When it comes to skincare, using the most natural products available is always preferable – but even more so when it comes to babies. Here are a few reasons why it is advisable to steer clear of lotions and creams with chemicals in for your precious little ones.
More sensitive skin
The main reason why you should consider your baby’s skincare products carefully is because young children have much more sensitive skin than adults.
In fact, when it comes to newborns, the NHS advises to avoid using any products at all, and to simply wash them in water.
“Don’t add any liquid cleansers to the bath water. Plain water is best for your baby’s skin the first month,” it recommends.
The same goes for oils or lotions until they are at least four weeks old, although it does recommend giving them a gentle massage to help them relax and fall asleep.
After they are a month old, you can start using products, but you should be very wary about what you are putting on their skin, as it is still very fragile.
According to The Natural Parent Magazine: “Little skin is thinner, more delicate and more permeable than adult skin, so it’s important to feel sale in what you are applying.”
You might have had a reaction to products
Children often take after their parents, so if you or your partner have sensitive skin and have suffered bad reactions to certain products before, it is likely your baby will too.
If you know you develop a rash or itchiness using synthetic creams or lotions, it is best to avoid these with your offspring – at the very least, until they are much older.
Natural products are effective
One of the best reasons to use natural products is that they are just as effective – or more so – than ones you can buy from the supermarket.
The Natural Parent Magazine suggested products with honey and chamomile are good at protecting and calming skin, while avocado oil, macadamia seed oil and beeswax have “unparalleled nourishing effects”.
Avoiding harmful chemicals
It is not just that natural lotions are good, but that synthetic ones can be particularly harmful, according to Earth Easy.
Those containing BPA plastic, phthalates, flame-retardants, PFOA/PFOS, parabens, and triclosan can be especially dangerous – but are regularly found in baby products. BPA plastic, for instance, can lead to infertility and cancer; phthalates can result in birth defects and early puberty; parabens can disrupt hormonal development; and triclosan can make people more sensitive to allergies.
Environmental impact
Another reason to treat your child with organic products is to become more environmentally friendly.
After you have children, you might become increasingly aware of the problem of climate change and want to do your bit to look after the world they will grow up in. In this case, using products that have been created with environmental care, such as those derived from renewable resources and manufactured in a green manner, will be appealing to you.