Whether you are looking for baby oil, hair & body wash, bubble bath products, baby moisturiser or baby’s nappy cream we have a great range of baby toiletries that are perfect to care for sensitive skin.
Plus reusable wipes so you can cut down on cotton wool and daily care essentials like toothbrushes and toothpaste that are perfect for babies & toddlers.
When Should You First Bathe a Newborn?
Mmmmm! That newborn smell, it’s totally worth all of those horrible pregnancy symptoms, am I right?! Babies smell delicious and you don’t need baby toiletries for that natural smell. That’s not just our opinion; it’s fact.
We read it somewhere.
Some clever people took themselves off and measured how women’s brains reacted to sniffing some babies. Might seem a bit of a weird request if you’re not accustomed to smelling babies, but you can totally sign us up for the job!
Turns out the newborn smell triggers the same dopamine release and pleasure-reward response that occurs in addictions. So, when some of your friends rave on about how they’re ‘totally addicted to babies!’ then they might just be. Keep an extra close eye on your little one.
So, what makes them so intoxicating?! Well, researchers believe the smell is down to the leftover amniotic fluid & vernix caseosa (that cheesy white coating covering your newborn).
While some of this coating can be wiped off after delivery, some will remain in skin folds and hair, continuing to provoke powerful protective instincts in the mother.
Don’t rush to wash it away – it’s nature’s way of promoting maternal care and bonding. In fact, a good deep sniff may just help carry you through that exhausting newborn period. A great reason to delay the baby’s first bath!
Another important reason to retain as much of the vernix caseosa as possible is that it provides several protective mechanisms for your baby. For a start, it forms a kind of waterproofing layer to prevent the skin from drying out.
It also contains antimicrobial, immunological and anti-inflammatory factors which protect against infection and skin injury. Studies show that vernix retention also results in a lower skin pH, which suggests it assists in the development of the ‘acid mantle’ – a slightly acidic film on the surface of the skin that acts as a barrier to infection.
The acid mantle can take several weeks to develop in an infant, and months to fully mature. Vernix retention offers protection during this period. In fact, the goal of the first bath should be to remove unwanted soil such as blood and meconium and to leave residual vernix intact.
The vernix isn’t the only thing covering your newborn. Your baby’s skin is also being colonised by bacteria, developing what is known as a microbiome.
During the first days after birth, the developing skin environment stimulates the growth of some bacteria and limits the growth of others. This microbial skin colonisation is important to your baby’s immune system and has long term implications for your little one’s health.
Your baby’s microbiome will be determined by several things – pregnancy, birth, diet, and environment. It continues to evolve over the first year of life but we’re not suggesting you delay baths for that long; giving it a chance to become established in those first days and weeks without much interference would be a good idea though.
All that said, when should you first bathe your baby??
Well, honestly, there aren’t any hard and fast rules.
Babies don’t really get dirty. They poop and spit up, yes; but these messes are localised and can be wiped off. Babies don’t sweat. They aren’t rolling around in the mud. They aren’t really doing anything at all to get dirty!
Topping and tailing – washing face, neck, hands and bottom with a cloth – is totally adequate while your baby is still in your arms. Once they are on solids and rubbing spag bol in their hair, or crawling around on dirty floors (no judgement here), then a proper bath will probably be necessary.
But only use natural baby toiletries and bath products. So, if your little one isn’t a fan of baths, don’t sweat it. If you have a little water baby on the other hand, a bath once or twice a week is ok.
Bathing too frequently can actually do more harm than good – remember that microbiome! If you were planning a bath as part of a bedtime routine maybe consider some baby massage instead. It’s a great way to promote bonding, relaxation and aid digestion.
A great recipe for a good night’s sleep!
Bathing your new baby should be something that both you and your baby should enjoy but it’s not necessary, at least for the first few weeks. There are many natural baby toiletries like mild hypoallergenic soap made just for babies that you can use for your baby’s first bath.
When Can You Use Bath Products on a Baby?
Babies are born with an ‘incompetent’ skin barrier. Simply put, infant skin isn’t as good at keeping things out or keeping things in. Meaning that transdermal absorption of whatever you apply onto the skin occurs much more readily.
Likewise, the cleansers you use can more easily strip water and lipids from the skin; resulting in dryness and irritation, as well as an ineffective skin barrier. So be careful when you apply baby toiletries, and which ones you apply!
Adult skin ranges from anywhere between 0.5mm to 1.5mm in thickness. So, not very thick. Infant skin is even thinner! Up to a fifth thinner in fact. Mind. Blown.
A thin, immature and therefore poorly functioning barrier means that whatever is applied to the skin may get absorbed into the blood. What’s more, the detoxing mechanisms of the skin are not yet fully operational in a baby, so any toxic compounds absorbed aren’t broken down and detoxed before reaching the blood.
There’s much debate as to just when a baby’s skin is developed enough to tolerate topical products such as cleansers and creams. What everyone is in agreement with though, is that plain water is adequate to wash your newborn.
By 4 weeks a healthy baby born at term should be able to tolerate mild cleansers well. If your baby was premature, then it’s recommended you hold off until your baby is 6-8 weeks old. Waiting even longer is ok too!
