Baby skin is more prone to rashes, dryness, irritation, and inflammation than adult skin. Therefore, babies need special care products, including soap and shampoo safe for baby's skin.
Because it is still thin and not fully developed, baby's skin is prone to irritation and infection if it is not cleaned properly. Therefore, Mothers should not be careless in cleaning the Little One's skin. The skin cleaning products used should also not be arbitrary.
Tips for Choosing Safe Soap and Shampoo for Babies
Mothers need to be careful in choosing baby body cleansing products, namely baby soap and shampoo. If you use the wrong product, baby soap and shampoo can irritate the skin.
The following are tips that you can apply in choosing soap and shampoo that are safe for babies:
1. Pay attention to the content on the packaging
When buying soap, shampoo, and other baby care products, you have to make sure what substances are contained in them.
Choose a soap or shampoo with the least amount of dyes, fragrances, and detergents, as these can irritate your baby's skin. Also, choose baby soaps and shampoos that don't contain:
- antiseptic
- Deodorant
- Sodium Laureth Sulfate
- Sodium lauryl sulfate
- Phthalates
- Parabens
Using baby soap or shampoo that contains the above ingredients will increase the baby's risk of developing skin problems.
2. Choose products made from natural ingredients
Natural-based skin care products are generally safe for babies. However, if your mother, father, or other family members have allergies to certain natural ingredients, avoid using products with these ingredients without consulting your doctor first. Because it could be, your little one also has an allergy to these ingredients.
3. Safe from allergies
Choose baby care products labeled "hypoallergenic" on the packaging. That means the product contains substances that are safe for baby's skin and are unlikely to cause allergies.
However, it is undeniable that every baby has a different skin condition. Using baby care products marked "hypoallergenic" That doesn't mean your little one will be free from allergies. But at the very least, the chances will be less.
4. Safe for cradle cap
Cradle cap or crust of the head is a condition characterized by the appearance of yellow scales on the scalp or around the ears, eyebrows, eyelids, and armpits of babies. This condition usually goes away on its own within a few weeks.
But if cradle cap does not go away or is difficult to clean, you can clean it with baby shampoo made from gentle and free from irritating ingredients, such as perfume or dye.
How to bathe a baby the right way
Babies can be bathed in a special baby bath when he is able to support his own body to sit, or when he is around 6 months old.
The baby should not be bathed too often or too long. For babies under 1 year old, just bathe 2-3 times a week, with a maximum duration of 5 minutes each time. Bathing too often or too long can make the skin dry.
The following is the correct way to bathe a baby:
- Prepare all the toiletries that will be used, such as soap, shampoo, bathtub, washcloth, dipper, and towels.
- Fill the tub with enough warm water. The water temperature should not exceed 38 degrees Celsius.
- Remove the baby's clothes, then slowly put him in the tub. Position the baby almost sitting up, supporting his head and neck with one hand.
- Start by washing the baby's face. Gently clean the face and the area near the eyes, using a soft cloth dampened in warm water.
- After that, add a little baby soap to the washcloth and clean the baby's body. For body parts that are often covered with diapers, clean last. After that rinse thoroughly.
- After cleaning the baby's body, proceed to the hair. Drop a small amount of shampoo on the baby's head, then rub his hair gently in a circular motion. When it feels clean enough, rinse the head. Do this carefully so that the rinse water does not get into the baby's eyes.
- When everything is done, wipe the baby with a soft towel to dry. Gently lift the baby out of the tub by supporting his neck and head, then lay him down on a mattress that has been covered with a towel.
- Dry the baby's body by gently patting the towel against his skin. Slide the wet towel over, then put on the diaper, shirt, and pants.
How to bathe a baby above is not recommended for babies who are under 1 month old and the umbilical cord has not been separated. Wait about 1-4 weeks for the umbilical cord to come off and the wound is completely dry.
Likewise with newly circumcised babies. Avoid bathing the baby in the bath before the circumcision scar has completely healed. Simply clean your little one's body with a soft cloth or sponge that has been moistened with warm water.
If you are still in doubt, ask your pediatrician about when your little one can be bathed and what is a safe way to bathe him. In addition, ask for shampoos and soaps that are safe for baby's skin.
