baby toiletries

[amoney]

reading lots of conflicting advice (just water / no wipes etc) so thought i'd ask all of you experienced mums... in terms of toiletries etc, what exactly do you need for a newborn baby?

Cheers

They say not to use wipes but everyone does! Get frangrance free sensitive wipes in case your LO has sensitive skin, but get cotton wool too. Cotton wool makes it really difficult to clean up those first sticky poos so I've only ever used it to clean DD's eyes.

I also heard you weren't supposed to use baby bath either but the MW in the hospital who showed mehow to bath DD used it so I did too.

DD has cradle cap so I can't use baby lotion on her head and face and have found nipple cream is best !

I've never needed nappy rash cream either.

We always used a bit of baby bath to wash the baby in - whether it's a full bath or just to top and tail them - we found plain water didn't get rid of the lovely sicky smell that seems to linger in neck creases!
In hospital, we were told not to bring in baby wipes, and to only use cotton wool and water. With dc3, we did take some wipes in, and they made dealing with those first poos so much easier!

I always use huggies fragrance free and take them into hozzie despite being told off in the past. Its far easier when you have a crying baby and a smelly bum lol. It supposed to be gentler, but not practical always.

As Op said, cotton wool for sticky eyes, baby bath (they use it in our hospital too but never heard not to use it anyway) baby shampoo, and a little sudocrem just in case of nappy rash. All mine have had it :( I don't think they advocate using talc now, would have to check up on it.

Other than that I don't use anything different, unless they get nappy rash badly, in which case they usually recommend whats best at the time. :)

thanks all, this really helps

Can you use a flannel to deal with the first sticky poos instead of cotton wool? If baby wipes are frowned upon and cotton wool is a bit useless it sounds like a wet flannel might work - otherwise known as reusable baby wipes..?

Cotton wool and water for bum, but I always brought sneaky baby wipes in for those really sticky poos. I didn't bring baby bath in, but I know the Bounty packs, give a sample of Johnstons top to toe.

DD2 was very cradlecappy and the midwife added some olive oil to her bath for me which was fab. The cotton wool was also really handy for putting in the nappy to check the baby had done a wee, it can be hard to tell with some nappies and our hospital didn't discharge until baby had weed and pooed. Unfortunately you knew right away with the pooing

TBH I didn't use wipes or baby bath, just cotton wool and water. And olive oil a bit later.

(This might have something to do with the fact that I'm allergic to sensitive baby bath, wipes etc and I was worried that DCs would be too. As it is, one has a bad skin reaction to wipes (even the sensitive ones) and baby bath.)

I would really try and use just cotton wool and water for the first couple of weeks. Newborn skin is very delicate.
There really is no need for baby bath until they are a bit older and actually getting dirty, and even then it should be used sparingly only when really needed. The last thing you want to be dealing (on top of everything else) with is eczema or skin allergies.

I would say you need:

LOADS of cotton wool (good, thick balls)
Wipes for when you decide to use
Flannels
Sudocreme
Olive oil

That should do for a good few weeks.

This is a subject close to my heart as my background is in this industry and I've worked for organic skincare companies for many years and done a lot of research.

Please only use water on a newborns skin, for baths and nappy changes. There is absolutely no need for wipes, baby bath, baby wash etc. and it can be really damaging.

The only products on the market that I would be happy to use on my baby's skin are by The Green People and Halos n Horns.

Unfortunately a lot of companies have jumped on the Halos bandwagon and offer 'organic' or baby friendly washes/baths etc but when I look at the ingredients listing on the back of their packs there is still some nasty stuff in them.

Plain old olive oil as someone else mentioned is great too.

I've bought a few packs of these but yet to try them out (due 5th March so will let you know after that!)

www.amazon.co.uk/DermaH2O-WaterWipes-Pack-Baby-Wipes/dp/B002J95UB4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1294754233&sr=8-1

I agree with LoopyLoops and Believe in Life, you don't need any products for a baby at all. I bought stuff and ended up binning it cause I hadn't used it. All you need is cotton wool and warm water, and sudocrem in case of a rash. Tesco do large cotton wool balls in big packs on a 3 for 2 offer that are good.

Burts Bees baby bee stuff is also really skin kind and has no nasties in it but is quite expensive so is worth asking for as pressies if someone wants to know what to get you.

Some Burts Bees baby stuff does contain fragrance actually, so I would avoid that too. It's a totally unnecessary ingredient and potentially irritating.

That's the problem with this industry, is that to the lay consumer words like natural, organic, pure makes them think "ooh great, all fine" when actually the ingredients list tell a different tale.

Does it, gosh, I thought it was ok. I have to say my little one has been ok with it but I've only used it on him after six months. I did wonder with it having "no tears" on the bottle though.

We usually use either halo & horns or Green people stuff anyway, £10 for shampoo is a bit much for me.

I do agree that you don't really need anything apart from water and we didn't use anything else until we started weaning. Cotton wool and water instead of wipes is so much cheaper for nappies as well.

luke warm water and cotton wool for changing and then airing for a while (leaving without nappy)

first signs of nappy rash - sudocrem but make sure skin is very dry otherwise you will make it worse (also very frequent nappy changing will help a lot, plus the 'airing')

many babies have sensitive skin so no bath products except things like junior oilatum and similar (make sure doesn't get in eyes)

we only used wipes when we went out and about but not at home

you might want to get infacol in case of colics when baby is about 8 weeks

if breastfeeding Lanolin is brilliant for sore nipples, you can also get special gel pads which can be used hot or cold when you become engorged or mastitis

IMO no need to spend money on special baby products, just marketing and not so good for baby's skin, also be careful with laundry detergent (use non-bio and very small amounts and if baby has sensitive skin wash everything first with detergent and then again without detergent)

do not use olive oil or aqueous cream if baby has atopic eczema as it will make it worse (blocks pores)

Good luck

For bath time I used to tie a handful of oats in a muslin & put just that in the bath. It keeps their skin beautifully soft & keeps excema at bay.
In my experience Johnsons products are particularly bad at drying out their skin.

