Top Ten Organic Bath and Body Products for Children

Kids are often the most sensitive to the chemicals and synthetics included in commercial soaps and lotions. Even the companies that specialize in childrens' products contain products that are known irritants, such as laurates, phthalates, sulfates and parabens. Keep in mind that whatever ingredient you put on your child's skin is absorbed into her body. Just as you would want to make sure that her food is made of good ingredients, you should also make sure that her bath products are nontoxic and of good quality. Here are the top ten bath and body products that I've used for my own boy:

Weleda Baby Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash. Weleda is a company from Germany that specializes in biodynamic ingredients, gathered from their own gardens! Biodynamic agriculture is a form of organic farming that focuses on creating a self-sustaining ecosystem for plants to grow in. This makes for much healthier plants without depleting the soil. The Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash is made of rich, creamy ingredients that will protect your child's skin. Because its lack of harmful sodium lauryl sulfate, it won't get too bubbly, but it will leave the protective oil layer of your child's skin intact.

Weleda Baby Calendula Lotion. Made from the same company above, this lotion is wonderful to use after the Calendula Shampoo and Body Wash. It contains almond and sesame oils, which are very light and gentle moisturizers. It also contains calendula, which has anti-inflammatory properties that are good for diaper rash, dry skin and eczema. This lotion a gentle natural fragrance that you will love.

Weleda Children's Tooth Gel. This toothpaste is fluoride-free, which is especially good for kids' baby teeth because we already have excessive amounts of fluoride in our water to begin with. It gently cleanses the teeth with finely ground silica, and has a pleasant taste and smell. It's also completely edible, so during those toothbrush training years, you won't have to worry if some of it makes it into your child's stomach! Many commercial childrens' toothpastes also advertise that they are safe to swallow, but they still contain ingredients that should never make it into a person's body.

Erbaviva Sniffles Chest Balm. Please throw out the Vicks! A good rule of thumb when it comes to children's products is, if your mom was able to get it at the drugstore when you were a kid, then don't buy it. Many of these products have not changed their formulations for decades, which means that they come from a time when nobody thought about the toxicity of products. The Sniffles Chest Balm is a petroleum-free alternative. It makes use of eucalyptus, tea tree and myrrh for its ability to naturally clear up congestion, and cypress oil for its antiviral properties.

Erbabiva Baby Washbag Pouches. These can be used like an bath tea, specially made for newborns' ultra-sensitive skin. You basically soak one soft muslin pouch in warm water and gently rub it over your baby's skin like a washcloth. I love the light herbal smell of this product!

Erbabviva Sunscreen SPF15. This gentle, non-greasy sunscreen is not only good for kids, adults love it too. The only thing I don't like about going to the beach is having to slather on that nasty, thick and greasy sunscreen. Erbaviva Sunscreen is much lighter, made with avocado and almond oils to moisturize, and lavender and chamomile to soothe. It uses titanium dioxide but somehow it avoids having that metallic smell.

Baby Bee Buttermilk Bath Soak. Burts Bees is not an organic brand, but they use natural ingredients. In the case of this particular product, the only ingredients are nonfat dry milk, buttermilk powder, and fragrance. Buttermilk is rich in fats and is a gentle, soothing cleanser which will help protect your baby's skin.

California Baby Aromatherapy Bubble Bath. All of the bath products I've listed will not bubble up because they do not use sodium lauryl sulfate. That's a good thing, but at the same time, you know your kids are going to miss the bubbles! California Baby Aromatherapy Bubble Bath uses natural saponins to make bubbles. It won't make bubbles as frothy as commercial bubble baths, but it's better than dealing with the toxins. The bottle comes with a bubble wand which is great to play with in the bath.

Indigo Wild Wee Bar. This children's soap is made by the same company that makes Zum Bar Soaps. This soap is made with aloe vera and goat's milk, and a combination of natural cold pressed oils. It has a soothing lavender scent.

Badger Baby Oil. Especially good for diaper rash, eczema or cradle cap. This oil is made with cold pressed olive and jojoba oils and soothing calendula and chamomile. A very simple, very gentle and effective product!

Check out Saffron Rouge's Black List for an extensive list of harmful/potentially harmful ingredients, and the reasons why they should be avoided. While unnaturally made bath and body products are often cheaper than their organic alternatives, we should keep in mind that it's not worth it to risk having the toxic materials build up inside our bodies, and especially not our children's, just to save a few dollars. Many of the products I listed above are available at your local health food store, or they can be found online.