Top 13 baby essentials for your little human!
Just like every mother I know, I was super concerned and super particular about every thing that touched little Miss Alekya. From the clothes she wore to all the products that we used with her, I did extensive research on every thing before choosing it.
So now, when friends reach out for suggestions on the shampoo we chose, or the sunblock Alekya uses, or even things like whether or not insect repellent is safe for babies, I am glad to be able to help!
The world of baby products is a complex one - mainly because, your choices are rarely driven by price, and companies know that (!!), but also because, it is so difficult to read the fine print on what actually goes into the beautiful bottles that are proclaimed to be, 'safe' for our most precious humans.
I confess to having fallen prey myself to, 'the more expensive, the better' philosophy more than once, and hence thought of writing this post to put together a list of essential products that I found to be the most useful and effective, as well as safe and suitable for my daughter. So here goes:
1. Massage Oil: probably one of the first things you need for a new born. Oil can help in smoothening the skin and also in removing the dead skin that new born babies have. We were advised to use COCONUT OIL for Alekya from day one, and have actually never changed that. I have found that pure coconut oil is the best for massages, for hair, and even for things like rashes due to diaper elastic etc. It is almost like a magic potion! I have tried a couple of massage oils such as the ones by Mamaearth, Mothercare, Forest Essentials, and, Himalaya, but still found COCONUT OIL to be the best.
2. Moisturizing Lotion: Having tried Mothercare, Himalaya, Sebamed, and Chicco, our choice has been Chicco for over a year now. This is mostly because, it is easy to use, doesn't have a very strong fragrance, and seems to suit my daughter's skin. Having recently tried Mamaearth however, I might shift to this no-toxin, made-safe option, which is seriously good quality at a very reasonable price.
3. Wet wipes: Being very particular about using non-plastic wipes for my daughter, I ended-up trying only Mothercare, Chicco, and very recently Mamaearth wipes. My choice has been Mothercare wipes for the longest time, because they have no fragrance, and very good levels of moisture. Recently however, I have been introduced to India's first bamboo-based wipes from Mamaearth and they are a good option too! Choose well, because non-fibre based wipes can cause severe rashes, and are very harmful for your baby's sensitive skin.
4. Nappies: Till Alekya was about 6 months old, I used only cloth nappies with her. This was very inconvenient in terms of cleaning up etc. but was really good for her skin, and she hardly had any rashes in the first 6 months. I used a cotton nappy liner for the nights, and there are some available from the brand Teddy, which are quite good and safe.
5. Diapers: We started Alekya on Huggies, but slowly decided Pampers suited her better. She had fewer rashes, and the fit was also better for her slender frame. She is currently on Pampers Premium Pants and they are fabulous!
6. Shampoo: Here I have tried almost all the brands available - from Burt's Bees, Sebamed, and Forest Essentials, to Chicco, Himalaya and Mamaearth. My clear winner here is Mamaearth. The shampoo is mild, no-tear, no-toxins, made-safe, and does not have a strong chemical smell. It is also reasonably priced, and has a nice bottle so my daughter has grown very fond of it! I am yet to try the newly launched Momsco. shampoo for Alekya and will post a review once I have tried it.
7. Body Wash: Again a category where I have tried multiple brands, and again my winner is Mamaearth, followed closely by Forest Essentials (The 2 in 1 shampoo and body wash). The Mamaearth body wash is mild, non-toxic, made-safe, does not have a strong smell, does not lather too much, and does not leave the skin super-dry.
8. Face cream: I have used the Chicco moisturizing lotion as a face cream for my daughter for the longest time. It is a nice gently lotion, and really suits my daughter's skin, so it is my top choice. I have just started using the Mamaearth face cream for babies, and it is a really good face cream because of its slightly thicker consistency, lovely texture. I might be a convert!!
9. Sun Block: After extensive research in this category, I found out (when Alekya was about 6 month old), that the only product available for her was the Mamaearth sun screen. And it turned out to be a fantastic sunscreen for babies. It is my only choice for babies, and Alekya has been using it for almost a year now. It suits her skin, has no harmful chemicals, is easy to apply and does not have a horrible chemical smell like most sunscreens. What more could one ask for!!
10. Insect Repellent: Again, there really is no competition for the Mamaearth all natural Insect repellent for babies. I have been using this with my daughter for more than a year now, and absolutely no complaints. It is a must-have for your baby. I also found Mosbito patches very good (all-natural, with no DEET).
11. After bite relief: There is only one product available in this category, and that is the after-bite roll-on from Mamaearth. Though ideally you shouldn't need this if you have used the insect repellent properly, but my daughter did get bitten when we missed using the repellent with her. This roll-on is a good, soothing option, to avoid itching and to provide much-needed relief to babies. It has quite a strong smell though, so you might want to check before using with a very small baby. I started using this with my daughter only after checking with her doctor, and only after she was a year old.
12. Nappy Rash cream: This one, goes hands down to Sebamed. I am yet to come across a better nappy rash cream on the market. I have tried a whole range, but nothing provides immediate relief like Sebamed. This is probably one of the most expensive nappy rash creams on the market but completely worth the price. One tip: Sebamed are fantastic at sending test kits for babies so if you have a doubt, try a small tube before making up your mind. Just drop them a line.
