oatmeal soaps for babies

Natural Oatmeal Soaps for Babies: Is It Right for My Baby?

A newborn baby is a beautiful wonder. From the first moments of life to the first days at home, it’s important to give them a safe introduction to the world. Head to toe, a baby’s skin can be extremely sensitive. Many newborns suffer from skin issues as they adjust to their new environment. Early exposure to toxic ingredients, such as artificial fragrances and sulfates, can disrupt the balance of a new baby’s skin and lead to redness, dryness, and irritation.

While it’s not always easy to identify products that are safe and healthy for babies, there are steps that you can take to ensure you’re choosing the best products to bring into your home and share with your family. First, focus on the ingredients. Soaps that have nourishing ingredients are best for all of us, but especially for newborns. We’ve created our oatmeal soap with a handful of simple, natural ingredients. Each bar is full of vitamins, minerals, and natural moisturizers that are perfectly safe for babies. Our Unscented Goat Milk Soap has no fragrance or essential oils added making it a great choice for babies with extra sensitive skin.

There are many skin related issues a baby can go through in the first few months of life. We’ve looked at some of the most commonly found ways that using our soothing oatmeal soap can help!   

Bonding

In the beginning, we bond with our babies primarily through touch. Our skin — the body’s largest organ — contains thousands of nerve receptors that are constantly relaying messages to the brain. Some of the first messages sent from the new outside world are those relayed through skin-to-skin contact with mom and dad. Babies respond to skin-to-skin contact with healthy growth and development. Healthy touch is absolutely vital in the first hours and days of a new life.

Some of the common skin issues babies experience mean that even gentle touch from mom or dad can be uncomfortable, even painful. Using a carefully crafted oatmeal soap with whole, natural ingredients at bath time can be a good way to soothe baby’s delicate skin. Oatmeal has been found to normalize the skin’s pH balance making it helpful in soothing irritated skin. Oatmeal is also known to have anti-itch, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. Choosing an oatmeal soap for babies who have skin issues, like eczema or psoriasis, can go a long way in relieving their discomfort and soothing the skin. 


Gentle
infant massage is another way to nurture the bond between baby and parent. During an infant massage, a lotion is commonly used to create a smooth surface for your hands to easily glide on while also providing baby’s skin with an extra layer of protection and moisture. We have a great selection of goat milk lotions to choose from. Trying out gentle massage techniques with the help of our Unscented Goat Milk Lotion can help you solidify your bond while soothing skin conditions common in newborns at the same time. Our unique goat milk lotion formula adds an additional layer of healthy moisture without any synthetic preservatives or alcohols that can dry out and burn baby’s skin. We recommend that you use a lotion pump for easy dispensing without any mess.  

Common Skin Conditions in Babies

When your baby’s skin shows any signs of irritation, redness, or dryness, it’s easy to feel stressed. By being able to identify different skin irritations and having safe and simple options in place to help you soothe your baby’s skin, you’ll be able to spend more time enjoying your little bundle of joy without any worry. Using a hypoallergenic product like a whole oatmeal soap goes a long way towards easing any discomfort your baby might feel.

Cradle cap presents as crusty, yellow patches on the baby’s scalp. While it can be unpleasant to look at, it usually isn’t painful and clears up on its own. Shampooing your baby’s scalp with a mild soap every few days can help reduce cradle cap.

Baby acne and Milia are very similar skin conditions seen in newborns. However, both are harmless and usually go away on their own. Baby acne can present itself as clogged pores or a red, bumpy rash. It’s most commonly found on the face but can occur on the baby’s back or shoulders. For some babies, baby acne can flare up when formula or spit-up comes in contact with the skin. Using a gentle cleansing soap on a damp, warm washcloth every day can help you combat the symptoms of baby acne. When baby acne is at its worst, it’s best to just stick with plain water until the irritation goes down on it’s own.


