I don’t buy toiletries with SLS and parabens. I also try to minimise the chemicals in products that I use for environmental and health reasons. I was therefore delighted to find many affordable chemical-free baby products on the market when shopping for Baby D, a sharp contrast to when Kai was born 5 years ago. Here’s a list of my favourite toiletries for newborns and mums. I hope you will enjoy them as much as I did (and still do). All the products are available on iHerb. Buying products via this link will save you 5% off your order (for both new and existing customers). You will also be helping to support my blog.
1. Earth Mama Angel Baby, Natural Nipple Butter – For mum
I was anxious to find the best nipple cream this time. I experienced pain and bleeding when feeding my first 3 kids, and none of the creams that I used (and there were many) provided relief. I finally settled on this cream as it came highly recommended. Best decision ever. Only a thin layer is needed to bring soothing relief. It also has a great texture that is neither sticky nor greasy, making it more acceptable for baby to ingest. As for the ingredients used, they read like a dream. Clean, vegan, organic and non-GMO, you won’t find any unpronounceable chemicals there. And I love how it smells like chocolate thanks to the cocoa butter in it. This cream can also double up as a general moisturiser for your lips, baby’s cheeks etc.
2. Aquifer Baby Healing Ointment – For baby
Kai had very bad diaper rash as a baby. I wished to spare Baby D the ordeal and set out to look for a good diaper rash cream with as few chemicals as possible. Aquifer Baby Healing Ointment feels and works great. On the 3 occasions that Baby D developed a rash, it cleared up within days of applying the cream. It comes in a good sized tube which means you get more bang for your buck and also reduces packaging waste.
3. Colloidal Oatmeal – For baby (and family)
Who would have thought, oatmeal for skin. Introduced to me by my kid’s paediatrician to bathe Baby D with in place of baby soap. Bathing in colloidal oatmeal can clean and moisturise skin. Colloidal oatmeal also has anti-inflammatory and moisturising properties and can help soothe itchy skin. A completely natural bathing solution that allows you to save on soap and moisturiser. For an even more sustainable solution, I re-use the bath water as a foot-bath. My feet have not felt so pampered in a long time. When Zhen returned from a camp last month with her feet covered in itchy mosquito and sand fly bites, she delightedly claimed that the foot-bath took all the itch away. She promptly spent the next few days hoarding the used bath water while catching up on her reading. Boy am I glad that the holidays are over and I can finally get the foot-bath back for myself. A small caveat though, colloidal oatmeal is very expensive, which is why I have taken to making my own after purchasing the first packet from the peadiatrician (see post). I also alternate bathing Baby D with colloidal oatmeal and Dr Woods Baby Mild Castile Soap (see below).
4. Dr Woods Baby Mild Castile Soap (Unscented) – For baby (and family)
Hypoallergenic, vegan, paraben and SLS free, yet gentle enough to be used for baby’s skin. I chose this for its natural ingredients and affordability. I use just one drop for Baby D’s bath. I too have been using this soap to bathe and it leaves my skin feeling soft and clean.
5. Bud’s Super Soothing Rescue Lotion – For baby (and family)
Kai had eczema when he was a baby, and it still flares up occasionally. I tried the well-known brands of baby moisturisers but they didn’t work. I finally tried Bud’s super soothing rescue lotion and found it to be really effective in healing Kai’s eczema (and mine too), which would clear up in days. The lotion isn’t sticky and has a pleasant smell. Great list of ingredients, some of which are from organic farming. I always ensure that I have a tube at home for the occasional eczema flare up. Thankfully, we have had no reason to try this on Baby D yet.
Steeped in Love 