From handwashing to brushing their teeth, it’s our job to teach our kids proper hygiene habits. The importance of healthy skincare habits starts at home. As parents, we want to make healthy choices for our children regarding what they eat, what they play with, and which products we use on their bodies. Finding the safest kids' body products can feel a bit overwhelming. When we select skin and bath products for our children, we want to make sure they’re safe and gentle for our kids.
Starting a Kid’s Skin Care Routine
As they get older, your kid’s body changes. When they start going through puberty, their skin may start to break out, look oilier, or even smell a bit off. This can be both an exciting time and an embarrassing time for your child, but it is an excellent opportunity to teach your kids the importance of skincare and hygiene habits to last a lifetime.
The key to a successful routine for kids' skin is to keep it simple. As you start introducing a kids' skincare routine, sit down together to find their skin type. Once you’ve identified the type of skin your child has, you can properly select products made for kids. We recommend choosing products that are less harsh for kids' skin.
Start by teaching your kids healthy hygiene habits by implementing a routine that works for them. Your kid should shower every day, cleansing with a body wash. For younger kid's skin, the soothing mandarin foaming body wash is gentle and sensitive for all skin types. An older or more active boy or girl may like the odor-fighting tea tree foaming body wash as it is excellent for back acne and kids body odor.
Finding the right time of day for your tween and teens to establish their routine will take trial and error. Some kids like to start their day with a shower to help wake them up, and others shower at the end of the day to unwind before bed. If your kid is active, participates in sports, and sweats, they may need to shower twice a day to make sure their bodies are clean from oil, dirt, and germs.
Remember that your kid does not know as much as you do about taking care of their skin, but teaching them what you know and learning together will help their skin stay healthy. Your kids’ body also needs a balanced diet and exercise for overall healthy skincare.
Though the kid's body care products we choose may vary as children grow and mature, it is essential to always read labels for ingredients so that you are choosing safe, chemical-free products.
What Ingredients Should You Avoid when Shopping for Body Wash?
We’ve all heard the saying “soft as a baby’s bottom.” A kid's skin is also delicate, and many of the harsh chemicals found in many popular body washes can easily irritate a kid's skin. Heavy soaps and harsh chemicals should be avoided when choosing kid’s skincare products.
We caution against trendy, fragrant body wash. Many fragrances are overpowering and created with chemicals that will dry out the skin and even cause allergies. Parabens and gluten can also trigger allergies and strip moisture. Skip the perfume-based washes and choose unscented body wash or cleanser scented with natural essential oils.
What to Look for in a Body Wash
The key to safe, effective body and skincare is to find simple, clean products free of harmful ingredients. Kidskin body wash products are:
- Cruelty-Free
- Gluten-Free
- Paraben-Free
- Sulfate-Free
- Unscented
- Vegan
How to Properly Use Kids Body Wash
Body wash should be a pretty easy product to use, right? Wet your skin, lather up, and rinse off. There is a little bit more to using body wash than those three steps.
Most people, including adults, use too much body wash when they shower. A nickel-sized amount of body wash is an appropriate amount for a kid's body. Anything more than that size either doesn’t get rinsed off well or strips kid's skin of natural oils. Less is more when using products in the shower!
Another way to protect skin health while showering is to keep the water temperature warm, not hot. Using water that is too hot will dry out kid's skin. Your child should use their body wash to cleanse their body, including their hands, feet, underarms, and bottom. Using a body wash daily will help to make sure your kids' skin is clean.
Talking to Your Kids About Their Body
It can be incredibly frustrating to deal with a tween or teen who refuses to practice good hygiene. As parents, we take it personally and see it as a reflection on our parenting—it is embarrassing to have a smelly kid! When talking to your kids about their body keep a few of these tips in mind:
- Start early when incorporating a body wash into your kid's skincare and bathing routines.
- Try to avoid confrontations when talking about hygiene and your kid's body.
- Be a good role model and practice what you want your kids to do. As the parent, you are teaching them how to care for their body.
It’s important to remember that puberty is a confusing time for your preteen. Be gentle with your words. They may be embarrassed and sensitive about the changes to their body. Through your guidance and knowledge, your kid will adapt.
As your kids get older, make good hygiene a responsibility. Your kid will not want to be the smelly kid. Good hygiene with safe products will also help them combat unwanted dryness, rashes, and acne.
If you're struggling to get your child to bathe and practice good hygiene, a daily reward chart could encourage them, especially if they are younger. For an older kid, a weekly reward such as more screen time could be an incentive. If your child decides not to bathe appropriately, a reward chart has a built-in consequence of not receiving the reward.
There may be underlying issues as to why your kid is not taking care of their body. Be patient and provide the tools and knowledge they need to be successful in their skincare and hygiene.
Protecting your kid’s skin health is most likely a top priority for you. Setting your kids' skin up for long-lasting health is a priority and it all begins with simple ingredients and safe products!