Any parent will tell you that the arrival of a baby comes with an enormous amount of instructions, most of them delivered with unnerving certainty, along with an endless amount of unsolicited advice from those who have gone through these uncharted waters before you. Sterilise this, avoid that, wash everything twice, even the smallest decision can feel loaded with consequence.
Yet one thing all new parents can probably agree on is that there are few things quite as emotionally compelling as the smell of a freshly bathed baby, especially when it recalls the soft talcum powdered notes of our own childhoods. Fragrance has a remarkable ability to bypass reason and head directly for memory, which likely explains why baby products continue to be sold through the sweet smell of nostalgia. The bottle may be new, but the promise is familiar: this is what clean, cared-for infancy is supposed to smell like.
Some of those rituals have not aged well. Baby powder, once scattered over change tables with abandon, is now something paediatric guidance advises avoiding. Airborne talc can be inhaled and cause serious respiratory irritation, while talc may be contaminated with asbestos because the two minerals can occur naturally alongside one another. Even cornstarch powders can irritate the respiratory tract when inhaled. As compelling as it is, to embrace the scent of childhood, the practice of using the same products needs to be left in the past.
The same scrutiny belongs to a baby’s skin which is thinner and still developing its protective barrier, leaving it more vulnerable to dryness, irritation and allergens. Fragrance is a recognised cause of allergic contact dermatitis, and children can become sensitised during infancy. Once established, a contact allergy may persist, leaving the skin primed to react to the same ingredient years later.
Even the language on the label can be misleading. “Unscented” does not necessarily mean a product contains no fragrance, as scent may be included to disguise the smell of other ingredients. “Fragrance-free” is the more useful distinction, particularly for sensitive or eczema-prone skin. During the first weeks, many newborns require little more than warm water, with mild, perfume-free products introduced sparingly.
The difficulty is that exposure rarely comes from a single product. There is body wash, shampoo, bubble bath, moisturiser, oil, nappy balm and soap, followed by the laundry liquid used on every singlet, sheet, towel and muslin cloth baby is exposed to. A carefully chosen nappy balm can only do so much if the washing routine involves heavily fragranced detergent.
The immediate consequence of chemically laden products may be redness, dryness or eczema. The more serious concern is what happens later. Contact sensitisation can begin in infancy, particularly when a developing or compromised skin barrier is repeatedly exposed to allergens. Once the immune system has learned to recognise a fragrance ingredient as an enemy, that allergy may persist for life, with future exposure provoking allergic contact dermatitis. The beautifully scented wash used during babyhood can, in the wrong child, leave an intolerance that follows them into adulthood.
This is where ecostore’s baby collection makes practical sense. Its range considers the full, relentlessly repetitive business of caring for a newborn, from fragrance-free body wash and shampoo to bubble bath, oat milk soap and nappy balm. The plant and mineral-based formulations are dermatologically certified for sensitive skin, with New Zealand harakeke and organic chamomile used in the fragrance-free wash and shampoo.
Beyond baby, the thinking continues into ecostore’s Ultra Sensitive laundry range, which is free from fragrance and colourants and designed for baby clothing and sensitive skin.
There will always be plenty for new parents to worry about, much of it unavoidable and some of it supplied by
other parents. But choosing what touches a baby every day should be simple, not fragrant or nostalgic. The beauty of a newborn, after all, is that simple, sweet smell all of its own.
