Baby toiletries – those cute soaps and baby lotions always sound so nice to use and parents automatically buy them, thinking that if something is labeled for use by a baby then it must be soft and gentle. There are even some brands which promote themselves as encouraging sleepiness and calmness – very tempting for parents to pick this type of bubble bath compared to others.

Sadly a baby’s skin is so sensitive and easily breaks out in rashes meaning you may have to think twice about using baby toiletries. A baby can have an allergic reaction to what looks to be the most simple of cleansers, even those labelled just for a baby or sensitive skin.

Your skin will absorb about 60% of products applied to it and Green People estimates that the average woman will absorb around 2kg of chemicals through toiletries and cosmetics over one year, up to 75,000 different chemicals!We all know how sensitive a baby’s skin is and rates of eczema are rising fast and almost a third of babies are now sufferers.

Many people think that chemicals in the lotions and potions that we use are responsible.Even some so called “natural” products contain a range of chemicals that are believed to cause or make skin conditions worse or be carcinogenic, even if they are originally plant based.Worryingly, a product needs to have only 1% natural ingredients to be legally labelled “natural”.

Natural baby skin care products including natural baby oil and chemical free toiletries are no longer the preserve of the health food shop but are widely available on the high street or from specialist internet companies.

The Soil Association estimate that there will be a 20% increase in the number of licensed organic manufacturers this year, reflecting the huge surge in demand for natural skin care, especially amongst families with young children.