As we mention in our ‘when to bathe a newborn’ guide, young babies just don’t get very dirty and don’t need all that much in the way of bathing. The culture around how to care for your baby is changing and guidelines are being rethought as we slowly recognise the need to respect nature’s evolutionary mechanisms for protecting our babies.
Where once we would be washing babies in hospital grade cleansers immediately after birth, now we are being told to just leave babies to absorb the fluids they were born in!
We’re trying to encourage the growth of (good) bacteria on their skin, to set them up with a microbiome that will protect them through life. Unnecessary washing with harsh cleansers is at odds with those recommendations.
If you’ve ever read the ingredients list on any of your toiletries while hanging out in the tub, then you’ll know there is something like a zillion ingredients in the average store-bought personal care product.
Most of which you can’t pronounce.
Many of these ingredients have been linked to a myriad of health concerns, including, allergies, hormone disruption and cancers. You’ll want to go ahead and avoid most of these for your little one.
For several years at least, since skin continues to mature throughout childhood. Better yet, avoid them forever. No one wants those nasties on or in their bodies.
Thankfully people are waking up to the importance of clean living! There are now lots of fantastic, non-toxic personal care products out there for both baby and you!
Here at BabaMe HQ, we take time to research our products to try & bring 100% natural living to our customers. Natural & sustainable is at the heart of our ethos, and we aim to only stock products from companies who share these values.
Hopefully, you discover a love for these products as we have, as we really do believe that everyone can benefit from reducing toxins in their lives!
What baby toiletries do I need?
Well, that really depends on how old your little cherub is! Newborns really don’t need very much at all, while older babies and young children are usually always covered in food, vomit, snot & poop. Often all at once. So, yeah, baby toiletries are a good idea in that case. A really good idea.
But don’t rush out to buy one of everything just yet! Take a look at our list of baby ‘must haves’; we’ve also included a few links to our favourite products, so take a peek at those too!
The ‘Must Haves’ Baby Toiletries
Eat.Sleep.Poop.Repeat. Again and again…and again! Here’s a list of essential toiletries every baby human will need!
Nappies & Wipes
Unless you’re opting to practice Elimination Communication, then your baby’s bum is going to need a nappy! Most modern nappies use breathable plastic layers to decrease wetness – but not all. So, check before you buy. Better yet, go check out our reusable cloth nappies. Nice breathable fibres next to baby’s skin, no plastic sent to landfill and less money spent on your weekly grocery shop!
The recommendation is to stick to plain water and cotton wool in those first few days and weeks. A baby’s skin can take up to 4 weeks (longer in prematurity) to develop sufficient barrier function to tolerate and respond well to cleansing products.
After this time though you’ll probably want to switch to wipes. Anyone involved in childcare will know that wipes are used for much more than just bums. Spit up. Sticky Hands. Rogue marks on clothes. Wipes are life in the world of parents.
Unfortunately, most wipes contain preservatives like thiazones and alcohols which are known to irritate skin, as well as being reported to be carcinogenic. Always opt for the most natural ingredients in your wipes.
Biodegradable too if possible. Better yet, get reusable cloth wipes. The extra grip on their surface lifts poop much more easily than disposable wipes and results in a much quicker and cleaner nappy change too!
Products we love: Jackson Reece Baby Wipes
Little Lambs Bamboo Reusable Wipes
Love that bum
High humidity in the nappy area will decrease the skins barrier function. Add in some pee and poop, often so acidic and green it looks radioactive (thanks teeth), & it’s a recipe for inflammation and angry sores.
A good bum cream is really important. For one thing, inflamed or broken skin isn’t a very good barrier, so whatever you use needs to be totally non-toxic (since there’s a chance it may be absorbed).
Secondly, nappies and their contents are a recipe for infection, which inflamed skin has a harder time keeping at bay. So, you’ll want a cream that acts quickly to heal the skin and give that oh so soft baby bum that we hear so much about.
Zinc based creams work great at drying out and healing soggy inflamed skin. Zinc itself is important in wound healing but also works well as a protective barrier between the skin and nappy environment.
BUT beware!
Zinc will destroy your cloth nappies.
It’ll clog up those fibres making them useless at absorbing. Opt for a cream or balm which contains an oil or butter that melts in a 60 degree wash instead. Beeswax, Shea butter, Olive Oil, Coconut oil and so on – all good.
Or if you’re dealing with a really bad case of nappy rash and need some heavy-duty creams, you could consider using an eco-disposable nappy while the skin heals, or even a disposable liner or insert in your cloth nappies.
Products we love: Lyonsleaf Zinc & Calendula balm
Burts Bees Multipurpose Ointment (Cloth friendly).
Newborns and small babies don’t really need much in the way of cleaning. In fact, cleansing the skin too often can do more harm than good. Read more on that here: ‘When should you first bathe a newborn?’
Older babies and children can get pretty gross though, so please do clean them as needed! Your choice of cleanser is important since these are formulated to dissolve or ‘emulsify’ dirt and grime.