Whatever you decide to use, the biggest thing is to make sure they are properly dry (especially in all the creases) before you dress them.

So much helpful advice, cheers all

I love this range too

I'd join those people suggesting you avoid baby wipes with a newborn, no not every one uses them, and if you put a wee bit of petroleum jelly on your DCs bum when they are first born then those first sticky poos will slide off with just water and cotton wool. Even now with DS at 16 months I only use wipes if we're out or to take off the worst of a horrid poo and then we finish up with plenty of water and cotton wool. If you're not convinced I suggest you try one on your 'sensitive' regions and find out how much they sting. Horrid. Plus they are full of parabens and other highly dubious chemicals which have been linked to - well cancer frankly as well as a host of growth and hormone disorders because they are fat soluble so build up in the body.
You definitely don't need baby bath because it strips the skin and unless your baby has a headful of hair you won't need shampoo for months. And avoid cradle cap shampoo DS got awful burns from that crud. Even now we just use Oilatum as an emolient in the bath to stop the water stripping the oils from his skin and also some shampoo once or twice a week and I wouldn't use much more. Newborns smell lovely enough without half of Superdrug tipped over them.

Hi, sorry to highjack this thread, but you all seem very knowledgeable about these things so i was hoping you could help me too!

I live in Africa and we can only get biological washing powder. Well, i did find baby handwashing powder - does anyone know how hand wash powder is different to machine powder? I know it foams a lot more, having accidentally used it once, but can you use it regularly in a machine?

I'm currently 36 weeks and am starting the washing/sorting process for the baby clothes and nappies. We've been given/lent loads of clothes and also a few new ones, and we've got new reuseable nappies.

I was thinking that i would wash them all first with a little powder and then a second time with nothing. Do you think that would be ok, but that's just for this pre-baby wash, any advice for the regular washing?

Thanks very much

dikkert babies aren't really born with sensitive skin as such, it's delicate but usually only sensitised by our doing.

Johnsons products AWFUL don't get me started on what's in them...wouldn't put them near my own skin let alone a newborns. But that's what huge marketing budgets do for you - everyone thinks Johnson's is a given!

Oilatum ok, but not really necessary unless you are treating a skin condition. Olive oil far better. Water alone won't strip anything from a newborns skin so it's not necessary to protect against that.

Canoe can't help I'm afraid, maybe you can use the hand wash powder in the machine but in a smaller quantity?

Waitrose do a baby range of toiletries that we've used with DS. They are paraben and sodium laureth-etc free and only have natural ingredients. They're surprisingly well-priced too, around £3 each and it lasts for ages (no, I don't work for Waitrose!).

For the first two months we didn't use anything at all, just cotton wool, water and light olive oil. I've also found that cottom wool pads are much better for nappy changes than the balls, as they hold together better when doing dry wipes.

We got given a 'toolbox' of Johnson's toiletries and it makes a wonderful footstool to use while BFing :o

The Waitrose ones sound good AKMD, wonder if they sell them online? I don't have a Waitrose near me but often have Ocado deliveries.

What are they called?

Agree with GruffalosGirl that £10 is expensive for a shampoo and body wash. Halos is well priced I think but can be quite hard to get hold of.

We use our free Bounty plastic box that contained nappy wipes as a container to hold the water for nappy changes :o Oh yes and definitely buy cotton pads not balls. Much better. And finally yes we use Oilatum because DS has skin issues, hence we're now so careful about what we put on his skin.

canoe I used non-bio to start with then when it never got stains out used ordinary bio again. DD never reacted, and she wears Terry nappies too. If I were you I'd use the bio stuff, then if your LO does react, you can change. Just make sure your washing machine rinses well.

See the poor girl is now all confused as to whether she is harming her baby by using Johnsons, or not being clean enough by not lol.

I personally have always used Johnsons as have all my family on delicate baby skin and never had a problem. Thats not to say I won't and I have known people that do but that doesn't make me wrong for using it. Reading this thread now, I feel like I have had my hand well and truly slapped. But At the end of the day its our choice.

Interestingly there are more allergies and sensitive skins now than there were years ago, because of people being over clean and too careful. not just with baby toiletries but house cleaning lotions and bleaches etc. If you haven't got a family history of it, I wouldn't worry too much. Apart from putting baby clothes in the wash by themselves, I have never done anything different to how I would with the rest of the family. That way they get used to things.

Oilatum is good, but really only for sensitive skin, plus it makes the baths slippy. Not something that goes with a wriggly baby too well.

If Baby does get dry skin, Grape oil is always recommended by the midwives/health visitor.

One thing that has stood out clearly though....DON'T BUY COTTON WOOL BALLS lol. My midwife always used to say to me and it did work, for all those environmental mummies out there, buy cotton wool pleats and break ball sized bits off and put them in the airing cupboard. The heat makes them fluff up, thereby saving money because they are cheaper and you need less ;)