A few questions that new mothers think of when it comes to their baby’s bathing routine.
- How often should I bathe my baby?
- Which soap is good for new born baby?
- Which baby soap is chemical free and safe for my baby’s tender skin?
- Will the soap have any side effects?
- Which soap is best for skin whitening for baby?
Paediatricians are of the opinion that new born babies should not be bathed daily. It’s best to bathe your baby once in three or four days. Once your baby starts crawling, you can regularly wash and clean the hands, feet, knees and elbows.
To know which baby soap is chemical free and safe for your baby’s tender skin, you need to have a clear idea of the chemicals used in making baby soap. The ingredients are generally common for all baby soaps, but some brands may use a few different ingredients. So, you need to carefully evaluate the properties and side effects of those ingredients before you use the soap on your baby.
In this blog, we’ll try to explore more about baby soaps, their ingredients, side effects and alternatives.
Gentle baby soap ingredients
If you look at the ingredients list of most of the popular brands of baby soaps, you will find all or most of the following ingredients listed.
- Sodium palmate
- Sodium palm kernelate
- Sodium chloride
- Titanium dioxide
- Dimethicone
- Disodium EDTA
- Disodium Etidronate
- Stearyl Alcohol
- C12-C15 Alkyl Benzoate
- Stearoxytrimethylysilane
- Tocopherol Acetate
- Hydrolysed Milk Protein
- Mineral oil
- Fragrance
- Glycerine
- Water
Baby soap side effects
| Sl.No | Ingredient | Possible side effects on skin |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sodium Palmate/ palm kernelate | It’s a synthetic formulation of soap (detergent surfactant), which is harsh on the skin. It’s also known to cause skin and eye irritation. |
| 2 | Dimethicone | It’s believed to cause allergic reactions indicated by itching, rashes and redness of skin. |
| 3 | Tocopherol Acetate | Synthetically produced compound that has a structure similar to that of Vitamin E. It could cause allergic reactions indicated by redness of skin or formation of rashes. |
| 4 | Mineral Oil | Petroleum is generally the mineral oil used in soaps. It’s known to clog pores and lead to decreased lung function. |
| 5 | Hydrolysed Milk Protein | It’s not actually real milk protein, but a synthetic formulation of casein, which is a milk protein. |
| 6 | Disodium EDTA & Disodium Etidronate | These preservative chemicals are not safe for sensitive skin. If your infant has eczema or dermatitis, then these chemicals could worsen them. |
| 7 | Stearoxytrimethylysilane | This chemical salt creates a coating over your baby’s skin, making it feel soft. But then the softness is temporary, but the clogging due to the coat could become permanent. |
| 8 | Titanium dioxide | Technically, it’s a bleach. It can clog the pores in your baby’s skin. |
All these commercial soaps create pictures of a beautiful baby with feather-soft skin. The soaps lather well and make your baby’s skin feel soft and downy. But the fact is that the chemicals used as ingredients in the baby soap could harm your infant’s skin in the long run. In fact, we don’t even know the extent of the side effects of these ingredients.
There are numerous soaps that promise to whiten the baby’s skin tone. These soaps may also not be safe for the baby’s skin. The skin colour is determined by genetics, skin pigment and environmental conditions. So, it’s best not to fall for colourful advertisements that promise white skin in just a few weeks. In most cases, the soap will have a bleaching agent that could reduce the intensity of the colour. But then, the results will not be long lasting. Even worse, they could be harmful for the tender skin. Choose soaps that give healthy skin rather than white skin.
So, whether you’re looking for a baby soap for fairness or skin softness, carefully consider the ingredients. An alternative is to go for herbal soaps.
What are herbal baby soaps?
Herbal baby soaps are made using carrier oils, essential oils and herbs. They will however contain a small amount of lye, which forms the soap base. You can make liquid soap using glycerine, carrier oils and herb-infused oils. But then these natural soaps will not lather like a commercial soap. You may feel that they are not cleansing enough. Don’t worry about it. Natural soaps have good cleansing action. Plus, they nourish the skin to make it healthy and glowing. Also, natural baby soaps will not have very strong fragrances. It’s because babies are very sensitive and strong scents could irritate them.
Benefits of herbal baby soap
The biggest benefit of herbal baby soap is that it’s made from natural and eco-friendly materials. It doesn’t have artificial colours, detergents, synthetic ingredients or fragrances. Herbal soap is gentle on your baby’s tender skin. At the same time, it’skind to the environment.
Natural soap offers deep cleansing, conditioning and nourishment. It enhances the innate strength and suppleness of the skin. The natural ingredients of herbal soap could help prevent skin ailments as your baby grows older.
A natural soap will have the mild scents of the herbs used in it. These fragrances are aromatherapeutic. The aromas of the herbs can relax and soothe the baby and invigorate the senses.
How to choose an herbal soap for baby?
We’ve just seen the harmful effects of commercial soap ingredients on your baby’s skin.
So, doesn’t that automatically mean that all the herbal soaps that you find in the market are good for your baby? No. There are a few things that you should check out when you browse for herbal baby soaps. Let’s look into them in detail.
Use of turmeric and other astringent herbs: The beneficial effects of turmeric have been well documented. However, too much of this astringent herb could be harsh on the baby’s delicate skin. So, ensure that the herbal soap doesn’t use too much of turmeric.
Lentil powders : Another popular ingredient used in herbal soaps are powders of Channa dal, moong dal and other lentils. It’s best if you prepare these powders at home using the dals. However, you need to do a test to check if your baby’s skin is not sensitive to the powder before you use it.
Seasonal herbs/body type: Certain herbs have ‘heating’ effect and certain herbs have ‘cooling’ effect. The herbs that are used in the soap should be suitable for the body type of your baby. In Ayurveda, body type is classified asvata, pitta and kapha. Just randomly using some herb will not give you beneficial results.
Get the best ayurvedic soap for babies
Commercial soaps have chemicals and herbal soaps need to be personalized! Are you feeling a little confused about what’s best for bathing your baby? If you’re looking for natural baby soap in India, we suggest you talk to an Ayurvedic practitioner to find out about your baby’s body types and the herbs that will best suit his/her body type. You can also check out organic soaps and homemade soaps to find a safe and reliable soap for bathing your baby.
Let your baby’s skin get herbal care with baby soaps from DermisLove. We source high quality herbal ingredients for each of our products and make our products under the care of proven industry experts.