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It is heartbreaking to see rashes on your little one’s young skin as a result of that itchy condition, eczema. Worse when he’s wailing in frustration from the unbearable itch. To prevent flare-ups or cause more damage to his delicate skin, make sure that your baby’s soap does not contain harmful ingredients.

So, watch out for substances like glycolic acid, salicylic acid and retinol that tend to dry or irritate the skin. Choose bath products that are free from artificial preservatives like methylparaben and butylparaben, which can trigger inflammation. Opt for natural preservatives like neem or grapefruit seed extract instead. While you might think a lightly scented soap can make bathtime more inviting — besides leaving your little one smelling oh-so-sweet — such chemicals can do more harm than good.

Choose products with natural ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, which acts like an emollient to moisturise and heal inflamed skin. Emollients form an oily layer above the skin, which helps it trap water, thus relieving dry and irritated skin.

By the way, if you’re switching to a new soap, stop its use and seek medical advice if you spot any flare-ups. Check out these tried and tested washes that soothe your tot’s skin even as they clean:

Aveeno Baby Cleansing Therapy Moisturising Wash

PRICE $11.06/236 ml

FROM iHerb 

WHAT Made with soothing oat essence and colloidal oatmeal, the creamy soap is mild on a baby’s tender skin. With the National Eczema Association’s — an American non-profit organisation — Seal of Acceptance, users are assured that it’s free from potential skin irritants. However, it contains sodium chloride and sodium benzoate, ingredients that could exacerbate eczema.

PARENTS SAY Mum of two Penelope Ng likes that it keeps her daughter’s eczema under control as well as the pleasant scent. The light foam turns into a rich lather when mixed with water, creating lots of bubbles and great for bathtime fun. One downside — since the bottle doesn’t have a pump, it’s makes dispensing the soap a little difficult.

Jo Lauren Baby Castile Foamy Wash Organic Lavender & Ylang Ylang

PRICE $28.90/250ml

FROM Jo Lauren Organic Baby Skin Food

WHAT Unlike other types of soaps, Castile soap contains glycerine, so it’s less drying and harsh on baby’s fragile skin. The ingredients should put mothers at ease, since it includes organic oils like coconut, olive and jojoba. It also boasts aloe vera leaf extract, which moisturises the skin, while the soothing lavender and ylang ylang scents should lull baby to sleep.

PARENTS SAY One mother says the wash is really moisturising, while another mum was thrilled that it calmed her son’s mild eczema rash.

Click to find more soothing baby wash products!

Jo Lauren Baby Colloidal Oatmeal Bath Bag — The Original

PRICE $23.90/15 bath bags

FROM Jo Lauren Organic Baby Skin Food 

WHAT Try these bath bags if you want a break from conventional washes! Created with ground oatmeal, the bath contains phenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Free from preservatives, parabens, glycol and chemicals, the bags are easy to use. Simply run warm water through the bag to disperse the oatmeal, which turns the water into a milky solution that’s great for moisturising bubba’s skin.

PARENTS SAY One mother, who bought the oatmeal bath bag specially for her little girl’s eczema, notes that she’s put at ease because it’s made with food-grade ingredients.

Cetaphil Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Wash

PRICE $26.90/295ml

FROM Guardian and Watsons

WHAT Dermatologists often prescribe this brand people with sensitive skin. The creamy Restoraderm body wash hydrates and nourishes inflamed skin. Hypoallergenic, fragrance- and paraben-free, it’s suitable for daily use and clinically proven to be non-irritating and non-drying on skin. In fact, it claims to be helpful in increasing and retaining skin moisture (yay for saving on that moisturiser).

PARENTS SAY Mum J Ling says that her son’s skin feels soft and smooth for some time after his bath. A bonus: The creamy wash produces lots of bubbles, which is great for bathtime fun. Although quite pricey, a little goes a long way.

Physiogel Daily Moisture Therapy Shower Cream for Dry and Sensitive Skin

PRICE $23.90/150ml

FROM Watsons 

WHAT This double-action soap cleanses and moisturises the skin at the same time. GPs recommend it for babies as the mild and creamy hypoallergenic cleanser is free from preservatives, perfumes and colorants.

PARENTS SAY Mum SQ Huang who says she has been bathing her 2-year-old daughter with this shower cream since she was 3 months old, under the direction of her GP, notes that it is easy to wash off and hydrating.

California Baby Therapeutic Relief Eczema Shampoo & Body Wash

PRICE $33.90/562ml

FROM Baby Online

WHAT Made from various plant extracts like organic calendula (eases pain and swelling) and aloe vera, this gentle soap helps treats irritated skin. Tears-free, this two-in-one foaming wash features colloidal oatmeal, which heals cracked skin. Free from sulfates, fragrances, alcohol, dyes and steroids, this versatile cleanser can conveniently be used on not just the hair and body, but even the face of newborns.

PARENTS SAY A mum loves that it not only calms her daughter’s eczema, it prevents more breakouts, too. Another says the soap resolved her infant’s severe cradle cap, which hasn’t resurfaced since. 

Click to discover more eczema-safe washes for baby!

Dermaveen Shower and Bath Oil

PRICE $18.80/250ml

FROM Watsons 

WHAT Thanks to colloidal oatmeal, the bath oil cleans your little one’s skin, even as it prevents it from drying up. Paraben-, dye- and fragrance-free, the alkali-based oil restores the skin’s pH balance, leaving it soft and supple to the touch. Suitable for all parts of the body, including the face, you can even use it to treat diaper rash, too! Just apply directly to the affected area before bathing baby.

PARENTS SAY One mum enthuses that it’s so hydrating that she doesn’t need to apply additional moisturiser on her baby after his bath.

QV Gentle Wash

PRICE $13.20/250g

FROM Watsons

WHAT High concentrations of moisturiser boosts baby’s hydration levels, which also soothes dry and inflamed skin. Since the pH-balanced soap cleans without blocking the skin’s pores, baby’s tender skin maintains its natural protective properties. Also free from dyes, fragrances and lanolin.

PARENTS SAY Irene Chong’s dermatologist recommended that she use QV Gentle Wash for her son’s eczema, which was on his face, neck and elbow creases. The itchy rash subsided after she used the wash consistently. A plus? She only needed to dilute a small amount of soap in warm water!

Mustela Stelatopia Cleansing Cream

PRICE $24.64/200ml

FROM Pupsik Studio

WHAT This effective cream cleanser, which contains no essential oils, perfumes, soap and colouring, boasts sunflower oil to calm itchy eczema-prone skin. Gentle enough for use on newborns, it’s even garnered the National Eczema Association’s Seal of Acceptance.

PARENTS SAY A grateful father said it effectively reduced his daughter’s extensive eczema on her chest, arms, scalp and legs to almost nothing.

Esemtan Wash Lotion

PRICE $35.20/1 litre

FROM Guardian 

WHAT Known emollient allantoin, a major ingredient in this wash, cleans skin while preventing dryness. The pH-neutral bath liquid has a light and pleasant light fragrance that’s approved by the International Fragrance Association, which regulates the responsible use of fragrances in skincare products. This mild soap, which produces a gentle lather, is suitable for newborns to seniors.      

PARENTS SAY Users give the thumbs up to this body wash, which cleans the skin effectively, even as it leaves it feeling hydrated.