Baby Products - Skin Geek Thoughts Wanted !

[bombini]

I have started to do my research into baby products now seeing as ive not got long to go and I can't believe the amount of alcohol, chlorine, perfume etc that is in pretty much all the main brands (and expensive ones!)

I first noticed it when I started getting free samples of products and after amassing a small mountain of baby wipes thought id try some on myself. I tried pampers sensitive wipes to remove my make up.......omg my face felt like it was on fire and i don't have sensitive skin !!! Have since been using them to clean up around the house !

I asked my midwife what her opinion is on wipes and she said they are great if you are out and about but preference should be given to cotton wool and water.

So I am now left thinking if many of these baby brands are full of nasty ingredients whats the alternative ? What should I be looking out for ?

I have seen plenty of 'green' & 'organic' OTC ranges but as I don't know anyone that has used them I don't know how good they are ?

 

[ch4rli3]

Hi bombini

Firstly, Congratulations! How long have you got left of pregnancy?

I agree, lots of products designed for use on baby's skin are full of nasty ingredients!

My son has just turned 1 and I have had endless amounts of problems with baby wipes!

When he was first born, I used cotton wool and water but I must admit, wipes are very handy when your out and about and a lot quicker to use.

Now he is older, he will not sit still long enough to use cotton wool and water so I use wipes, but finding a good brand is hard!

Pampers original - in the green pack and pampers sensitive both caused Lewis' skin to be extremely red and sore and on some occasion caused the skin to blister!! Huggies wipes and supermarkets own brands all caused some sort of redness on the skin. ( I have tried them all! )

The only wipes I find that don't aggravate the skin are Johnson's extra protection with Aloe Vera - in the pink and Green pack.

As for moisturisers and bathing products, I do find that Johnson's products to be the most suitable. They do a range where the packaging is Green ( can't remember what it's called ) but this seems to be the best.

Hope this helps x

 

[Beauty Boutique]

Hi yes i agree ingredients put into skin products for babies is terrible, there is a book available on amazon called dont go to the cosmetic counter without me, the author reviews almost every skin care and make up brand u can image, she comments on ingredients & its ability in delivering wot it says on the tin. she is american & has review all johnson products its not expensive & a worth while investment in general i will have a look tonight at the baby stuff for u & let u know wot she rates the best!!!!

Denise

Beauty Therapist

 

[STEPHC195]

My daughter is exactly the same, as soon as I wipe her mouth or anything she comes up in a big red rash.
The only wipes I can use on her are the Simple ones, I too have a little sensitive skin and can only use the Simple range on my self!!
Also the johnsons bath and body wash gives her a rash too, I am still trying to find something to agree with her skin and she's 14 months now!!
I do agree though, use water and cotton wool to begin with!!

x

 

[Zo Zo]

Hi Juliette

I totally agree about cotton wool and water, and tbh even for bathing and hairwashing you only really need water. I would steer clear of baby bath and baby shampoo, they are just too cheimcal. If you need any kind of moisturiser, Waitrose do coconut oil for babies, it's solid in a tub... I'm pretty sure it's 100% natural. With regard to using wipes when you're out and about, if faciities allow, I would run one under a tap and wring it out before using it.

When I was a kid we didn't have baby wipes, either they hadn't been invented or we were too working class to afford such luxuries(!) but my Mum used to carry around a wet flannel in a tupperware beaker, so she could wipe our chops any time we needed it. (Better than spit I guess :lol

Good luck with the bambino :hug:

 

[Cloppie]

Congratulations! I totally agree about baby wipes - they contain alcohol and I don't feel they get the area particularly clean.

For my daughter, I do have some handy for emergency situations :| but generally I still use cotton wool and plain water when I am at home.

I have started taking a spray bottle of lavender water and cotton wool discs out and about with us - as she is teething her bottom is even more prone to becoming sore. The water spray is great. It is so useful for a quick clean up. I can spay the water directly onto to cotton wool to wipe her mouth or straight on the messy part to clean it up .

I bought Eau Roma water from Lush. It contains lavender and rose water. No alcohol. Works a treat.

Once, I used wipes on her mouth after some lunch out, but her little face just went completely red. Never again.

 

[Cloppie]

Sorry, just wanted to add that for bath time we used to use plain water but often this dried her skin out because of the hard water. We were prescribed oilatum liquid which we added to her bath and it was great.

Good luck and congratulations again!!

 

[Vetty]

Sorry, just wanted to add that for bath time we used to use plain water but often this dried her skin out because of the hard water. We were prescribed oilatum liquid which we added to her bath and it was great.

Good luck and congratulations again!!

Oilatum is great stuff, but it makes the baby sooooooo slippery!!!!! I needed it for my eldest and it was like trying to hold onto a bar of soap, lol!!

 

[Cloppie]

LOL! yes it does - we realised that the first time we used it. Then only used a small amount at bath time.