Unfortunately, these cleansers can also emulsify the lipids within the outer layer of skin, stripping them, along with moisture, from the skin. This results in irritation, inflammation, reduced barrier function and dry skin. So, remember our #1 Rule: Keep it Natural! Avoid harsh chemicals and fragrances. Simple, gentle and non-toxic products clean just as well, while also nourishing your little one’s skin.
Products we love: Trevarno Baby Cleanser
Burts Bees Buttermilk Baby soap
There’s an oil for that…
We do love a good essential oil, but no, that’s not what we mean. (Incidentally, we suggest keeping the essential oils for older children!) We’re talking the massage, moisturising, cradle cap busting, sticky poop removing type of oil. A
nd the beauty of this all-rounder is that it can be one of the cheapest in your baby cleaning arsenal. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You just need it to be safe, non-toxic and effective!
A plain, food grade oil like olive oil can work wonders. It can help remove flaking newborn skin, be used to treat cradle cap, help remove stubborn poop from bums and even for some baby massage.
Although I’ll concede, a baby covered in olive oil may not be quite as nice smelling like some of the other oils on offer! It’s also important to note that early exposure to some plant or nut oils may contribute to the development of allergies.
Definitely avoid oils made from anything there is a family history of allergy to. As with all products, introduce them slowly and keep exposure to a minimum until allergy is ruled out!
Products we love: Balm Balm fragrance free body oil
Take care of those toothy pegs!
Oral hygiene should really begin before that first tooth even erupts! A baby’s mouth can become colonised by whatever bacteria that makes its way in there. It’s a good idea not to share cutlery or cups with babies and children so as to avoid transferring any cariogenic (decay causing) bacteria to them.
This includes blowing on hot food or kissing them on the mouth. I know, who doesn’t want to shower their babies in kisses! But little toes and chubby cheeks are just as kissable!
Using dental wipes on gums and silicone brushes, combined with a natural, safe and edible toothpaste (formulated especially for babies and children) as soon as that first tooth erupts will give your child the best chance of developing and maintaining good oral hygiene.
Products we love: Jack ‘N’ Jills Dental wipes
Jack ‘N’ Jills Toothpaste
Natural Baby & Toddler Toiletries
Your baby’s skin is delicate and precious and needs to be looked after using products that care, nourish and protect.
Our gorgeous range of natural newborn toiletries will do just that using all natural ingredients, most of which are fair-trade and dermatologically tested, come from sustainable sources, are eco-friendly and vegan-friendly. Your baby’s hair and skin care products should help them stay naturally soft and nourished.
Organic newborn toiletries and natural baby products to help you look after your baby’s delicate skin. Natural newborn toiletries and baby skincare products make thoughtful gifts for new families.
Whether you’re using disposable nappies or cloth nappies your newborn’s bottom needs to be carefully looked after to ensure they remain clean and comfortable.
Jackson Reece wipes contain Aloe Vera, Tea Tree Oil, and Lavender essential oils, they are soothing, cooling and hydrating for even the most sensitive skin. The wipes contain absolutely no nasty chemicals, Parabens, SLS or alcohol and even leave your hands feeling hydrated and non-sticky.
All babies are prone to nappy rash, this uncomfortable skin condition can be irritating and sore, to treat, find a mild nappy cream such as our Balm Balm balm or the cream from Bia beauty. The Bia Beauty cream combines Calendula Oil, Evening Primrose Oil, Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, and Jojoba Oil with Zinc Oxide to provide a moisturising, antiseptic, healing effect.
These earth friendly baby calming and soothing creams are mild enough for use on a newborn’s skin and act as a moisturiser and then as a barrier to ensure skin stays fresh. Another use for these soothing creams and nappy care ointment is for dribble rash under your child’s chin when they’re teething
A baby bedtime routine has become a staple in many households to help babies and children relax before they go to bed. This routine often involves a bedtime bath or head to toe wash followed by a massage, a story then bed. In the bath kids love bubbles, they smell wonderful and are fun to play with.
Take a look at the all-natural Burt’s Bees bubble bath. The nourishing plant-based formula is combined with soy protein, glycerine and vanilla extract to ensure children’s skin is left soft whilst the sweet scent is calming.
After a bath small babies enjoy a massage. This is a great chance for parents to bond with their newborn whilst ensuring their skin is soft and cared for. Our Trevarno baby bath and massage oil is made using Olive and Almond oil to moisturise, and Lavender and Chamomile essential oils help to relax and soothe, making this lovely product perfect for use before bedtime.
An alternative to oil is a lotion or cleanser. Storksak organics’ baby lotion is made using all natural and organic ingredients including Aloe Vera and Marine kelp which are perfect for ensuring even the most sensitive skin stays moisturised and hydrated.
The gorgeous Burt’s bees organic newborn toiletries gift sets come in a large set and a travel-size skincare set containing shampoo, body wash, lotion and nappy cream. These sets make a lovely christening or baby shower gift.
Our natural and organic baby products contain no nasty chemicals though you should always check the ingredients list for allergens and information on if the product is vegan and vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free and fragrance-free.