Milia can often be mistaken for baby acne. Some babies are born with milia present on the skin of the face and some develop it in the first few weeks of life. Milia is different from baby acne as they are tiny cysts rather than clogged pores.

While the direct cause of cradle cap, baby acne, and milia are unknown, all have two common contributing factors: hormones and yeast

Hormones pass from the mother to the baby before birth to stimulate the birth process. For some babies, these hormones can cause an overproduction of sebum, the oil produced naturally by the body in the oil glands and hair follicles. Secondly, a yeast called Malassezia that grows in the sebum combines with bacteria causing yellow scales or thick crusts on the scalp. This overproduction of oil, as well as flaky skin, can clog the pores and create tiny blemishes that look similar acne.

Prickly Heat Rash is similar to milia but is brought on by excessive sweating. Unlike milia, prickly heat rash can be itchy and feel “prickly” or painful. It’s recommended to treat prickly heat rash with a cool or room temperature bath and a gentle, mild soap. Pat the skin dry with a clean towel to avoid further clogging and don’t apply lotion.    

Diaper rash is another common skin condition that seems to affect almost every baby at some time or another. Since the delicate skin of a newborn is more prone to irritation, diapers can be one of the most uncomfortable adjustments to the new world. Diaper rash occurs with a combination of excess wetness, sensitive skin, and chaffing. You may notice your baby’s diaper rash because of increased fussiness or a change in disposition. While there are simple ways to prevent diaper rash, keeping the area dry and clean is top of the list.

Eczema is quite common in infants and children. This chronic inflammation can appear almost anywhere on the body and can appear as red, chapped, scaly looking patches of skin. Scratching can make the condition worse, so trimming your baby’s nails and giving them a lukewarm bath with unscented Oatmeal soap goes a long way towards abating the discomfort.  

While psoriasis is uncommon in infants, it’s more common in children 10 and up. Because it’s common for other skin conditions to be mistaken for psoriasis, it’s best to consult a pediatrician before making any assumptions. If the skin condition is determined to be psoriasis, then a calming soak in an oatmeal-infused milk bath is a soothing choice.

Bathing

Baby’s skin can be prone to irritation in the first few months. From adjusting to diapers to battling against prickly heat, it can be a struggle to keep their skin balanced. It’s tempting to bathe a newborn often to try to relieve annoying skin conditions. However, a daily bath may not be the best solution.  

Frequent exposure to hot baths can damage an infant’s delicate skin. The best regimen for baby skin is lukewarm baths 3-4 times a week. With some of the skin conditions we’ve discussed, a cool or room temperature bath may be the better option.  

To avoid dehydration, limit the amount of time your baby is in the bath as over-exposure to the water can actually pull moisture and dehydrate the skin. Bath time is a fun bonding time for both parent and child; it’s easy to pass the time watching your child splashing and playing with bubbles. Make sure this special nightly ritual is encouraging health and balance in your babies skin.

Our Solution

Did you know that “fragrance” listed as an ingredient in most shampoos and body washes can mean any undisclosed chemical? Commercially available soaps — even those supposedly designed for infants and newborns — can contain harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances that strip the natural oils from the skin. Often times, these ingredients can exacerbate the conditions we shared above like eczema, psoriasis and cradle cap. As more research comes out about the effects of these chemical ingredients are having on our skin and overall health, it’s more important than ever before that we ensure that our children aren’t exposed to these toxins by the products we choose to bring into our homes. There are many easy ways that you can live a toxin-free lifestyle. Using a natural, fragrance-free soap is a great place to start.  


We’ve learned
through our own experience that when you’re raising a child with sensitive skin, there are even some natural ingredients that are best to avoid. For example, many available natural products contain essential oils. And while we love essential oils here at Bend Soap Company and have created many best-selling products that incorporate them, essential oils aren’t always suited for all skin types. We also understand that sometimes little (and big) noses are more sensitive to scent than others. For this reason alone, we’ve carefully crafted several natural skin care products that are completely free of any natural fragrance or essential oil. These products are perfectly safe for babies and adults with sensitive skin (and noses!)   