13. Dusting Powder: So talcum powder is extremely harmful for babies, and hence we never used any for Alekya. Only after she turned one, we have chosen a talc-free dusting powder for her. My current choice is the dusting powder from Momsco., a natural, talc-free, mild, and gentle powder. I haven't tried Mamaearth yet because it is always out of stock!!
So here's my top 13 and I hope this is useful! If there are other fantastic products I have missed please do leave a comment!
So now, when friends reach out for suggestions on the shampoo we chose, or the sunblock Alekya uses, or even things like whether or not insect repellent is safe for babies, I am glad to be able to help!
The world of baby products is a complex one - mainly because, your choices are rarely driven by price, and companies know that (!!), but also because, it is so difficult to read the fine print on what actually goes into the beautiful bottles that are proclaimed to be, 'safe' for our most precious humans.
I confess to having fallen prey myself to, 'the more expensive, the better' philosophy more than once, and hence thought of writing this post to put together a list of essential products that I found to be the most useful and effective, as well as safe and suitable for my daughter. So here goes:
1. Massage Oil: probably one of the first things you need for a new born. Oil can help in smoothening the skin and also in removing the dead skin that new born babies have. We were advised to use COCONUT OIL for Alekya from day one, and have actually never changed that. I have found that pure coconut oil is the best for massages, for hair, and even for things like rashes due to diaper elastic etc. It is almost like a magic potion! I have tried a couple of massage oils such as the ones by Mamaearth, Mothercare, Forest Essentials, and, Himalaya, but still found COCONUT OIL to be the best.
2. Moisturizing Lotion: Having tried Mothercare, Himalaya, Sebamed, and Chicco, our choice has been Chicco for over a year now. This is mostly because, it is easy to use, doesn't have a very strong fragrance, and seems to suit my daughter's skin. Having recently tried Mamaearth however, I might shift to this no-toxin, made-safe option, which is seriously good quality at a very reasonable price.
3. Wet wipes: Being very particular about using non-plastic wipes for my daughter, I ended-up trying only Mothercare, Chicco, and very recently Mamaearth wipes. My choice has been Mothercare wipes for the longest time, because they have no fragrance, and very good levels of moisture. Recently however, I have been introduced to India's first bamboo-based wipes from Mamaearth and they are a good option too! Choose well, because non-fibre based wipes can cause severe rashes, and are very harmful for your baby's sensitive skin.
4. Nappies: Till Alekya was about 6 months old, I used only cloth nappies with her. This was very inconvenient in terms of cleaning up etc. but was really good for her skin, and she hardly had any rashes in the first 6 months. I used a cotton nappy liner for the nights, and there are some available from the brand Teddy, which are quite good and safe.
5. Diapers: We started Alekya on Huggies, but slowly decided Pampers suited her better. She had fewer rashes, and the fit was also better for her slender frame. She is currently on Pampers Premium Pants and they are fabulous!
6. Shampoo: Here I have tried almost all the brands available - from Burt's Bees, Sebamed, and Forest Essentials, to Chicco, Himalaya and Mamaearth. My clear winner here is Mamaearth. The shampoo is mild, no-tear, no-toxins, made-safe, and does not have a strong chemical smell. It is also reasonably priced, and has a nice bottle so my daughter has grown very fond of it! I am yet to try the newly launched Momsco. shampoo for Alekya and will post a review once I have tried it.
7. Body Wash: Again a category where I have tried multiple brands, and again my winner is Mamaearth, followed closely by Forest Essentials (The 2 in 1 shampoo and body wash). The Mamaearth body wash is mild, non-toxic, made-safe, does not have a strong smell, does not lather too much, and does not leave the skin super-dry.
8. Face cream: I have used the Chicco moisturizing lotion as a face cream for my daughter for the longest time. It is a nice gently lotion, and really suits my daughter's skin, so it is my top choice. I have just started using the Mamaearth face cream for babies, and it is a really good face cream because of its slightly thicker consistency, lovely texture. I might be a convert!!
9. Sun Block: After extensive research in this category, I found out (when Alekya was about 6 month old), that the only product available for her was the Mamaearth sun screen. And it turned out to be a fantastic sunscreen for babies. It is my only choice for babies, and Alekya has been using it for almost a year now. It suits her skin, has no harmful chemicals, is easy to apply and does not have a horrible chemical smell like most sunscreens. What more could one ask for!!
10. Insect Repellent: Again, there really is no competition for the Mamaearth all natural Insect repellent for babies. I have been using this with my daughter for more than a year now, and absolutely no complaints. It is a must-have for your baby. I also found Mosbito patches very good (all-natural, with no DEET).
12. Nappy Rash cream: This one, goes hands down to Sebamed. I am yet to come across a better nappy rash cream on the market. I have tried a whole range, but nothing provides immediate relief like Sebamed. This is probably one of the most expensive nappy rash creams on the market but completely worth the price. One tip: Sebamed are fantastic at sending test kits for babies so if you have a doubt, try a small tube before making up your mind. Just drop them a line.
So here's my top 13 and I hope this is useful! If there are other fantastic products I have missed please do leave a comment!
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