Everyone wants to give their wriggly new baby the best. So the plethora of lovely-looking baby skincare ranges around these days - Burt's Bees, Green Baby, Earth Friendly Baby, Organic Babies - are all incredibly tempting. Trouble is, they cost an arm and a leg. I don't think I spent more than a fiver on bath products for myself until I was at least 30, and yet the first soap my son came into contact with was Weleda calendula bath and hair wash (£6.99 for a mere 200ml) - a present from my sister. Not that he would have given a monkeys, but I was pleased to have something natural and gentle and, I'll admit it, a little bit luxurious for him. Likewise, I was chuffed that a friend had bought us some Green People Organic Baby suncream (£15.95 for 150ml). Personally, I'm not that bothered about 81% of the ingredients being organic, but I like that it is free from perfume and contains "no nasties" such as parabens (which mimic the action of oestrogen). I remember a friend around that time beseeching her facebook contacts for tips on the "least toxic kid's sunscreen". Plenty of people agonise over these issues.
The thing is, while I prefer the idea of natural skincare products, I suspect that this is as much about marketing as it is about evidence-based science. Natural ranges have come to be seen as safer and better quality - they are more expensive, produced on a smaller scale, more tastefully bottled and often come with eco credentials. However, no reliable evidence has emerged that the common synthetic chemicals used in mass-produced skincare, in the doses you get when using these products, give you cancer or whatever else you fear they might mete out. And some of these ingredients have been in use for a long time now. Sure, there's a chance that something horrific may yet be discovered about their long-term use, but there's no hard proof of any harmfulness at this time. Consumers, therefore, fall into two camps: precautionary types, who won't risk using anything that contains something they see as having a potential safety question mark dangling over it. And those who think life's too short to worry about what ifs, and in any case they were exposed to these chemicals throughout their own childhoods with no adverse effects so far.
Eco-baby: Weleda Calendula Shampoo & Bodywash, Burt's Bees Baby Bee Fragrance Free Shampoo & Wash, Green People Organic Babies Lavender Baby Wash and Shampoo
I straddle both camps. I would like to act purely on the findings of evidence-based research but then, while the oft-quoted fact that parabens were originally developed as an active ingredient in antifreeze may not necessarily mean they're bad for you, it does not sound good. And, returning to the marketing issue; regular exposure to shelves full of attractive, recycled bottles with boasts emanating from their labels about being free from nasty chemicals (of course, everything is made of chemicals of some description), can't help but insidiously implant in my consciousness the notion that these things are evil and must be avoided. I will also spend more on products, when I can afford it, if I think they are better for the environment - that seems a worthwhile investment.
I have spent some flustered moments picking bottles of organic children's skincare off shelves, then balking at the price and choosing something cheap instead, only to freak out about the ingredients list and eventually shell out for something natural (and of course, there are different degrees of natural - see labels. Plus, as one GP who used to write for this paper once said: "[Natural] like cow dung and deadly nightshade?". Then I walk off wondering whether I've been suckered. Unless you're stinking rich, surely you have to draw the line somewhere. There's toothpaste, bubble bath, moisturiser, nappy cream and sun screen to think about. Luckily, I tend to burn up so much worry energy on one issue (for instance, the detergent sodium laureth sulphate (SLS), an irritant in high doses and present in so many bath products) that it then runs out, and allows me to buy a tub of petroleum jelly for a quid for occasional use on the baby's bottom (which is what the health professionals suggest, anyhow). I'd love to get him the Neal's Yard baby barrier, but it's fricken £14.50.
Some predominantly natural products are cheaper than others, though. Earth Friendly Baby's chamomile bubble bath is half the price of their lavender bubble bath (they don't use parabens or SLS). And I've since discovered that the Jason's Aloe Vera body wash I get for myself in a big, value pump dispenser, makes just as good bubbles. I have stopped buying baby lotion (Green People Organic Baby scent-free lotion was great for a newborn treat, though). I just slather on some of my own E45 lotion about once a week and the boy's skin seems very happy.
What has worked for you? Have you found any divine yet affordable natural products? Or do you think it's all a big unnecessary rip off? What has worked best for babies with eczema or sensitive skin?
