Picking gentle bath products

Choose fragrance-free, pH-balanced products specifically designed for newborn skin. Skip anything with sulfates (SLS/SLES), parabens, phthalates, or essential oils in the first months — all of them can irritate baby skin and disrupt the developing skin barrier. Two or three baths a week is plenty for newborns and young infants. Daily bathing strips natural oils and dries the skin, which can trigger eczema. Between baths, a warm damp washcloth handles the face, hands, and diaper area. Apply a fragrance-free moisturizer immediately after the bath while skin is still slightly damp — this locks in hydration. Creams (not lotions) have a higher oil content and better protect the barrier.