baby products

[Bubblette]

I'm being hounded for a registry Anyone got favorite baby bath type products? I know I want to go natural and if possible organic. Any suggestions for a first time mama? (other registry must haves welcome too)

[Shannie77]

Honestly with DD we didn't really use any bath products at all... well not until she was well past one. We just cleaned her with water. My mom did get us some diaper cream from the health food store that we used a bit, and I used a salve which has since been discontinued for her dry cheeks.

My DD has zero hair until she was after one so it has only been now that she is nearing three that washing on anything of a regular basis is on the radar.

I know a lot of people like Baby Burts Bees.

Those little face clothes are great. I think I have about 20 and between DD and I they get a lot of use.

I didn't register for clothes because I had so many hand me downs. If you need clothes I would recommend registering for some bigger sizes. I basically didn't have to buy DD any clothes until she was almost 2 between hand-me-downs and gifts.

[whalemama17]

I use Dr. Bronner's baby mild soap and am planning on using that and Burt's Bees diaper cream if needed and their baby salve and baby apricot oil as a special massage treat.

[tempestjewel]

I really like California Baby products- I've used their sensitive/fragrance free wash/shampoo for a few years now on both of my DD's. One bottle lasts forever!

My oldest has eczema and theirs was one of the very few soap products that doesn't bother her.

[*EarthMama*]

Originally Posted by tempestjewel

I really like California Baby products- I've used their sensitive/fragrance free wash/shampoo for a few years now on both of my DD's. One bottle lasts forever!

My oldest has eczema and theirs was one of the very few soap products that doesn't bother her.

Another vote for California Baby- they are my favorite! Also ditto on the eczema with ds. California Baby is great for sensitive skin

[Crispie]

I like California Baby Products (all of them)...I'm going with that as my good ol standby, but also going to try some Burts Bee's baby bee stuff, cause I hear raves about it.

[Carliegirl]

I can't remember the name of the shampoo I use and am too lazy to get up and go check in the bathroom. I found it using the skindeep database...a good place to check out in regards to toiletry products (especially baby stuff). I also love the Burt's Bee's apricot baby oil for cozy post bath massaging.

[wobit]

I second the recommendation for te Skin Deep Database. It's clear, searchable by product type or brand, and explains how it comes to its ratings. It reliably errs on the side of being harsh, downgrading a product even for too much essential oil or anything that can be irritating even to just some of the population. But since it explains the breakdown of the ratings so that you can make your own decision about which potentially irritating ingredients you are comfortable with!

We love Badger sunscreen, initially bought it just for the baby but now the whole family uses it. It doesn't make my face break out, it stands up well to water, it washes out of clothes, it has shea butter in it which is very nice and conditioning. Our May babies will be too young for sunscreen this summer, but this is a great product for the long haul.

We liked California Baby shampoo, and I use a dab of their conditioner as a leave-in detangler for my toddler. Very pure ingredients. Like a previous poster, I used only plain water on her for the first week, then only very dilute cloth wipes solution on areas of visible soil. We didn't get into regular shampooing for nearly 4 months, and she was born with a lot of hair.

For moisturizer, I like food-grade apricot kernal oil. Though I aesthetically like the scent of the Burts Bees apricot baby oil, it has a lot of added stuff and synthetic fragrance (which is typically phthalates) and the bottle is designed poorly. And it's twice as expensive as plain ordinary apricot kernal oil. Jojoba, almond, and coconut oils are also great. We put these oils on her bum to prevent diaper rash (cloth diaper compatible), on her chin for drooling chappiness, and worked through her hair when we had a touch of cradle cap.

When we are fending off serious diaper area trouble, we use Alba UnPetroleum, which has the consistency of vaseline but is plant-based and cloth diaper compatible. Also nice on my cheeks when I got a sunburn last summer - no breakouts.

I've been less enamored of Burts Bees since they were bought by Procter & Gamble. Pretty much all I buy of theirs anymore is the tinted lip balm (love the Fig color).

Remember all the fuss about BPA in baby bottles and teethers? They put that stuff into baby lotions. Seriously. Blech. I was given several pretty little bottles of various other baby products, which I just disposed of. I don't want it near my kid. So I would steer clear of most mainstream products. They're unnecessary at best.

[cloe]

water

[Jelinifer]

I've been using the Earth Mama Angel Baby stuff on me so far during pg and have heard rave reviews about their baby products too- all their products have a zero rating on the Skin Deep database and none are tested on animals/have any animal products in them.

[OrchideZ]

We swear by Weleda's Calendula Baby line.

