When can I wash my baby with normal soap?

When can I wash my baby with normal soap?

Baby soap is the safest product for washing the baby's skin for the first 12 months. Skin products formulated for babies are non-toxic and do not contain dyes, deodorants or alcohol that incorporate adult products. Some of the ingredients in the soap can irritate a baby's skin (causing a reddish rash after a bath) and, in addition, babies do not need a soapy so deep as that offered by soaps for adults.

"Normal soap is designed to eliminate body odor and babies don't have that problem," says Mary Spraker, a pediatric dermatologist at Emory University and spokeswoman for the American Academy of Dermatology. What's more, she adds, you really don't need to use soap or a cleanser at all, except to clean the genital area and skin folds around arms and legs (when eating solid foods, you may have to clean more areas).

Until your baby is about a year old, use products designed for babies or use a very mild soap (the type that does not bubble) only on the parts of his body that really need it. Keep in mind that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends bathing babies only two or three times a week during the first year. Frequent baths can dry the baby's skin, especially during winter. Being in a bathtub with soapy water for a long time can also cause urinary tract infections, especially in girls.

If your baby has eczema (symptoms include areas of red, scaly and dry skin, especially on the face and elbows and knees), ask your pediatrician to prescribe a treatment and to recommend a care regime the skin. Children with eczema may be particularly sensitive to the ingredients in lotions and soaps.