skincare & natural products - baby

Many products are unnecessary or may contain potentially harmful ingredients. For example, your baby does not need soap - a few drops of natural bath oil will suffice. Likewise talcum powder is a product commonly used but is it necessary? What does it contain?

Naturally, it is best for baby to use chemical free products. There are some great natural products available but you need to check the labelling. A product may be marked as natural, even though it may only contain one or two natural ingredients. It may also contain a number of dubious ingredients.

Dubious ingredients:

The following are ingredients commonly found in baby and children’s products, hair products, skincare, soaps, toothpaste and makeup.

artificial colours diethanolamine (DEA) tiethanolamine (TEA) sodium lauryl or laureth sulphate (SLS) parabens

Sunscreen:

4-menthyl-benzylidene camphor Octyl methoxycinnamate Benzopthenone-3

I have reservations about using anything unnatural on my baby's skin, however I'm no expert. If you are unsure about any ingredients in products you purchase, check out these resources:

• In the United States, check out this Special Parents Guide to children's products, or
• This sunscreen summary - what works and what's safe?
• Search on the ingredients, brand or product in this Cosmetics Safety Database.
• Failing that, look up the ingredients in this Toxipedia.

Natural alternatives:

The types of products you may wish to consider are:

Babies:

baby massage oil natural nappy creams baby colic Powder baby teething Powder baby bath oil baby shampoo natural cornstarch powder baby suncream

Toddlers:

arnica cream (for bumps and bruises) natural toothpaste natural head lice treatments vitamin supplements

Natural, Homoeopathic or Herbal Products are available through Chemists, Health Food stores and Organics stores nationwide.
Most of these products are available through our webstore.

Vitamins and Minerals:

When considering supplements, check out this online A-Z.

Essential oils:

Aromatherapy is lovely to use with babies and children. For example, one drop of essential oil can be vaporised in a baby's room an hour before nap time.

Care needs to be taken when using any essential oils particularly for babies, children or during pregnancy. (http://www.aromatherapy.org.nz).

• Only use pure essential oils (not synthetic oils).
• Use only the recommended amount.
• Oils should never be taken internally.
• If in doubt consult a NZROHA Registered Professional Aromatherapist (http://www.aromatherapy.org.nz).

For professional advice and information about aromatherapy, refer to NZ Register of Holistic Aromatherapists web site .

For the medicinal uses of lavender, check out Lavender Impressions.

References:

1. http://www.preventcancer.com
2. Aromatherapy information: Eleanor Gibson, Dip. Aroma (IFPA)

Further Reading :

Environmental Working Group's Guide to Sunscreen (Cosmeticsdatabase.com)

Dealing with it Naturally - series of articles (Jill Dunn, Nourish) on cradle cap, ear problems, eczema, nappy rash, and teething

Creating Happy and Healthy Families With Homeopathy (NaturalParenting.
com.au)

The Cancer Prevention Coalition