Best Natural Products and Ideas to Protect Baby's Skin
As adults, we recognize the importance of applying natural skin care products on ourselves. As parents, we strive to be doubly cautious with what products we use on our little ones.
Why? Because during the first 12 months of a baby's life, his epidermis is still developing. In other words, his protective outer layer often isn't thick enough to withstand the irritants found in conventional skincare products.
This sensitivity means many babies are prone to skin-related discomfort, like eczema (atopic dermatitis) or diaper rash. But by taking special precautions and using exclusively natural, gentle products, you can reduce your child's risk of developing these common symptoms.
Here are the best natural skincare products for your baby, as well as safe treatment and tips for protecting and soothing his sensitive skin:
Best skincare products for baby:
"Certain chemicals, fragrances and formulas can easily irritate a baby's super sensitive skin, which is why Puracy's all-natural products are beloved by babies and parents alike." —The Bump
We were honored to receive the Best Baby Skincare 2018 award from The Bump. We strive for a balance between natural ingredients and effective results, so we're excited and grateful The Bump recognizes "there's nothing gentler or safer to put on baby's skin" than Puracy products.
Here's why and how Puracy products protect your baby:
Best natural baby bath products:
Bath time is different for each child. But whether your little one perks up with morning splashes or calms down with bedtime bubbles, you want to wash her with a safe, non-toxic formula.
Puracy baby shampoo and body wash uses coco-glycinate, the gentlest foaming surfactant on the market. This naturally-derived substance creates rich bath foam without disrupting the skin's stratum corneum layer. The stratum corneum is responsible for skin's hydration and comfort; when it's disrupted, skin becomes dry, red, itchy, and irritated—all symptoms of eczema.
If your baby has eczema (or another similar skin concern), our baby shampoo and bodywash will gently clean sensitive skin without causing additional damage.
Our formula is also naturally tear-free, and—unlike nearly every other tear-free baby shampoo on the market—doesn't contain eye-numbing agents. Instead, we've created a gentle blend of cleansers and moisturizers that have been shown not to irritate or cause tears.
Best natural baby lotion:
Like our baby shampoo and body wash, our Puracy baby lotion is formulated for all sensitive skin types.
We use a combination of organic materials (e.g., aloe vera, jojoba oil), essential oils (lavender, grapefruit), and other naturally-derived ingredients for safe, healthy nourishment.
To use, apply the lotion as needed onto baby's dry, clean external skin. Take special care to avoid the eye area. Our formula is so gentle that it's okay if baby accidentally licks a small amount from her lips or hands, post-application.
Baby skincare tips:
Image courtesy of Henley Design Studio
You can rest assured that Puracy products are the safest, most effective for your baby. Here are some practical tips for usage, as well as additional info for treating your child's sensitive skin:
Tips for baby bath time:
For children taking regular baths under the supervision of their parents, we recommend adding 3-5 pumps of Puracy baby shampoo and body wash into running water when the tub is halfway filled to desired water height. This mixes the soap into the water and creates a nice bubble bath effect.
From there, use a washcloth in the soapy water to gently massage the cleanser into baby's skin. Ring out and repeat this process for each body part. Carefully rinse baby's hair, then add a small amount of soap to your own clean hands. Massage into wet hair to create a rich lather, and then rinse immediately.
Though Puracy baby shampoo and bodywash is gentle enough for daily use, if your little one always cries in the bath, consider cutting down the number of weekly washes. In fact, for babies under one year of age, WebMD advises against daily bathing—overwashing removes natural oils that protect baby's skin, and can aggravate baby eczema. A good number is three baths per week.
Between baths, spot clean baby's face, hands, and neck with a wet washcloth, and clean his bottom with a disposable baby wipe.
Tips for soothing baby's sensitive skin:
Baby Eczema (Atopic Dermatitis)
Does your baby have eczema? Look for dry, rough skin or tiny red bumps on the cheeks or body joints. Those are the most common spots, though eczema can also appear elsewhere.
To safely treat and prevent baby eczema, avoid potential irritants, ranging from dry air to harsh soaps and detergents. Our "Free & Clear" Natural Laundry Detergent was rated #1 for babies by consumer research site, Your Best Digs. They ran a month-long test comparing seven key qualifications, including a hypoallergenic formula and absence of synthetic fragrances—both crucial factors for little ones with eczema.
During your eczema-prone child's bath time, make sure temperatures are lukewarm rather than hot. Apply a hypoallergenic lotion or an ointment immediately after patting skin dry, and keep baby's skin consistently moisturized. Dress your baby in soft, breathable materials, such as cotton. And keep baby's fingernails short to prevent scratching and any accompanying infections.
Diaper Rash
If your child gets fussier than usual during changing time, and her diaper area is red and possibly a bit swollen, then she might have developed a diaper rash.
To safely treat diaper rash, keep baby's bottom clean and dry as often as possible. Mama Natural has a great DIY for curative cream using beeswax, coconut oil, and non-nano zinc oxide powder. Consider letting your baby go diaper-free for a few hours each day (just be sure to put a large towel down on the floor!).
If you use cloth diapers, try switching detergents, as certain fragrances may irritate your baby's bottom.
Avoid diaper rash in the future by changing diapers at the first sign of wetness or fullness. If rashes continue to reoccur, then it might help to apply an ointment (such as zinc oxide) at the end of each diaper change.
Cradle Cap
Cradle cap appears as either dry, flaky skin or oily patches, typically on the baby's scalp. It's very common with newborns and is easily treatable by using a humidifier at night, or by gently massaging your baby's scalp with coconut oil.
To avoid perpetuating symptoms, switch to a gentle baby shampoo and body wash.
Skincare ingredients to avoid putting on baby's skin
If your baby has developed any of the above skin symptoms, be extra diligent in avoiding her exposure to harsh chemicals.
Double check the labels of anything that comes into contact with baby's skin. Typical irritants found in baby shampoo and lotions include sulfates (SLS and SLES), parabens, eye-numbing agents, silicones, dimethicone, dyes, perfumes, MIT, and MCT.
Puracy baby products are free of these irritants and are safe for babies with sensitive skin.
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Note: Puracy products are safe for infants and babies alike; however, most of these tips apply to babies whose umbilical cords have fallen off, and/or who have graduated from sponge baths.
