Green Your Baby's Bath
The first bath with a new baby can be a nerve-wracking experience. Newborn babies are so small and wiggly as it is — get them wet and it seems almost impossible to hold on to their slippery little bodies. But after a few tries, you will probably master the art of gently cleansing your baby in the bathtub.
When babies are first born they are usually covered in a creamy white coating called the vernix caseosa, a collection of dead cells and mucus that cover him throughout your pregnancy. If you deliver your baby in a hospital or birthing center, he will probably be given his first bath immediately after birth. A gentle bath with warm water will help remove blood and other fluids while leaving the vernix intact. Once he is dried off, massage the vernix coating into your baby's skin to keep it soft and protected. If you have had a cesarean delivery, or if you and your partner are not able to bathe your baby yourselves, request that the hospital staff sponge your baby off with warm water only, leaving the vernix intact.
Never leave your baby unsupervised, even for a minute. A baby can drown in under once inch of water, and in less than sixty seconds. If the doorbell or phone rings and you feel you must answer it, scoop him up in a towel and take him with you.
For your baby's first few weeks, you will probably only need warm water to get her clean. If she is particularly dirty, you might try using a small amount of a mild, nontoxic baby wash. Look for dye-free, fragrance-free baby skin care products that contain the least amount of harmful chemicals. Here's how to choose the safest skin care products for your baby:
Read the label: You don't have to have a degree in chemistry to know that skin care products with a long list of chemical ingredients are probably bad for your baby's delicate skin. Look for products with just a few simple ingredients. If the ingredient list is long, or if you cannot pronounce most of the ingredients on the list, you should pass. Steer clear of products that contain parabens, phthalates, petroleum byproducts (like petrolatum or petroleum distillates), sodium laurel sulfate, and triclosan, as these chemicals can irritate a baby's skin and immune system.
Go fragrance free: Fragrances and dyes are harsh chemicals that could irritate a baby's delicate skin and immune system. Choose products that are free of these toxins.
Go organic: Organic skin care products are free of pesticides, genetically modified ingredients, and other toxic residues that can be harmful to a young infant. While personal care products themselves cannot be certified as organic, a product can bear the organic label if it contains primarily organic ingredients (like avocado or olive oil).
No animal testing: Look for baby skin care products that carry the Leaping Bunny logo indicating that they have never been tested on animals.
Baby Skincare Products
The next time you are browsing in the baby aisle of your favorite store, take a look at how many different types of soaps, cream, lotions, and potions are made to care for a baby's skin. Just how many of these products will your baby really need? Keep your vanity stocked with the following products and you will have all you need to care for your baby's skin:
Baby-safe sunscreen
Diaper cream
Mild liquid soap
Natural baby lotion
These four items are all you need to keep your baby's skin clean, soft, and sweet-smelling.
