Bath Time

For me personally, bathing a baby seemed to be the most daunting thing when my son came alone. Being the eldest of five children and baby sitting from a young age, I had experienced nappy changes, dressing them, feeding them and putting them to sleep, but never had I given a new baby a bath. How do you hold them? What do you wash them with? How long do you wash them for? How often? How do you lift them out of the bath? After they are dried off, do you use more products? And they were just a few of my many questions. Of course, the 'how to wash them' is taught at the hospital, along with many other things, but when it comes to bath time, how much should you do that the hospital tells you to?

The first thing you will be told is that moisturisers, bubbles baths, sorbalines, talcum powders and other nasty chemicals are NECESSARY for baby skin care. I will tell you now. That is RUBBISH! And let the advice begin.

In my previous post I discussed with you how delicate a baby's skin is and this is where your natural baby care will come into action. Obviously, the first thing you need to remember, which I will drill into everyone is NO CHEMICALS, but the second is 'will it clog up their tiny, delicate pores?'

Okay, so what is the basic requirement for bath time? WATER! Unfortunately, water these days is so treated that it can actually cause more harm than good. Many people recommend using filtered water in babies baths because it does not contain chlorine, fluoride, mercury, bacterias and other harmful products however, this is not always an easy thing to come by. A basic way of removing these from your water is to boil it. Babies baths are usually small so don't worry, you wont be standing around for hours. I usually just use a large pot, leave it until it is boiling rapidly, then poor it into the bath. You will need to let it sit until it's luke warm. A simple way of testing the heat of the water is by putting a small drop on the inside of your wrist. This part of your wrist is very delicate so what you feel there will be very similar to what it would feel like on your babies body. If it feels hot, leave it longer, and if it feels cold you may need to add a little more boiling water. You will know whether or not it is suitable for bubs, but please make sure you check as you don't want to burn them or make them too cold (their thermoregulation is very poor so cold will make them feel freezing, this is why they recommend that extra layer of clothing when they are born because they can't regulate their temperature). Please don't feel like this is compulsory for bath time. It does take time and it can be quite frustrating waiting for water to cool, but it is better for their skin. Of course, even I just use water from the tap sometimes. The MOST important thing, is understanding baby bath time products as they are what the real damage is caused by.

Some Common Chemicals found in Baby Bath Products

You'd think that because we all know babies are delicate, that their skin care products would be made  accordingly, but they're not. That is why it's important to know what to avoid when choosing them and what they actually are. He are just a few.

• Sodium Lauryl Sulfates (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfates (SLES): These chemicals to me are the WORST of the worst! This is the product we find in nearly everything as it cuts through grime thoroughly but also foams fantastically. Don't let that fool you. Scientist admit that this product has "risk" but they protect themselves by adding that warning sign at the bottom of the bottle that reads 'Caution - Use only as directed. Excessive use or prolonged exposure may cause irritation to skin and to the urinary tract. Discontinue use if rash, redness, or itching occurs. Consult you physician if irritation persists. Keep out of reach of children'. And this is where I ask, if you need to keep it out of reach of your child so they wont be harmed by it, why can we put it on their skin? SLS and SLES is a known steal grime remover and is also commonly used as an irritant when testing allergies. For a more in depth description of SLS and SLES please feel free to read a post I wrote about it in my blog for adults skin http://thesixthscentskincare.blogspot.com.au/. 

• Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone: Both chemicals have been associated with causing harmful skin irritations such as eczema and dermatitis, and research is still continuing into its neurotoxic levels. 

• Mineral Oils: This is one of those products that sounds so pure and natural, but it is far from it. Mineral oil is a clear and scentless, and is known as the a surplus oil making it bountiful and very cheap. This product suffocates the skin by clogging pores which inhibits the skin's ability to "breathe" and release toxins, and causes premature ageing and skin disorders.

• Synthetic Fragrances: Many man-made fragrances are considered persistent organic pollutants (POPs) because they stay in the environment for a long time. When synthetic fragrances are used indoors, they pollute the air which has been found to contribute to respiratory problems such as asthma. So don't let it pollute your babies body.

• Triclosan: This is added to many baby products as a biocide (antibacterial agent), preservative, or deodorant agent. Triclosan has already been restricted for use in cosmetics in Canada and Japan because it is an endocrine disruptor and potential organ toxicant. More importantly, antibacterials like this one spur the development of drug-resistant bacteria, creating even more menacing threats for human and animal populations of future generations as we lose the ability to fight off disease.The worst thing about this chemical is not only is this found in almost everything today, it is a registered pesticide.

• Middazolidnyl Urea and DMDM Hydantoin: These chemicals are just two of many preservatives that release formaldehyde or "formaldehyde-donors". It is a colourless liquid or gas with a pungent, distinctive smell. These preservatives are found in SO many products and here are just a few of their alias names: 

           - Paraformaldehyde
           - Benzylhemiformal
           - 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1, 3-diol
           - 5-bromo-5-nitro-1, 3-dioxane
           - Diazolidinyl urea
           - Quaternium-15
           - DMDM Hydantoin
           - Sodium hydroxymethyl
           - Glycinat
           - Methenamine

•  Isopropyl Alcohol: It's primary function is to increase the absorption of other ingredients in skin care products however, it removes your skins natural pH and acid mantle. Studies have shown that inhalation or ingestion of the vapour can cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis and coma. Isopropyl alcohol is extremely irritating to the skin and has been linked to dry/cracked skin.

