Which Is the Best Bath Gel for Babies?

Taking proper care of a baby’s skin is one of the main concerns for mums and dads. Choosing the right bath gel does not only affect hygiene, but also the little one’s skin health. In this blog article, we explain everything you need to know about baby hygiene and which is the best bath gel for them.

Baby skin and hygiene

To achieve proper hygiene and choose the right products for our baby, we first need to understand their skin, how it behaves and what it needs.

Baby skin: why is it so special?

Baby skin is not simply “softer”; it is developing skin, and therefore more vulnerable.

Physiologically, it is thinner than adult skin, which means its barrier function can be disrupted easily and it is more prone to dehydration.

In addition, the defensive system of their skin is also immature, so if we use unsuitable products, it can be disrupted very easily.

That means something that is not “bad” for an adult may still be unsuitable for a baby.

The importance of hygiene for babies

We need to understand that because a baby’s skin is more delicate and vulnerable, it should be washed gently.

A baby does not sweat in the same way as an adult, nor do they produce the same amount of oil or encounter environmental pollutants in the same way, so their skin does not get dirty in the same way as adult skin. They do not need strong products, but gentle ones that correctly remove traces of sweat, urine, stools and so on, while keeping the skin barrier stable and balanced.

If this balance is broken, irritation, itching, stinging and redness appear. Many times, parents do not understand why their baby’s skin is showing these symptoms and do not realise that the problem may lie in the way they bathe the baby and the cleansing product they have chosen.

Tips for baby bath time

The way we bathe our baby matters. A healthy bath is one that meets the following characteristics:

• Water at a lukewarm temperature, equal or similar to body temperature.
• Short baths.
• Use a specific gel for babies and in a moderate amount.
• Dry the skin by patting gently rather than rubbing, to avoid irritation.

Warnings for newborns

Sometimes, there are mistakes we make without even realising it. The most common, and those that require special attention in newborns, are:

• Using adult shower gels on babies. Their formulas are not designed for the needs of little ones, so they can affect the skin. A bath gel for a newborn baby should be used instead.
• Bathing every day too aggressively or using gels with lots of fragrance can also alter the skin barrier.
• Not rinsing the gel off properly; this can leave product on the skin and lead to irritation.

Which is the best bath gel for babies?

What characteristics should a baby bath gel have?

A good bath gel should have one main objective: to be respectful of the skin:

• It should cleanse without disrupting the balance of the skin barrier.
• Its pH should match that of baby skin.
• Soap-free formulas are less likely to cause irritation, which is why syndet gels or oil-based cleansers should take centre stage.
• It should include nourishing, hydrating, repairing, soothing, regenerating and protective ingredients.
• It should not sting the eyes.

Pharmacist's recommendation

Our favourite baby bath gels at Farmaciasdirect are:

A-Derma Exomega Control Emollient 2-in-1 Cleansing Gel

A-Derma Exomega Control is a gel that cleanses the skin while hydrating and nourishing it thanks to its emollient properties. Its star ingredient is Rhealba oat, which helps soothe itching and provide comfort. It can be a great ally for cradle cap in babies.

Avène XeraCalm Cleansing Oil

Avène XeraCalm Cleansing Oil is a cleansing oil that deeply cleanses while leaving the skin soft and comfortable, nourishing and repairing it thanks to the lipids and thermal spring water in its formula. It does not sting the eyes and can be used by the whole family.

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Syndet AP+M

La Roche-Posay Lipikar Syndet AP+M is a wash cream that can be used on both the body and the scalp of the baby, so it can also be used for cradle cap. It is perfect as a hygiene product for the whole family and, above all, for skin that is sensitive, atopic, prone to eczema, itchy or likely to be scratched. That is why Lipikar Syndet is the ideal bath gel for babies with atopic skin.

All thanks to its formula rich in niacinamide and shea butter.