Not all soaps are baby-friendly! Harsh ingredients can irritate delicate skin. Here’s how to choose the right bath soap and cleanser to keep your little one’s skin soft, radiant, and healthy.
WORDS LIM TECK CHOON
 FEATURED EXPERTDR HEAH SHEAU SZU Paediatric Dermatologist Sunway Medical Centre |
#1 AVOID USING PRODUCTS THAT CAN HARM THE BABY’S SKIN
Dr Heah Sheau Szu recommends avoiding products with active ingredients that can cause dryness and allergies to your baby’s skin.
Common Active Ingredients to Avoid
Read the product labels to be sure before buying, and watch out for:
- Sodium lauryl sulphate
- Sodium lauryl ether sulphate
- Cocamide DEA
- Dimethylol-dimethyl
- Methyl-isothiazolinone
- Parabens
“For babies who are allergic to fragrances, avoid buying products that contain perfume, fragrance, benzyl alcohol, and ethanol,” Dr Heah adds.
#2 BE CAREFUL WHEN IT COMES TO FOAM BATH PRODUCTS
Many parents prefer to purchase foam bath products for the family because they assume that these products are better at keeping the skin clean.
However, Dr Heah points out that, the more the foam, the more active ingredients are contained in the product.
“These active ingredients can further thin the protective skin layer on the baby’s body, causing their skin to become dry and rough.”
Hence, she recommends parents to avoid using products that produce a lot of foam and have a high level of alkali.
#3 USE SOAP OR BATH CREAM ONLY ONCE A DAY
“Using a large amount will cause allergies due to the soap or cream left on their skin,” explains Dr Heah.
She recommends using soap or bath cream once a day and use clean water for bathtimes for the rest of day.
#4 BATHE YOUR BABY CORRECTLY
- Put an appropriate amount of bath soap on the palm of your hand and add a little water.
- Place into a bathtub and bathe your baby with clean water.
- If your kid has sensitive skin or eczema, use a thermometer to make sure that the bath water isn’t higher than 36°C or 37°C.
- Clean your baby after the bath, making sure that there is no trace of soap left on their skin.
#5 WATCH OUT FOR SIGNS OF ALLERGY
Dr Heah shares that, usually, allergy symptoms would not appear after using a certain product once or twice. Instead, these symptoms may only appear after a few weeks or months.
Symptoms to Watch Out For
|
Over time, the allergy may worsen. When this happens, the baby’s skin may redden, and the poor dear can experience pain.
The skin may also become itchy, causing the baby to scratch until the skin peels and bleeds, leaving them vulnerable to infections and other complications.
Hence, Dr Heah advises parents to consult a paediatrician when these symptoms first appear on their babies.
| This article is part of our series on a child’s healthy growth and development. |
