What cosmetics for a newborn from the first day of life?

What cosmetics buy for starters for newborns and toddlers? What to consider when completing the set do care toddler from the first day of life? How to recognize good cosmetics for babies - can you be sure that they are safe when choosing products from a well-known company or brand? What is really useful and what is no longer necessary in a cosmetic layette for a newborn?

Cosmetics for a newborn baby are an important element of the first layette, because their skin is very delicate and prone to irritation. Below we suggest what cosmetics should be prepared for a newborn and infant and how to make sure that their use will allow for proper care from the first day of life. We also explain why there is no one ready-made answer to the question of which brand of cosmetics for a newborn baby will be the best.

How to choose cosmetics for the care of the newborn?

Cosmetics are a very important element of a layette for a newborn, and their choice is often the subject of heated discussions on parenting forums. Most of the present and future parents realize that not all washing or care preparations available on the market are suitable for the youngest toddlers. However, there are plenty of products for children, so it is worth knowing the criteria that must be met by cosmetics intended for the care of a newborn from the first day of life.

• First of all, it is important to adapt the product to the age of the child - cosmetics for the newborn must be there clearly marked on the packaging as intended for skin care from the first day of life.
• Cosmetics for the care of the newborn should be odorless, with a pH close to neutralwhich is 7,0. The skin of a baby for about 2 weeks after birth is on the verge of neutral and slightly alkaline - only later it becomes slightly acidic.
• Cosmetics for a newborn baby should have simple and short composition, based on proven and well-tested substances with proven safety of use.
• A great advantage of each product in a cosmetic layette for a newborn is a positive opinion of the Institute of Mother and Child or another reputable medical research facility with a pediatric profilem.

If a cosmetic for a newborn baby meets all of the above criteria, it can be expected that the risk of an allergenic effect has been significantly reduced. However, this risk cannot be completely eliminated - even in the best-quality and most thoroughly tested product.

Cosmetic layette for a newborn: list of products

What cosmetics for a newborn baby should be in his layette from the first day of life? The list of what a baby needs is not long - knowing what products to look for, completing them should not be difficult, even taking into account the wide range available both in pharmacies and drugstores. Cosmetics for a newborn baby include not only washing agents (for bathing), but also skin care preparations (after washing) - with a soothing, moisturizing or protective effect. Here is a list of products for your toddler's cosmetic layette:

1. Chafing cream or ointment - when used prophylactically, they protect the skin under the diaper against irritants, and in the event of chafing or irritation, they soothe the skin, facilitating the regeneration of the epidermis. The anti-chafing cosmetic should be applied to washed and dried baby's skin with each diaper change.
2. Protective face cream - the exposed skin of the youngest children needs protection against the effects of external factors, so before going for a walk in the summer, we protect it with a cream with moisturizing properties, and in winter - protective. In the newborn period, we do not use sunscreen creams, but protect the baby from the sun. In the following months of life, you can, if necessary, use UV filters, but only mineral ones (chemical filters - only after 6 months of age), but the general rule is that infants and children up to the age of 3 should avoid the open sun.
3. Cleansing cosmetic - it can be in a bar (soap), liquid or emulsion. The most important thing is that it should contain mild washing substances, an additional advantage will be the presence of slightly oiling ingredients. The fact that the preparation is suitable from the first day of life does not mean that you should hurry with the first bath of the newborn. On the contrary - due to the protective role of fetal fluid, the more time passes from birth to the first meeting with the bathtub, the better it is for the baby. Remember that a newborn's skin is very delicate and liquid washing agents can irritate and dry it. Emollients are recommended for washing dry or irritated newborn skin (more about emollients can be found here - link). The washing bar, lotion or emulsion can also be used for both the body and hair of the child - so there is no need to buy a special shampoo, especially since it is enough to wash your hair no more than 2 times a week.
4. Wet wipes - irreplaceable in the absence of access to water, they enable care of the newborn outside the home, e.g. during walks and on the go. They not only cleanse the baby's skin, but also moisturize and regenerate it. Although there are more and more wipes on the market with safer formulas and compositions, in the first month of a child's life, try to use them as little as possible, due to the risk of irritation of the delicate skin of the newborn.
5. Body lotion after bathing - its task is to moisturize the baby's skin after bathing, especially when it is dry and / or irritated. There is no need to apply it if you use emollients to wash your newborn's body.
6. Olive - until recently, one of the basic cosmetics for a newborn and infant, but now we do not use it to lubricate the toddler's body after a bath, but apply it locally to dry skin (e.g. in the case of cradle cap) or to massage the child's body.
7. Although it is not a cosmetic, it is worth replacing at the end saline in disposable ampoules (NaCl 0,9%), which is used to rinse the eyes of the newborn, using sterile gauze.

Cosmetics for a newborn: what company?

When completing a cosmetic layette, it is better to choose products from one company than to buy each from another. Usually, cosmetics from the same manufacturer contain the same raw materials, which reduces the risk of allergies.

No wonder that many questions about cosmetics for a newborn are centered around the question of which company to choose. The manufacturers' assurances are difficult to consider as objective, and we will not find out from the recommendations of other parents whether a given product will also be suitable for our baby. Good cosmetics for newborns or infants are those with a good composition, and not those offered by a well-known company under a recognizable brand. Neither the brand nor the price of the cosmetic guarantees its quality and safety. 

However, it is enough to know what type of products to look for and according to what criteria to choose them to try to answer the question of which cosmetics company will be best for your baby.