• This article was amended on 22 December 2011 to delete the word "pink" from the opening sentence.
Comments
20 December 2011 7:09PM
Although I can't abide her, Saira Khan (yes her of The Apprentice) does a great baby care range called MiaMoo which i bought from Boots. It's free from a lot of so called 'nasty' ingredients and doesn't smell atrocious.
But like most green/organic/free from lots of scary sounding things- ranges it is not especially cheap. I last purchased it when it was on a 3 for 2 and stocked up.
I was totally paranoid after my first born arrived and drove everyone else in my family crazy with my overly cautious behaviour. I distinctly remember having a quiet inner scream when my mother bathed him in Johnsons (I blame this on post pregnancy hormones)
Thankfully I've calmed down a lot but in a way I still feel that there are probably only benefits in using these types of baby products.
21 December 2011 12:19AM
I am very picky about about skincare products for my kids as well. So many products are "greenwashed" i.e. not truly natural or organic. One brand I trust is Om Aroma (I happen to know the owner personally); their Bebe Organic cream is wonderful: http://omaroma.com/body-care/baby-cream
21 December 2011 10:12AM
Maybe just trying to find a way around using things labelled as 'baby' products? I use a lot of cheap, organic, natural products which must be a heck of a lot better than the carbolic soap that my parents were subjected to as kids... failing all else try water and a very light soap if needed. Two(ish) weeks away from having my first baby though, so I may well swallow my words on this one... :-)
21 December 2011 10:55AM
I find the parabens very drying and gives me a really irritated scalp so I stick to natural soap and a bit of oil to moisturise, it's not expensive and it's very effective, you can also add essential oil for a nice smell. My daughter has very sensitive skin and dermatitis so parabens and fragrances are out for my family.
21 December 2011 10:58AM
My 17 months boy tends to have eczema, so bathing and moisturising is done with aqueous cream as recommended by the GP. I only use baby soap (the one from Tesco) on his bottom and genitals.
When he was a baby, he was massaged after every bath in olive oil as suggested by a midwife at the hospital.
I believe that baby products nowadays are much better than they were when I was a baby. So if you haven't developped any skin condition yourself or your partner, then carry on with your child. Same with how you wash your clothes - do you use a specific brand for the little one? You might at the beginning, but after a while, it is quite expensive and it is more cost effective to use one and the same for the whole family.
Having a baby is expensive, so where possible, since there's so much marketing going on addressed to some segments of the population or other, use your common sense.
21 December 2011 11:29AM
What works best for babies with mild eczema is no products at all. We were told by the health visitor and doctor to not use anything in the bath, except a mild shampoo. All that stuff you bought and been given have perfumes and are irritants to sensitive skin. We were prescribed doublebase and aqueous cream, for moisturizing and general cleaning. We use johnson baby for shampoo, which I have got years ago for washing my makeup brushes. So far, little baby girl skin is still perfectly smooth with no sign of wrinkles.
21 December 2011 11:30AM
Oh and like MommyNinja we massaged with olive oil too, as suggested by HCPs.
21 December 2011 11:58AM
Good luck with it all Barmyrach!
21 December 2011 12:10PM
There's a particularly gorgeous kids two-in-one shampoo that smells of toffee apples, by a brand called Naked who sell in Boots- FAR too good for children. Also, Waitrose's baby range is SLS-free, lightly scented, no mineral oil and IMO absolutely beautiful- prices waffle between £3-5. They also do a good alternative to the NY baby barrier- which I have used, but smells too much like breastmilk poo to be applied to a clean baby bottom. We DIY bath stuff a lot- either a teabag of oats, or a drop of lavender oil in a glass of milk poured into a bath. Also as a former Lush employee, you can do wonderful things with a drop of essential oil and a bit of bicarbonate of soda. Sunflower oil is far cheaper than olive oil for massaging, btw, and just as good.
My kids are mostly older, now, though- my youngest turns 2 tomorrow- and we're a long way from the days of just using water and a muslin on that delicate baby skin.
21 December 2011 12:38PM
Aqueous Cream in the bath and thats about it. I don't rub anything into his skin, it doesn't need it. I use soap when he has nappy rash from teething. Plain soap is alkaline so it neutralises the acid from the urine and reduces the rash. The most natural, 'chemical free' baby is a product free baby.
