaper tend to be the best cures. If that doesn't work, try using organic salves that contain beeswax or lanolin, which keep moisture away from skin, instead of chemical-laden creams.
Limit sun exposure. Dress your kid in loose cotton and use a PABA-free UVA and UVB sunscreen when she's outside.

Learn More

Natural Family Online offers helpful "how-to" advice about healthy parenting.

Find healthy products that won't irritate your child's skin at Mothernature.com.

SustainLane.com is the nation’s largest community-powered directory of green products and businesses. SustainLane allows people to easily find and share reviews on anything from organic baby food and fair trade chocolate to eco-friendly clothing and environmentally friendly diapers. The more people share and participate in SustainLane’s community, the easier it becomes for you and your family to live green.

Posted by Cosmetic Dermatology on 06/27/2011 at 03:39 AM

Hi, I am so glad you discussed the ill effects of chemicals on infants and babies. I normally prefer olive oil to moisturize my little one and then give him a warm water bath once a day. As you rightly pointed we clean babies as it is so many times during the day, they do not need any more baths.

Posted by MRochell on 07/22/2010 at 06:31 PM

Hi, sometime you can tell by the form of vitamin E that is listed on the lablel. d alpha-tocopherol is the natural version, dl alpha-tocopherol is the synthetic.

Posted by MassageTables on 07/02/2010 at 11:28 PM

How can you tell if the Vitamin E in my beauty care products is natural and not synthetic?

Posted by Heather Hamilton on 01/14/2010 at 11:52 PM

Thank you for this article! Parents and care givers need to be educated on the toxins they are unintentionally exposing their children to in personal care products. Truly pure and organic skin care products are not only safe, but they contain so many benefits that synthetic commercial products don’t provide.

I am always in awe at how healing and soothing nature is in pure form.

Posted by MRochell on 01/06/2010 at 12:55 PM

Thank you for this article! I am so glad that more people are becoming aware of how chemicals affect babies. I have been really surprised to see some of the ingredients in popular baby products. Many of these can be quite irritating. As you suggested, it is best to avoid artificial fragrances as they can cause allergies and some research has shown them to be linked to developmental and neurological problems. Sodium lauryl sulfate which is in many shampoos and laundry detergents, and even in some baby shampoos, can cause skin, eye and lung irritation and other problems for babies and people with sensitive skin.

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