As a (new) parent, you have a lot on your mind. And call us Naïf, but we believe you should be able to use care products without worries. Of course, that's easier said than done, because you want the best for your baby. Where to start? We're happy to help!
What care products do I need for my baby?
Good question, because when you look in the stores there's just so much to choose from. No worries, because a baby really doesn't need much. At Naïf we're big fans of just the basics: bath oil, baby oil and zinc cream. Oh.. and don't forget the stacks of baby wipes, you really don't want to be without those.
After a few weeks, you learn what your baby needs. For dry skin, you'll want to give some extra love with a body lotion, rich cream or baby balm. Does your little one have a full head of hair, then a baby shampoo might be handy.
As your kids get older, you can make the care routine more and more fun. Replace the bath oil for example with bath foam for a bath full of bubbles and fun.
Want to know more? We previously wrote a comprehensive blog about what you really need, and what you don't.
What are good ingredients and which ones should you avoid?
Good ingredients are ingredients that really contribute to the best care for your baby. Think for example of plant-based oils for hydration and glycerin to support dry and damaged skin. Also antioxidants such as vitamin E (the official name is tocopherol) and anti-inflammatory ingredients such as shea butter, panthenol, aloe vera and zinc oxide are a good addition to your baby care.
On the other hand, you'll want to avoid ingredients that can be harmful to your baby or the planet. Think of microplastics, mineral oils and ingredients that may contain 1,4-dioxane such as PEG and SLES.
In this blog we already wrote about everything you do and don't want in your baby care.
What should you look for when buying baby wipes?
As a parent, you go through stacks of baby wipes. To be precise, about 14,000 PER CHILD! Something that is used so often on your baby's skin must of course meet a number of requirements.
First of all, they must of course do what you buy them for: cleaning baby bottoms (and nose, hands and table because multi-functional, that's what they are). What you want is a moist wipe, but not too moist. It's also important that they're nice and sturdy, because you don't want to get dirty hands. It just happens that 94% of the Ouders van Nu testers are satisfied with the sturdiness of Naïf's baby wipes!
Also important: how does your baby's skin react to them? Does your baby get a rash from using baby wipes, then it's time to look for something new. To prevent irritation, you may want to check the ingredients beforehand. Is the ingredient list as long as your receipt after you've done a week's worth of shopping? Then leave them and look for baby wipes with less ingredients. The fewer ingredients, the lower the chance of irritation.
There are a number of ingredients you'll want to avoid when it comes to baby wipes, because they're simply not necessary to clean your baby's bottom properly. Alcohol is a good example of something you don't want to use on the sensitive skin around the diaper area. You'll also want to avoid fragrance, because that's really not necessary to get things clean.
If it's up to us, plastic doesn't belong in baby wipes either. Unfortunately, the vast majority of baby wipes are made from it. If you think it's important to save on plastic, then the choice for a baby wipe without plastic is quickly made. You can recognize them by the "no plastic inside" logo on the packaging.
Should I apply sunscreen to my (newborn) baby?
The short answer is yes! You should also apply sunscreen to your (newborn) baby. And yes, that starts with the early spring sun. The first step, even more important than sunscreen, is to keep children under 1 year out of the sun as much as possible. Seek out shade or create it yourself with a parasol or sun shade. Step two is protective clothing. Make sure your baby wears light, but protective clothing. There's even special UV-protective clothing, but that's not necessarily required. Want to know how protective the clothing is, then hold it in the sun for a moment. If you can see through it, it doesn't do much. If it blocks the sun, then you're good.
And then comes sunscreen! Apply SPF 50 sunscreen generously to any skin not covered by clothing. You can choose a cream, stick or spray. Just make sure it's not a misting spray. Those evaporate in the air and very little ends up on the skin. Plus, your baby can also inhale this type of spray, which is of course not the intention. A liquid spray (like ours) that doesn't mist can be used! With babies, you might prefer to spray it on your hands first and not directly on the skin.
How much exactly do you need to use? Just a nice thick layer. Don't forget to reapply every two hours and also cover the often forgotten spots, like the ears, nose and lips well.
More sun protection tips? We spoke with dermatologist Elodie Mendels about how to prevent sunburn.
Help my baby has a rash, what should I do?
A rash on your baby is never fun, but it does happen often. That sensitive skin sometimes gets a real beating. To fix the rash, it's of course important to know exactly where it comes from.
Diaper rash
Diaper rash is a form of rash that is common in babies. No wonder either, that wet diaper is a breeding ground for bacteria. You recognize diaper rash by the red skin and sometimes, if it's really bad, there are also open wounds. How to prevent and cure it? You can preventively apply zinc cream. The zinc oxide in this cream protects the skin against moisture by forming a barrier. It also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and thus helps with the healing process. It's also important to keep the skin clean and dry. Taking the diaper off from time to time and letting your baby play on an absorbent mat ensures that the skin can dry properly.
Dry skin or eczema
Your baby can also suffer from dry skin, or even eczema. What do you do then? It's mainly important to keep the skin well moisturized. For this you can use a rich cream or baby balm. A lotion is often not enough for dry skin or eczema, because lotion consists largely of water, it is absorbed too quickly by the skin. You'd rather want a fat-based product, so that it doesn't sink in immediately, but instead creates a protective layer on the skin.
Baby acne
You might not expect it, but your baby can also get pimples. Baby acne is common after birth and has everything to do with your hormones. Yes really! Fortunately, it also goes away once those hormones are out of your little one's body. Are you breastfeeding? Then baby acne may last a bit longer, because your milk also contains hormones that can cause pimples in your baby.
Cradle cap
Then there's cradle cap. That thick greasy and yellowish rash that often appears on the head of a (newborn) baby. Where does it come from? The vernix layer that your baby gets at birth. When that dries out between the hairs, cradle cap forms. If it lasts longer than four weeks, it's no longer called cradle cap but seborrheic eczema. Both will go away on their own and is otherwise not dangerous. If you think it looks unsightly, you can smear the scalp with baby oil and try to comb or scrape off the cradle cap after half an hour. If this doesn't help, there are also special creams that can help with cradle cap
Other rashes
With other rashes, such as chickenpox, impetigo and measles, it's always wise to visit your doctor. They can help with the right treatment for your situation.
