The baby’s skin is thinner, more fragile and less oily than an adult’s. It also produces less melanin, the substance that helps ward off sunburn. It is less resistant to bacteria and harmful substances in the environment, especially if it is irritated.

A newborn’s skin needs time to adapt to the outside world and develop its own protective qualities before it’s able to cope with the barrage of new substances that baby products contain.

The natural way for caring for your baby’s skin and keep your little one soft skin;

• Pure water is the best for your baby use only water to cleanse your baby’s skin for at least the first month – no other creams, wipes or washes are needed. This will give your little one the chance to build up their skin’s protective barrier against allergens along with the self-moisturising mechanisms that will help to keep their skin smooth and supple.

  For premature infants you should extend this ‘rule’ for a month past their estimated due date as their skin will need a little extra time to develop.

• Hot water will make your baby’s skin dry as this is less dehydrating and will be kinder to developing skin so bathing your baby in lukewarm
• Bathing baby two or three time a week are all your baby needs to stay clean, you can ‘top and tail’ in between when necessary.
• Once you start to introduce washes and wipes make sure you go for natural or organic varieties free from perfumes, alcohol and other chemicals that could strip away your baby’s natural defenses and irritate the skin. Do check the ‘ingredients’ carefully as many baby products aren’t actually as baby-friendly as they seem and contain a whole host of unnecessary additives. Generally, anything that lathers or bubbles should be avoided as this will more than likely be very drying to the skin.
• Use a natural, non-bio washing powder and fabric softener as your baby’s clothes and bed sheets also have the potential to irritate their sensitive skin when they come into contact.
• Shampoo isn’t needed until your baby reaches at least 1 year of age, washing your little one’s hair in water and using a comb should help to keep it clean and help prevent cradle cap.
• Use a simple emollient cream, natural massage oil or plain barrier cream to moisturise your baby’s skin but only when they really need it.

Some parents fail to realize that many general, adult toiletry products are manufactured using higher amounts of perfumes, alcohols, added colors and other ingredients which can potentially be irritating to an infant’s paper-thin skin.

Therefore, be sure to avoid using your own toiletries and instead seek out only the mildest and most gentle, natural-based preparations, which have been formulated specifically for babies and not adults.