Okay, enough with the chemicals. What to use in the bath? Don't be shocked, but it's preferred you use NOTHING! No, I'm not joking. In all honesty, your bubby's skin really doesn't need it. All you need is a soft wash cloth and a warm bath and your baby will be squeaky clean. This doesn't mean you CAN'T use anything.

I know bubble baths are fun, but most contain SLS and SLES which is a NO NO! What I will tell you is DO NOT leave your baby in a bath of soapy water, even if it is all natural. It clogs their pores and is not good for their skin, but you can use it. Let them play and splash, then just before you're going to take them out, use your soap, rinse thoroughly, remove and dry. Leaving them in soapy water is also a big cause of urinary tract infections, especially in girls which you just don't want them to have to suffer through.

And what about shampoo? NOT NEEDED! If you are going to use shampoo it is recommended that you avoid it until they are around six months old even if they have a lot of hair. The truth is, not much is going to make their hair so dirty is needs shampoo, so water will suffice.

I use and make a few beautiful soaps that works wonders for my son. The first which I love to brag about is my 'Calendula and Orange' soap which naturally disinfects, heals and moisturises baby's delicate skin. It is especially fantastic if they have nappy rash, heat rash, eczema or are even just a little bit dry. And to make it even better (if I do say so myself) is it is a wonderful natural shampoo too. This soap is also safe to use on faces. Use as you would a normal soap, wash off and voila. Another beautiful soap I make for bath time is my 'Baby Lavender' soap. It helps relax baby before bed, it smells beautiful and it is GENTLE! Another thing you can do is add two to three drops of lavender oil directly in the bath. If you are interested in learning more or want to try some of my products you can find my goodies at http://www.facebook.com/thesixthscent or email me for more information at thesixthscentskincare@gmail.com.

FINALLY, my last piece of advice for the night. If you are EXPECTING a baby; when they are born, leave them in all that natural goodness from the birth. You will be asked whether you want to bathe them straight away, but don't. Whether born naturally or by C-section, that bacteria is so good for their skin so leave it as long as you can. Some hate the smell, but personally I loved it because it just smelt like a baby.

That's all for tonight. If you have suggestions for future posts, questions or ANYTHING else, email or find me at the above addresses. GOOD LUCK!

Take Care Baby!

The Sixth Scent.

Baby Skin vs Adult Skin

Have you ever noticed that beauticians and dermatologists talk about ideal skin as being like that of a babies? It's true. Adults these days aspire to have that soft, supple, and practically flawless cover that is the unattainable objective of all cosmetic treatments however, beyond the smooth and supple beauty, there are significant structural and functional differences that make infant skin more susceptible to certain problems. During the first years of life, there are considerable developments of the skin and subcutaneous fat that warrant handling infants differently than adults.

Human skin provides a barrier for the body and it helps with thermoregulation, immune surveillance, hormonal synthesis and sensory perception, which remains essentially the same at all phases of life. However, there are many important structural differences between the skin of a baby and an adult. The barrier function of skin is vital for the survival of all human beings, but with the increasing rate of premature childbirth, we can see an increasing rate in barrier dysfunction with higher transepidermal water loss - a measurement of the quantity of water that passes from inside a body, through the skin, to the surrounding atmosphere - and increased percutaneous absorption of chemicals. As a result, there is greatly increased mortality in premature infants with impaired barrier function due to microbial invasion. Other micro structural differences in a babies skin include a thinner stratum corneum or outermost layer of the epidermis (skin) and a thinner papillary dermis or uppermost layer of the dermis (layer of skin between the epidermis).

 

There are several factors that converge to make an infants skin more susceptible to percutaneous toxicity, like their high surface area-to-volume ratio, immature drug metabolism systems, and decreased subcutaneous fat stores effectively increase the absorptive area while decreasing the volume of distribution of a drug or toxin. This is worsened by the fact that once absorbed, babies lack fully developed drug carriage and detoxification systems. 

 

In newborns, the subcutaneous fat - the fat stored just under the skin -is rich in the saturated oils, palmitic and esteric acid. These fats have a higher melting point temperature than the unsaturated fats of adulthood, as more oleic acid becomes present with age and the melting point diminishes. This higher melting point means that the fat in infants can freeze more easily which calls for extra care being made to avoid temperature extremes.

This delicate nature of infants skin means that it is much more susceptible to damage, and something like UV damage in childhood may have particularly profound consequences in later life however, many studies have shown that their inability to process chemicals makes sunscreens and skin care products more detrimental than helpful. Unfortunately many parents are unaware of how fragile a babies skin is and they use their own products on their babies which can be even more harmful. 

 

This unique status of baby skin dictates the necessity of carefully formulating skin care products that specifically cater to their needs and requirements, although minimal use of any products of a child is highly optimal.

 

In my future 'Take Care Baby' posts, I will talk to you about common rashes and skin conditions common in babies and natural cures and preventatives. I will also help with natural, easy tips on bathing, sleep, even skin care tips to help with what's happening inside their tiny, precious bodies. If you have questions, or want me to write about something in particular feel free to email me at thesixthscentskincare@gmail.com or find me on facebook www.facebook.com/thesixthscent where I sell my organic, hand made skin care products. I recommend minimal use of products on babies but I do have baby and child safe products as well. I hope you will benefit from this information and start thinking about how much your little ones need you to look after them.

Take Care Baby!

The Sixth Scent.