The Best Natural Baby Wash For Newborn Skin

Why your baby need a gentle baby wash

During the first year, your baby's skin is still changing and developing. It differs in structure and composition from adult skin, with smaller cells and thinner collagen fibers, less natural moisturizing factors (NMFs), lipids and melanin.

Infants also retain and lose water through their skin (known as transepidermal water loss) at a faster rate than adults. A gentle baby wash will prevent moisture loss and changes in the pH of your baby’s skin while preserving the integrity of their skin barrier. The skin barrier protects babies from toxins and water loss, so it’s not a good idea to use harsh cleansers that can alter it.

Water itself is not enough to cleanse your baby’s skin because it won’t break down milk, saliva, nasal secretions and fecal matter.  Soap may be effective at cleansing, but it is too strong to protect the skin barrier. This is we recommend a gentle, natural baby wash for your newborn skin. 

What to look for in a natural baby wash 

The best natural baby wash will:

• Be an effective cleanser
  
  A good baby wash needs to emulsify oil, dirt and microorganisms. You need a surfactant that breaks these substances down into droplets that can be rinsed away with water, but doesn’t strip the natural oils, which will leave your baby's skin dry.

• Not alter the pH of the skin
  
  The pH of a good baby wash should be neutral or mildly acidic (pH 5.5-7.0). A newborn starts off with a neutral pH and then gradually becomes acidic (like adults) over the first few weeks. You want to allow your baby’s skin to do its job, and not influence a change through harsh cleansers.

• Maintain the skin barrier
  
  Since the skin barrier does an amazing job of protecting baby, we want to protect it. Choose a baby wash with oils rich in linoleic acid (also known as Omega 6), which can help enhance skin barrier functionality.

• Not cause irritation to baby’s skin or eyes
  
  Traditional soaps and cleansers often contain fragrance and other irritants. That "tear-free" baby wash? It contains a numbing agent, which doesn’t mean that no irritation occurs, but that your baby can’t feel it! A gentle, natural baby wash may not be "tear-free", but it won’t irritate baby’s eyes or skin.

• Utilize preservatives safe for newborns
  
  Preservatives are necessary to prevent the growth of microorganisms in your baby wash, but harsh preservatives can irritate skin and cause contact dermatitis. 

If you have questions about the safety of a specific baby product, try Skin Deep. It is a wonderful resource by the Environmental Working Group which rates the safety of personal care products for babies and adults.

Introducing our Lullaby Melting Balm Cleanser

Say hello to our Lullaby Melting Balm Cleanser, a massage gel, gentle baby wash and moisturizer in one. It contains oils rich in vitamin E, omega 3 and omega 6, known to not just maintain but improve baby’s natural skin barrier. With only natural ingredients, no harsh chemicals or water, this natural baby wash will not influence the pH of your baby’s skin!

Begin by massaging the oil-based gel is massaged onto your baby's skin. Some of the nourishing oils absorb into the skin, while the gel left on the surface transforms into a milk in the bath water. Sitting in warm, milky water further helps the absorption of oils into baby’s skin, leaving it soft and moisturized. The product is easily rinsed off, leaving little to none on the surface of your baby's skin.

The result? Your baby skin is free to breathe, change and develop as nature intended.

How often to bath your baby

How often you bathe your baby is a personal preference. Two or three times a week is enough to keep baby clean, but daily baths aren’t likely to be harmful. If you have hard water, it can dry out your baby’s skin, so pay attention to how your baby reacts after bath time.

Bath time doesn’t have to be a long event, a quick three to five minutes in the bath is sufficient for your baby. When bath time is done, pat baby dry with a towel and avoid rubbing. It’s an extra measure to help protect their gentle skin.

Simplify your nighttime routine with a product that uses only gentle, natural ingredients, selected with a mother’s care and the knowledge of an expert formulator. Click here to order your Lullaby Melting Balm Cleanser!

more from our Kiss Kiss Diaries