How To Pick The Best Moisturizers For Your Baby

When the weather is cold and chilly, you’ll soon realize that your baby’s skin needs something to protect it from the harsh weather, which could otherwise damage the delicate skin of an infant. However, unlike adults, babies have very sensitive and delicate skin, and using moisturizers that are loaded with chemicals is definitely not going to heal or protect their skin.

Choosing a good moisturizer that is going to be both mild and effective can be hard. However, there are some key points you can keep in mind which will help you pick the best one, despite there being dozens of brands to choose from. In this article, we’ll be covering all the tips you’d need to pick the perfect moisturizer for your baby, so keep reading and happy shopping!

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Check the Ingredients

It goes without saying that the first thing you need to make a note of are the ingredients used in the moisturizers. The easiest way to do this is by knowing some of the commonly used chemicals which should not be used on a baby’s skin.

Some of the ingredients which you might find in some moisturizers and should avoid at all costs are:

Phthalates - these are commonly listed as ‘fragrance’ or ‘parfum’, so be sure to avoid anything which contains an added scent as this will irritate your baby’s skin.
Parabens - Commonly used as a preservative in almost all creams and moisturizers, Parabens are not going to be of any use in protecting the skin, since they’re used to increase the shelf-life of the product by most companies. It’s best to avoid them and go for something more natural.
Polyethylene Glycol - These chemicals have been classified as potentially carcinogenic, but you can still find them in moisturizers because they have properties that act as skin softeners and moisturizers, though they aren’t the safest for the skin.
Propylene Glycol - This chemical is used as a thickener in almost all the store-bought creams, but they can be too harsh on your baby’s skin, even though they’re FDA approved.

Ingredients to Look For

Just like there are products you need to avoid, there are also some ingredients that you need to look out for—these are the main elements in clean and safe moisturizers that are going to protect your baby’s skin, so it’s a good idea to find products which contain them.

Butter - Keep an eye out for products that consist of butters like shea butter, because this is what helps keep your baby’s skin soft, moisturized, and protected. It also contains anti-inflammatory and healing properties, so if your baby has dry skin, this will heal it well.
Coconut oil - Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer and a healer. It can be used as it is on the skin, but can also be mixed with other ingredients to form a moisturizer. The main benefit of using it along with other ingredients is that it won’t be as sticky (or oily) as it is in its natural form.

Other Tips to Remember

Here are some pointers which will help you pick out the right moisturizer to protect your baby’s sensitive skin:

Always go for unscented products. Companies generally add in chemicals that give off a scent to make the product more appealing to the buyers. While adults enjoy smelling great, these chemicals can irritate or even damage your baby’s skin. So, be sure to stay far from scented moisturizers—you’ll usually be able to easily find unscented moisturizers that are organic or homemade online.
Avoid products that contain water as an ingredient, as these will generally contain chemicals that act as preservatives.
Try to go for products that consist of a few ingredients. The lesser the ingredients, the better (and safer) it’s going to be for the baby!