Baby bath products

[PretzelPrincess]

So someone has bought us a kit of Johnson's baby products. I just assumed that I would use these but have been smelling them etc and they seem overly perfumed and not delicate enough for newborn skin.

What did/do you use? As a moisturiser and as a soap/wash?

[IShallCallYouSquishy]

With DD I found all "baby" products irritated her skin and even now at 22 months I don't use anything other than plain old water and oilatum cream (prescribed) and Dentinox cradle cap shampoo. She's fine with baby wipes on her bum and bits though oddly enough.

With 4 week old DS I've not even tried to use products. He's only had a few baths and they've been plain water. Cotton wool and water or found the Huggies pure wipes are only things not to make his bum and bits red.

I might just have sensitive skin children though!

But to he honest, all you really need is water and cotton wool/flannels. Baby skin is so delicate and new why put chemicals on it?

[McFox]

I wouldn't use the J&J stuff either, it's full of unnecessary chemicals. My baby isn't here yet, but what I plan to use is what I use for myself, and has been well received by friends with newborns. Its a simple mixture of Castile soap, sweet almond oil, water and lavender essential oil. Very natural, smells lovely and takes 2 minutes to make.

You can also use sweet almond oil or raw coconut oil as a baby moisturiser. You can pick them both up cheaply in Holland & Barrett.

[SqutterNutBaush]

Same as Squishy here, endless issues with DS skin so only used water until 8 weeks with DD and have used goats milk soap since if desperate I do put a bit if goats milk cream on but its not a regular occurrence.

I get ours from thegamriegoat website :)

Coconut oil is also a great nappy rash treatment as is chamomile tea, we tend to soak our cloth wipes in the tea when she has a sore patch as its soothing.

[PretzelPrincess]

I was planning on using almond oil, I use it on myself and it's lovely and so versatile!
My DS is 2 weeks old and so far has been bathed in water and I've only used water and cotton wool to clean him too. The smell of wipes etc just shows how many chemicals are in there. Totally puts me off. Only thing is now he has q dry skin so want to start massages etc. Plus I would q like to add something to his bath soon. Just not sure what

[noblegiraffe]

Just water is fine for ages. My dd had lots of hair which got greasy so I started using shampoo on it, but I used Mum and Me rather than Johnsons as it has a pump dispenser so you can get the shampoo out easily with one hand. Smells nicer too.

[SqutterNutBaush]

Halo's n Horns are SLS/Paraben free, we use the melon shampoo and its lovely.

They do a baby bath or all in one wash too.

[Cariad007]

DS has v dry flaky skin so I use a small amount of oilatum in his bath and sweet almond oil after. He tends to sweat a lot on his head too so I have a v mild organic shampoo/ body wash from Boots for washing his hair. I do love the smell of J&J baby shampoo and lotion but don't want to use such fragranced products on his skin.

[winkywinkola]

Johnsons is horrible stuff. Sorry.

Neal's Yard is lovely. Really gentle yet soothing and rich.

[Only1scoop]

The German range Weleda is lovely.

[SomethingOnce]

I'd also avoid anything with SLS in.

Weleda baby stuff is nice and I love Neal's Yard barrier cream.

[Jo1984uk]

We use the perfume free organic babies range, it's brilliant.

[callamia]

I still use mainly just water on five month old DS. He tries to drink bath water and eat flannels, so the nearer we are to just water, the better!
We've got some stuff from purenuffstuff who I would totally recommend. Their shop is in Cornwall, but they have an online shop too. The nappy cream and baby oil is the best.

I avoid anything with mineral oil or loads of chemicals - there just no need for them. Have you tried baby lotion on your own face? It stings like anything - so it's not going on my baby!