21 December 2011 1:16PM
The problem with the 'old favourites' like Johnson's, that 'never did us any harm', is that the formulations have been changed so much over the years, to make them last longer on the shelf, foam more, look pretty etc. They never used to be full of parabens (which have been found in malignant tumours incidentally), or sls which is very drying.
Aqueous Cream is horrid stuff! Many GP's don't even prescribe it anymore as it has been shown to actually thin the skin, thus sensitizing it.
More natural brands are a bit more pricey, but it's because they cost more to produce, not just retailers cashing in on consumer fear. The reason supermarket stuff etc is cheaper is that they contain something like 90% cheap chemicals and perfume. However, because the natural ones are much better quality and concentrated, you need use much much less, making them last longer. Most grown ups spend around £30 on a good face moisturizer for themselves, so why cringe at paying £7.99 for a bottle of baby hair & body wash which will last the same length of time?
It's all about being informed and personal choice I suppose.
Incidently, my favourite natural baby brand when I had my boy (who is now 4) was Boo Boo Baby. Smells like traditional baby products, but without the dubious ingredients.
21 December 2011 1:29PM
We were recommended olive oil for Baby Digger's dry skin, too. I felt squeamish about having the cooking oil actually on the changing table (well, strictly speaking, I felt squeamish about taking it back to the kitchen afterwards), so I bought one extortionate small glass bottle of the stuff from the chemist, and then topped it up from the kitchen bottle as needed.
21 December 2011 1:51PM
Here in Norway, the standards for what can and cannot be used in baby products is pretty high, so I don't worry that much about it. I just look for the Swan Mark on the bottle and know it's free of any potentially harmful additives. When I was in the US visiting it was much harder, but I did buy a tube of Burt's Bees zinc salve, which gave my kid's bottom a lovely lavendar smell which was a nice change. Especially since the American formula gave him horrid diarrhea. Note to formula feeders: if you travel for any period of time, bring enough of your usual brand to cover the entire trip, else you risk having to change endless poopy nappies in an airplane lavatory. NOT recommended.
21 December 2011 1:59PM
There is a great misunderstanding that all organic/ natural skincare is necessarily better. There are many proven irritants amongst natural skin ingredients and it is vital to inform ourselves before jumping on the bandwagon of natural skincare.
My daughter was born with very dry skin on her legs and arms and cheeks. My GP adviced that that cheeks would sort themselves out naturally and indeed as soon as she turned 1, the condition improved by itself. I don't use anything frangranced on her- only the very basic Tesco Sensitive Skin wash and the Boots Sensitive Scalp Shampoo.
It is very important to remember that fragrance is one of the worst skin irritants, both for kids and adults and should be avoided at any cost. During the winter months when the heating is on continuously, I apply couple of times a week Oilatum Junior body cream on her after bath. I keep the baths to every other day and make sure they are not too hot, as very cold or hot water are one of the main reasons for dry skin and irritation. Above all I feel it is pointless to pay over the odds about products that get washed down the drain.
21 December 2011 3:32PM
I'm with those who say above that less product is best, regardless of whet you use. The nhs says to use nothing to wash with until baby is at least six months.
Natural dies not have to be expensive.
Vaseline is cheap.
We used to use to use olive oil but it didn't get rid of our baby's itchy scalp so our doctor recommended coconut oil. It's great.
We make our own nappy wipe solution - camomile tea with a few drops of tea tree oil and lavender oil.
Plan to try cannylassie's ideas for the bath, but to be honest we still generally just use water. And only bath once a week or after a horrid poo.
And if your baby has eczema or anything else wrong remember prescriptions are free for your child.
21 December 2011 3:47PM
I was with you on the bathing in plain water thing, until our son suddenly, having always loved bathtime, would not go near the bath. He'd kick and scream in terror. So weird. Anyhow, bubble bath won him back to bathing and he loves it again. But it's all about the bubbles now...
21 December 2011 4:06PM
Our son had eczema, but I have sensitive skin anyway, so I already bought unscented products. At that time they also did a range called bebmama, which was pleasant, but not too strongly scented.