Treat your baby to an unparalleled level of clean, soft, healthy looking skin by using a bar of our Oatmeal & Honey Goat Milk Soap at bath time. We’ve added real grains of oats and a dash of honey to our natural four-ingredient soap base for an added boost of gentle exfoliation and hydration. Just one wash with this best-selling soap and we’re sure you and baby will be able to see (and feel) a difference! For an even better experience, opt for our Oatmeal & Honey Bundle which will offer you and your baby a full Bend Soap Company experience! 

Honey, the queen bee of natural moisturizers, is packed with nourishment for your baby’s skin. It has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties which can help soothe irritated skin and is full of antioxidants that help protect from free radicals. Additionally, honey acts as a natural, long-lasting skin moisturizer.

Oatmeal & Honey Bundle - Bend Soap Company

Oatmeal has long been known to aide the body with a wealth of benefits both internally and externally. It’s a natural and gentle exfoliator that can also balance the pH of the skin. The benefits of oatmeal soap for babies can go a long way in making them feel more comfortable in their own skin. Its soothing properties make it a great choice for any baby battling with sensitive skin.    

Back to You

If you’re looking for something natural without the exfoliation, we have a simpler alternative that’s just as effective at making baby’s skin look and feel it’s best. Our Unscented Goat Milk Soap is gentle, soothing, and hypoallergenic. It’s made with fresh goat's milk, saponified coconut oil, olive oil, and red palm oil…. That's it! Goat milk offers the skin some amazing benefits, is easily absorbed into the skin, and is loaded with lactic acids and vitamins. It promotes healthy skin by aiding in the removal of dead skin cells and providing an extra layer of hydration for the skin.

With our selection of high-quality bar soaps, choosing an oatmeal soap for your baby is simple and easy. We know you and your babies will love it!  

    10 comments

    Martha valle

    I just bought your unscented soap for my 4 year old granddaughter that has ezcema and the all shield soap for me and im seeing the difference alot thank you

    Bend Soap Company

    Hi Nikki! — We are so happy to hear that the milk bath is helping your son… That’s always the type of result and feedback we’re looking for here at Bend Soap Co.! Thanks for sharing a little bit of your story with us. :) Keep on enjoying your goat milk soap products!

    Bend Soap Company

    Hey Corina — You bet! Thanks for giving it a read. :) And that’s a great question! While our soap is made with 100% natural ingredients, we do recommend that you try to prevent your baby from putting it in his or her mouth as best you can. While ingesting a small bit of our soap won’t result in serious harm, it was intended to soothe your skin, not your inside. ;) You can learn more about this here in our “What Will Happen If I Eat My Goat Milk Soap?” blog post: https://www.bendsoap.com/blogs/sudsy-scoop/what-will-happen-if-i-eat-my-goat-milk-soap

    A great way to avoid this is to use our Oatmeal & Honey Milk Bath OR just simply keep the bar of soap out of his reach. In regards to worries about honey in our lotion, we do not make an Oatmeal & Honey Goat Milk Lotion, so there’s no need to worry about that!

    Corina Pennington

    Thank you for the super informative article!! I had a question about the honey in the oatmeal soaps and lotions. Ive heard not to give babies honey because of botulism, my son puts EVERYTHING in his mouth so bath time is tricky. Do you think it’s a concern having a soap and lotion with honey if he puts it in his mouth. Mainly thinking of the honey in the lotion.

    Nikki

    I wish I would have discovered this 5 years ago. We have battled eczema with our little guy since he was about 6 months old. He also suffers from several allergies. His skin looks so much better since using the milk bath and oatmeal soap the last 6 months. Summer weather and wearing shorts is always a battle. The grasses and hot weather cause his skin to get inflamed and raw. Looking forward to seeing the improvement in a few months.


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