 

[Zo Zo]

We had Balneum for my daughter, actually it might have been Balneum Plus and it was much less slippery than Oilatum and also totally controlled the eczema which was great because I defintely did not want to use steroid creams.

 

[bombini]

Thanks for all your advice and opinions :hug:

I knew id get some positive input on here ! When I have talked about this with other mums who have nothing to do with the beauty profession they have either looked at me like im stark raving mad or it has actually opened their eyes and made them think about the products they use on baby.

Zozo its funny you should mention about wipes being more recently invented as quite a few people have basically said there is no way I could get away with not using wipes, will mention that and make them think a bit.

I have never used babywipes on my skin (unless drunk and stayed over at someone elses house!) and I always advise clients not to use them to remove make up so it got me thinking if I won't use it on myself then why would I use it on my baby:idea:

I have seen a couple of brands that claim to be natural & organic but i still don't like the look of the ingredients.

Also nappy cream..... does a nice natural eco friendly product exist ?

 

[Zo Zo]

I don't remember using nappy cream :lol: I don't think you need to use it as a matter of course, you may feel the need to use it if the baby's bot is sore, to create a barrier to stop fresh wee irritating the already sore bot. I want to say, there are probably lots of nice natural products on the market but actually many of them are probably petroleum based, like vaseline, so that they act as a barrier, if that makes sense..

 

[rouge]

Have you looked at this company? Essentially Yours They do organic products with a special range for babies. I haven't tried the baby stuff, not having any babies, but I have used the skincare and it's pretty good.

 

[Zingara]

I actually hated cotton wool as bits get stuck everywhere! I bought washable wipes that you re-use time and time again, and found them really useful. But then I like re-usable nappies when I can too!

 

[beautynails]

I don't remember using nappy cream :lol: I don't think you need to use it as a matter of course, you may feel the need to use it if the baby's bot is sore, to create a barrier to stop fresh wee irritating the already sore bot. I want to say, there are probably lots of nice natural products on the market but actually many of them are probably petroleum based, like vaseline, so that they act as a barrier, if that makes sense..

I always used pawpaw ointment as a nappy cream. It's soothing and all natural.

 

[pazzy]

I'm thinking that a muslin wipe ans some of the body washes that are on that essentially yours site - would be amazingly affective.

I hate wipes - but they are handy - but I don't think you get your baby as clean with them - it was a nightmare for me cos my son had the worst eczema - so I used oilatum and cotton wool and aquesous cream to clean his face. Nightmare.

 

[Chameleon]

Hi there sweetness:hug:

Having just got back from France i am loaded with some lovely baby products from L'Occitane....not for me i might add,but they are for some people i know who seem to be having babies at the moment......eerm maybe you may be getting something in the post Juliette:idea::green:

I just loved the look of them,as they looked cute but when quizzed the sales lady who was very knowledgeble and passionate about them they felt lovely as she let me try them at the sink in the shop:lol:......any way after a cup of coffee and a chat later i walked out with half the entire stock

Any way i have tried them on my skin,the soaps are divine,even Rich shaved with them:lol:,and left his skin like a babys behind....LOL

They are loaded with shea butter and no chemical irritants,and even though they are a "toiletry" brand i am amazed time and time agian by the quality of ingredients and research and development that Olivier Bussain the founder has put into them....

 

[sophiea84]

Hi Bombini, congratulations on this exciting time!
My little bundle is 12 wks now & so amazing.
There is eczema in my family aswell so I have been on the look out for any problems & mindful of products im using.

Over here we have a beautiful soap alternative/cleanser that i adore called cetaphil. I rub in right into my eyelashes & face every night to remove makeup & its very effective & never stings! It a lovely gentle option for bath products if your still on the hunt. Maybe its available over there too..?
Cetaphilhttp://www.cetaphil.com/Products/cleansers.aspx

Also, we have a product called Hamiltons bath oil which my sister swears by for her sensitive little bubs. Its also lovely..
http://www.chemistdirect.com.au/hamilton-bath-p-13629.html

hth xx
best of luck hun

 

[Blue Rose]

Congratulations on your iminent arrival!

I too suffer from eczema as does my youngest daughter & since last week my oldest aswell.

I've found though that we've never had a problem with the wet wipes. What seems to make my hands worse though is anything with essential oils in which is a bit of a bummer when I have to do a pamper party & therefore lots of massage. My hands are red raw for ages afterwards.

For the past few days we've been using Pure baby butter from Cottons Beauty Cottons - baby range- baby gifts-baby toiletries-milk bath-baby soap. It's really calmed my hands down & stopped the itching.

When my girls were babies, if they had nappy rash, I would usually use something similar to this baby butter blend. Often bath melts which are invariably cocoa butter based are good natural products to try.

 

[Gelly]

For my two sensitive skinned bubbas I loved the products from Earth Friendly Baby.
It was the only range that I tried which didn't irritate their skin.

Cyberstrawberry Earth Friendly Baby chamomile shampoo