I used Oiletum in the bath for him, and Unguentum Merck as a moisturiser (he had to be moisturised morning and night every day).
There is also, for excessively dry skin, a preparation of 50% solid paraffin, 50% liquid paraffin which you can get from a skin clinic, or a doctor.
Generally, though, I found unscented products to be best, including soap powder.
21 December 2011 4:07PM
When I was a kid, you could only buy Olive Oil in small bottles in a chemist!
21 December 2011 11:33PM
Wash him in plain water, grease him up in jojoba/ olive oil.
If he gets stinky, a drop of dr bronners is fine. Stick a few toy boats in the bath, you can't go wrong.
Never saw the sense in detergenting all the oils off his body only to replace them with new ones out of a bottle.
Seriously. The boy manages to find the time and place of maximum hazard and survives stuff like eating dog food, playing in toilet water and managing to strip butt naked and make a break for the outdoors in mid december. Highly doubt the odd bit of soap is going to slow him down.
22 December 2011 6:25AM
Neal's Yard do a 1-litre pump dispenser bottle of baby bath/shampoo, lightly lavender scented and no parabens or other weird chemicals. It is expensive (40 quid for a litre), but I only use the Neal's Yard stuff once a week for scrubbing and shampooing my kid and plain water for the other time I wash my son in the week. In the UK, I think 2 proper baths a week is more than enough. Other days it is just top and tail with plain water. So my litre bottle has lasted me 2 years and my son's skin is fine. In the winter, some almond oil helps with the mild dryness.
22 December 2011 8:48AM
You say...
"I feel it is pointless to pay over the odds about products that get washed down the drain"
I think there is a very important issue here that has been highlighted - the chemicals in the cheap stuff DO get washed down the drain, into our rivers and seas. What does this do to the poor old fishes/plant life/biological balance etc etc?
Natural products are developed to be better for the environment too and in my mind it's important (and responsible) to preserve what we have for our children and grandchildren to experience too.
22 December 2011 10:10AM
The first line of this article took me aback rather - what about people whose wriggly new babies aren't pink? I don't get the impression that Amy Fleming was deliberately focusing her article on white babies' products, but it's rather a slap in the face for her to use "pink" as if it were a universal description for babies.
22 December 2011 12:43PM
My baby is nine months old and I'm still using the toiletries that friends and family were kind enough to buy for us when she was born. Frankly I'm too skint to refuse a freebie in favour of earth friendly paraben free organic products made from fair trade hemp. How do you all find time to worry about such things? Worries about her future, her health, my finances and work take up too much of my brain space, clearly. I would prefer it if the products I use with my daughter were animal friendly but I still wouldn't be churlish enough to decline a gift, even if it's from a company I wouldn't normally buy from.
Dentinox cradle cap shampoo is fairly cheap, smells if roses, lasts forever and does what it says it will do, these are the requirements I have for toiletried for my baby.
22 December 2011 12:53PM
The assumption that expensive skincare is necessarily of superiour quality is simply wrong. You really need to look into the ingredients composition of such products to understand that. Paula Begoun's website www.beautypedia.com has an abundant amount of product reviews of many well known cosmetical brands, based on their ingredients that is a real eye-opener. Not only it has saved me lots of money, but also I've learned so much about what to look out for in a skincare product. Cannot recommend it enough.
22 December 2011 12:57PM
We make our own nappy wipe solution - camomile tea with a few drops of tea tree oil and lavender oil.
May I point out that lavender oil is a proven skin irritant and should be avoided by all, not only people with sensitive skin.
22 December 2011 1:33PM
Just say no to the marketing!
As said repeatedly above, young babies (less than 6 months) don't need washing everyday and are much better off without being slathered in expensive goop. There may be truth (although I treat their marketing claims with several pinches of salt) that eco-natural producs are better for your baby but your baby is least likely to develop sensitive skin if you use nothing at all.
At plus six months a drop of the the mildest, un-fragranced soap is best. Simple do good and not too expensive products.
As I'm nostalgic and my kids have completely robust unirritated skin I do use Johnsons baby soap and shampoo as they have got older as I love the smell!
22 December 2011 2:14PM
The kid gets bathed twice a week.