Its the best...organic, biodynamic, no fragrances, synthetics added and my son who is now 17 months has never had a rash or problem. He is very very fair and has sensitive skin.
The diaper cream is great for cloth diapers too- will not stain or leave a mark like other brands.
We did try Ca. Baby diaper cream once and I returned it. It was weirdly gelatinous and didn't absorb into the skin.
We use in the Calendula line: the cream bath, the shampoo & body wash, diaper cream, face cream and body oil.
My husband likes to use the stuff too

Re. Burt's Bees, now that my son is older, we have used the Buttermilk Soak but it does have fragrances added and I wouldn't have used this when he was under 6 months old or any of their other stuff but maybe thats just me.
I have tried their Apricot Baby Oil as well and wasn't thrilled by the formula- esp. since Burt's Bees was sold a few years ago to Clorox, they have went cheaper with their ingredients and now the Baby Oil includes vegetable oil.
I am not overly eager to support Clorox either.

A good place to get Weleda online if you decide you like it beyond a registry, is vitacost. Great prices!

[feminist~mama]

Originally Posted by OrchideZ

We swear by Weleda's Calendula Baby line.

Its the best...organic, biodynamic, no fragrances, synthetics added and my son who is now 17 months has never had a rash or problem. He is very very fair and has sensitive skin.
The diaper cream is great for cloth diapers too- will not stain or leave a mark like other brands.

I LOVED the Weleda Calendula stuff with my DD and put it on my registry again this time!

[bellabear]

As far as shampoo, conditioner, bubble bath for my dd we use a brand called Clean Kids Naturally. It is awesome, minimal ingredients, nothing I can't pronounce. This is the safest stuff I have ever found.

Here's the website:
http://www.gabrielcosmeticsinc.com/index.cfm?category=4

Michelle

Shampoo Ingredients List:
Aqua (Infusion of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice)*
Laminaria Japonica (Red Seaweed) Extract*
*Organic
Glycerin
Plant oils
Urtica Dioica (Nettle) Extract*
Betula Alba Bark/Leaf Extract*
Pyrus Malus (Apple) Flower Extract*
Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel*
Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract*
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Fruit Extract*
Citric Acid
Derived from citrus fruit
Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*
*Organic
Lecithin
A natural antioxidant and emollient
Calcium Pantothenate
Vitamin B5
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract*
*Organic
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Flower Oil*
*Organic
Potassium Sorbate
Plant derived functions as a food grade preservative

[lalemma]

I use Weleda Calendula oil, too.

But I don't really use diaper rash stuff, and I've never used soap on him. Just water, and the Calendula oil if he's getting a massage, or for a bit of cradle cap.

[IAMommy]

I'm another for Weleda. We used CA Baby for a while, but we needed something richer for DS's super-dry skin. We use their body wash, diaper cream and body cream (the thicker version of the lotion).

[jecombs]

For DD we used Eucerin soap-free, fragrance-free body wash. It was the only thing that didn't aggravate her eczema. I might have to look into the Weleda products though!

[To-Fu]

Originally Posted by tempestjewel

I really like California Baby products- I've used their sensitive/fragrance free wash/shampoo for a few years now on both of my DD's. One bottle lasts forever!

My oldest has eczema and theirs was one of the very few soap products that doesn't bother her.

Another fan of California Baby here! It's non-toxic and so very gentle.

Just avoid these:

http://www.safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=426

[d_lighted]

Originally Posted by wobit

For moisturizer, I like food-grade apricot kernal oil. Though I aesthetically like the scent of the Burts Bees apricot baby oil, it has a lot of added stuff and synthetic fragrance (which is typically phthalates) and the bottle is designed poorly. And it's twice as expensive as plain ordinary apricot kernal oil. Jojoba, almond, and coconut oils are also great. We put these oils on her bum to prevent diaper rash (cloth diaper compatible), on her chin for drooling chappiness, and worked through her hair when we had a touch of cradle cap.

I've been using almond oil with some drops of lavender oil mixed in for scent on my skin - any thoughts on using that on the baby? I know straight essential oil would be too harsh, but if it's like 10-20 drops diluted in 8 oz of oil?

TIA!

[katelove]

I think we're going to use Gaia Baby products. They seem to use all natural ingredients and are cruelty free. They smell good and they are about half the price of some of the other nice natural products. Still three times the price of the leading baby brands though Oh, and we can get them at our supermarket so nice and convenient.

[sophi4ka]

Originally Posted by cloe

water

You don't need anything else.
Maybe some olive oil for a baby massage after the bath