There are plenty of baby products on the market, many full of chemicals and artificial colors and perfumes to make them look and smell better. These chemicals tend to be harsh on delicate skin and parents in the know usually prefer organic baby skin care products such as organic baby balms.
Organic baby balms should be completely made of natural ingredients that are chemical free. Each ingredient has a specific purpose and it´s a good idea to understand which ingredient does what for your baby´s skin so you can choose the perfect organic baby balm for his or her skin.
Organic Baby Balm Ingredients
Beeswax: This ingredient is one of the most commonly used in baby balms. It´s a natural ingredient that smells heavenly and also works to seal and protect delicate skin. When used with moisturizing ingredients, it helps to seal them in, maximizing the moisturizing potential of any baby balm.
Calendula: This Mediterranean flower is a very useful natural ingredient. Used on its own, it can eliminate pain and when used in organic baby balms, calendula reduces inflammation and promotes healing. It also reduces the itching of insect bites.
Chamomile: A natural antiseptic, chamomile is soothing and great for use on sensitive skin. It boosts natural cell regeneration and helps reduce rashes and swelling. This herb is particularly useful in baby skin care products meant to treat diaper rashes.
Coconut Oil: An amazing oil that originates from the meat of the coconut, this natural ingredient has anti-fungal, antibacterial and antiseptic properties that make it a very useful ingredient in organic baby balms.
Lavender: This aromatic herb is well known for its soporific effect on people and a little of its essence added to an organic baby balm will help calm and soothe a fussy baby and promote sleep.
Olive Oil: This natural moisturizer is just as healthy when applied to the skin as it is ingested. Rich in Vitamin E, olive oil helps promote healing and minimizes scarring. It is also excellent for treating skin problems like eczema and dandruff.
Shea Butter: An organic, heavy duty moisturizer, shea butter is also useful for protecting little faces from the wind and sun. It also promotes healing of small cuts and rashes, such as diaper rashes and can be used to prevent and treat blemishes and scars. Shea butter is also used to help reverse skin damage caused by harsh chemicals and can really soothe tender baby skin.
Zinc Oxide: One of the most common ingredients in diaper rash cream, zinc oxide eases inflammation and works as a natural astringent on the skin. It´s gentle healing action is very useful for rashes and sores. It is also a natural sun block.
Organic baby balms are the natural way to treat your baby´s skin. Not all of the above ingredients will be used in every balm, as each is specifically formulated to serve a purpose. For example, a healing balm might contain olive oil, zinc oxide and calendula, while a moisturizing balm would be more likely to have beeswax and shea butter in it.
The simpler organic baby skin products are, the less likely your child will have a reaction to any of the ingredients. Most baby balms have just 4-6 ingredients and all are recognizable, as opposed to chemical laden versions.
Look for an organic baby balm that has the ingredients needed for your baby´s particular skin type. Each ingredient will do a specific job and combined, they are dynamite for treating dry infant skin.
By: Amy Nutt
Eczema’s most predominant characteristic is dry skin. When you are treating baby eczema you need to concentrate most importantly on keeping his skin moist among other things. It should not be wet, wetness can lead to more eczema, but it does have to be moist.
When you are bathing him, his bath should be in warm not hot water. Histamines when released from skin cells can cause itching, and hot water on the skin creates the conditions whereby histamines are let out of cells.
You will also want to use cleaners that do not contain soap. Soap can be an eczema trigger. Some of the main things in soap that causes a problem for sensitive skin are the artificial colors and fragrances that are added. You may say well then I can use a soap that does not have fragrances and colorings added. That is true, but you must also choose a soap that also does not contain lanolin. This too is an ingredient in many soaps, lotions and other cosmetics that are bad for skin that is troubled by eczema.
Many times, children with eczema do not like bath time. The reason for this is that the bath water often stings them when they get into the tub. This may also be true for your baby; the only difference is that he is not able to verbalize this for you. So if you find him beginning to cry when you put him into the bath, this may be a cause of it.
One way around this is to bathe him in bath salts that are good for eczema. It will not only take away the stinging properties of the water but it will also strengthen and moisturize his skin. This is necessary to prevent the skin from cracking and becoming infected. If the skin becomes infected, the problem then becomes that much more difficult to get under control.
In the event that the skin does crack and become infected, then the use of a good bath salt becomes that much more important as an antiseptic, and as an agent to kill the eczema virus that resides on the surface of the skin.
Baths should be brief if you are bathing him with a regular bath. The sooner you can get him out of the water the better. If you are treating him with a bath salt good for eczema then you should let him stay in the water for 15 – 18 minutes. The reason for this is that is how long it takes for the salts to do their work. One benefit is that within 18 minutes the skin will be re-hydrated. By that time it would also have penetrated deeply enough into the skin to get the pores into a condition that allows them to get rid of excess acids which often play a role in helping eczema to be a torment.
By: Broyde McDonald
A surprising number of mothers will buy expensive lotions and soaps for their sensitive skins, and yet bathe and shampoo their baby in cheaper, chemical-ridden products.
Even those moms who believe they are being very careful about the products they use on their baby are likely not being careful enough.
An article in Clinical Pediatrics reports that over three out of four infants suffer rashes within the first few months of births. Sadly, the reason for such frequent breakouts appears to be the skin care products parents use to keep their babies’ skin moisturized. A baby’s skin, like all organs, is not fully developed and isn’t as effective a barrier against toxic substances. Natural skin care products are much, much safer than the chemical-heavy conventional ones.
The Danger of Over-The-Counter Products
Many products supposedly designed for infants’ sensitive skin are the same harsh cleansers for adults, just put in a cute package with a higher price. Reading labels to see what is really in the bottle is even more critical for your baby than for yourself.
Many bubble baths destroy beneficial bacteria on the baby’s skin. In fact the problem is so bad that infant bubble bath carries an FDA warning against excessive bathing. These products often contain known carcinogens and irritants such as formaldehyde and 1,4-dioxane.
Shampoos are no better. Ingredients to avoid include quaternium 15, imidazolidinyl urea, and parabens. Of course you should also stay away from artificial colors and fragrances.
Baby powders are one of the most common treatments for diaper rash. Many moms use cornstarch, and treat rash with whipped-up egg white that’s allowed to dry and form a protective barrier.
Lotions and oils that contain petrochemicals, artificial colors, or artificial fragrances should never be used on a baby.
Natural Skin Care Products
Although most of the skin problems that babies face are due to dangerous ingredients in mass-produced skin care products, this is not the only concern. Even organic skin care products can cause problems if used excessively.
During the first year, babies do not need to be bathed frequently or even at all. An occasional wipe of the genitals and buttocks with a damp cloth is usually all that is needed. If a bath is needed, a small amount of warm water should suffice. Babies don’t sweat like children and adults so don’t need soap most of the time. If necessary, use a mild soap containing palm, coconut, or olive oil and use as little as possible. Never use antibacterial soap.
Shampoo is also seldom, if ever, needed during the first year. If needed, use a very mild organic shampoo.
Lotions that contain soothing or healing natural skin care ingredients such as chamomile or aloe can be beneficial. They moisturize well and a gentle massage can help a fussy baby sleep.
By: Christine Harrell