We use a Supermarket own brand kids shampoo 2-in-1 that smells like melons (her choice), and Johnsons bath stuff.
Left to her own devices she would wash in nothing by Snow Fairy shower gel from Lush (bright pink, smells like candyfloss- I can't abide it, so it's a rare treat for her).
She gets a weekly massage with whatever body lotion I happen to have lying about (bonus points from the child if it smells like coconuts).
So, I won't win mother of the year, but she's happy and healthy.
22 December 2011 2:24PM
Hello, you're right, this article is for anyone who is interested, but I can totally see your point re my use of "pink" and I'm really sorry.
Got caught in the trap of focussing so much on the issues in the piece that I just described my own baby in the intro, then moved on. I'll see if the ed thinks we should/can take pink out at this point.
22 December 2011 2:38PM
Trouble with the tumour study is that it was a small sample of 20 and no one has since looked at healthy breasts to see if parabens are in those too. So, again, while this study doesn't sound good, there's still no proof that the parabens caused the cancer. I'm not trying to defend the use of parabens - just want to give a balanced view.
22 December 2011 3:54PM
A brilliant thing to look for is products that have been recommended by TIPS - started by a mum of 5 and midwife, it's a not for profit certification scheme. That's how we found Mama Baby Bliss and their range of products that are all cheaper than the burts bee's stuff, and neal's yard stuff, but free of chemical nasties and all the usual stuff. Our boys love their baths - a bit of bubbles, but not overwhelming and their bum cream works a treat as well. We just ordered some stuff for christmas - and they've got a round up on their blog, at www.mamababybliss.com/blog so check that out for what's working for other people?
And failing that, Weleda is always good. We've had lots of that as well. But my DH thinks it doesn't rinse out well enough. I disagree and love it...
22 December 2011 5:58PM
Oh, Matey's a bottle of fun You pop it in the bath it's fun for everyone And always good for a laugh!
And so say all of us.
'Organic', like 'natural' is a meaningless marketing term when it comes to skincare products, whether for adults or for children. Give me a bottle of Matey any day!
22 December 2011 7:35PM
Pink, PINK, PinK, pINk, piNk ... and PINK. So what. DON"T be dictated to by the militant pink-stinkers. Find your baubles.
22 December 2011 7:43PM
Maybe you can divide parents into three camps - I didn't use anything on my baby's skin apart from water. No rip-off products, no selling me expensive lotions and potions. Small squares of brushed cotton for baby wipes and water for her bottom. No rashes, no allergies, no running out of 'essentials'. What a con it all is. Bubble bath only came along when she was old enough to ask for it.
23 December 2011 7:33AM
How old is your now? V interesting. We used only water for a good few months but he's 20 months now...
23 December 2011 10:38AM
I recommend the Halos'n'Horns range - all completely paraben, SLS etc. free - availalbe in most supermarkets, including ASDA, and much MUCH cheaper than the fancy pants organic stuff aimed at mums who like to knot their own yoghurt (relax, I'm *JOKING*!)
My little boy gets very dry and itchy if we use 'normal' kiddy ranges, and I can't afford Weleda or Earth Friendly Baby either, so this is a great compromise.
24 December 2011 9:06AM
@miladear - I think the evidence supports lavender oil being good for skin provided it's not really really old and left out to the elements for months. See http://roberttisserand.com/2011/08/lavender-oil-skin-savior-or-skin-irritant/
24 December 2011 11:43PM
Perfumes and essential oils are very aggressive irritants and allergens. And I would not use anything like this on baby's skin. It is safer to use ordinary glicerin soap and traditional blue nivea cream. That's all.
fragrance involves many components, each of them potential allergen, and you do not know which one, because they are not mentioned on the label.
essential oils are produced by plants as antibiotics - so these are very strong chemicals, and should not be used every day. One drop per bath is enough.
Aquous cream is fine on skin. It is parafin, which is good for the skin.
Worse is steroid, which should be avoided (it thins skin and makes it sensitive) unless it is prescribed by a doctor.
24 December 2011 11:52PM
Good brands:
oilatum, e45, svr, vichy, la roche posay, avene, bioderma.
It is not tru that natural is always best. It is not.