Which Soap is Best for My Baby?

What could be cuter than washing your baby? Little arms waving, gurgling, caressing... a real special moment between you and your little one.

But for this moment to be truly gentle, it's essential to choose the right soap. We're talking about a product that respects your child's delicate skin while cleansing effectively.

Here's a guide to help you find the best baby soap, with the best products to choose.

Baby’s Skin, Still a Fragile Zone

As you probably know, a baby's skin is extremely delicate, especially when they’re a newborn. This fragility is due to several factors.

Firstly, an infant's skin is 5 times thinner than an adult's, making it naturally more vulnerable to irritation.

Plus, as certain glands are not yet active in newborns, their skin does not yet produce sebum and perspiration. Without these natural barriers, your little one's skin is much less protected against germs and irritants.

The skin of a very young child also doesn't immediately produce melanin, making it more vulnerable to UV rays. 

Finally, the pH of a baby's skin is neutral, making it more prone to irritation such as diaper rash.

For all these reasons, it's essential to choose a soap that contributes effectively to a baby's hygiene, without irritating their delicate dermis.

Criteria for the Best Baby Soap

To choose the best baby soap, there are several criteria to bear in mind. Your soap must be:

• Fragrance-free
• As natural as possible
• Nourishing (contains a fatty active ingredient)
• Hypoallergenic
• Tested under dermatological and ophthalmological control

When making your choice, look at the list of ingredients. The more natural the ingredients, the more suitable the soap is for your little one's skin. 

Choose a pH-neutral soap such as a dermatological bar. 

Cleansers based on vegetable oils are also ideal for cleansing your child's skin without irritating or drying it out. A soap with aloe vera or apricot kernel oil, for example, is ideal.

Products to Avoid

In your quest for the best baby soap, there are a few products you should avoid because of their irritating or even harmful nature. 

First of all, avoid products containing sulfate derivatives, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS), and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES). These can damage your child's skin. 

Phthalates, used as solvents, are considered endocrine disruptors, as are parabens. 

Avoid soaps containing methylisothiazolinone (MI or MIT) and methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), which can cause allergies. 

Finally, stay away from alcohol-based products, which can be very irritating to your baby's skin. 

In addition to these precautions, remember to choose a non-irritating detergent for washing baby's clothes. Wash your baby's sweaters and pants with a hypoallergenic detergent made from natural ingredients, preferably without synthetic scents. 

We hope these few tips will help you find the best soap for your baby. In the meantime, we wish you a soft and loving bath.