What kind of soap and what shampoo should I use when washing a child?

The skin of a child, especially a newborn, is sensitive, and any soap is a mild irritant. The purpose of soap is to form a suspension with dirt particles and oils present on the skin surface( i.e., bring them to a suspended state) so that they can be easily removed from the skin with water. Without soap, some fats, dirt and skin-like secrets would simply stick to the skin, and it would take a lot of rubbing the skin with a washcloth and water to wash them off, which in itself would lead to skin irritation. The skin of each child has an individual tolerance of different types of soap. How many soaps, how often and what type, can be determined only by trial and error, but here are the basic rules:

• Use soap only on those areas that are very heavily soiled with secretions, such as fat or sweat, which are not easily removed by simple water without vigorousfriction.

• For the first time using this or that soap, do a test on a small area of ​​the body - make a smear. If within the next few hours the skin turns red, or withers, or changes significantly in any other way than the rest of the

sites, discard this soap and try another.

• Use a mild soap. Baby soap is a common soap with fewer additives, such as antibacterial ingredients, aromatic compositions or abrasive substances. In our experience, we can say that soap "Dove" is suitable for the skin of most babies.

• Limit the soap time on the baby's skin to less than five minutes to avoid skin peeling or irritation. Rinse it off as soon as possible and rinse the skin thoroughly with water.

• In addition, avoid intense rubbing with soap from any area of ​​the skin.

If your child is prone to eczema or has allergic dermatitis, use as little soap as possible and bathe as little as possible. Soap, prepared according to a special prescription, which you can write to a dermatologist, can help. Children with especially sensitive skin should spend as little time as possible in the bath - it is better to wash them under the shower and clean the individual, most polluted areas.

Shampoos are close in composition to soap and, if overused, can irritate the scalp and deprive the hair of a natural grease. Washing your hair with shampoo once a week is enough for most children. Use a mild baby shampoo;as well as children's soap, baby shampoos contain fewer supplements compared to other kinds of shampoos. Seldom is there a need to rub the shampoo deep into the scalp. If your child's head is covered with a scaly, oily substance called crusts, after washing the head of with shampoo, massage the vegetable oil into crusts to soften them and comb out with a soft comb.

Here is the final thought about soap and shampoos, which many mothers have been sharing with me for many years. Sensitive moms think that the abuse of soap and shampoo( as well as butter and talcum with odorants) interrupts the natural smell of a newborn baby, which mothers find irresistible. It is also better not to interrupt the natural smell of the mother that the child needs, while the spirits of some children are irritating.