Unwanted baby toilettries

HappyLottie

Hi,

As the title suggests I have been given some baby toilettries and I was wondering what to do with them. They include things like talc powder, baby bath, baby shampoo, body lotion etc.

I do not want to seem ungrateful but all the advice seems to be to not use these types of products on babies skin and either to stick to wipes/ cotton wool or top to toe wash. I'm being particularly cautious as sensitive skin runs in our family and I don't want my child to get allergies etc. (This is my first baby if thats not obvious!)

So I was wondering...

1. Does anyone have suggestions of what I can use these items for (other than on baby)? Obviously I could use them on myself but I wouldn't normally use talc etc so doesn't seem very money saving

OR
2. Do places like Boots exchange on these types of items without receipts and if so would I be able to exchange for other baby items or other toilettries in general?

OR
3. Can you use these for babies and if so at what age?

Thank you in advance

HL

pigpen

use them on the baby from birth.. if they cause a reaction stop.. chances are they'll be fine. I had horrendous eczema as a baby and have allergies now as do many in my family and i used baby bath, talc and baby shampoo on all of them without any problem at all.

You are being overcautious I think.. give them a go, if it turns out you can't use them on the baby use them yourself.

We can't use the top to toe wash.. it makes my hands really sore!!

We used baby lotion with cotton wool for bottoms for the first few weeks instead of wipes or water.. water is useless for shifting meconium!

jackomdj

I would agree with pigpen & try them, except talc which I don't like (although that is just a personal preference)

pukkamum

I received lots of these when i had my baby but i only use organic products and water on baby's skin as i hate the thought of putting all those chemicals on such fresh skin.
I gave all mine to the charity shop.

Evansangel

We cant use any of them, we did use them a few times and now she has eczema.
I used what i could and gave the rest to my neighbour

I wont be using them for the this next baby either.

JBD

You can always save them until the baby is older. I used to use baby bath until my children were about 7 or 8, i also used to use baby lotion as they were prone to very mild excema. I use baby talc myself in the summer, but agree it shouldn't be used on a baby.

bestpud

Do you have any pregnant friends?

Maybe you could wrap them nicely and give them as presents? In a nappy cake perhaps?

onlyroz

You could save them until baby is older, or maybe if they're still sealed a charity shop would accept them.

I found that you don't actually need that much in the way of toiletries in any case. I bought a large bottle of baby shampoo from ASDA when my son was a baby and nearly 6 years later it's still going strong, having used it on my daughter as well. Same with the bottle of talc I bought - I didn't use it when they were newborns but my daughter finds it hugely amusing when I "talc her up" these days...

As for baby lotion - I've got no idea what it's actually for. I did buy a bottle when I was pregnant with my son, but I've never touched it. Same with this huge tub of bottom-cream - it's barely been touched. All I've ever needed was a small tub of sudocrem, which has lasted 6 years and is still 3/4 full.

Mupette

baby shampoo to any dog owner for dog shampoo
talc for the summer to put in shoes and trainers.

bestpud

Mupette wrote: »

baby shampoo to any dog owner for dog shampoo
talc for the summer to put in shoes and trainers.

Oooh good thinking on both of those.

Talc is fab for getting off sand too (beach or sandpit), so it may become useful in years to come.

barbiedoll

If your baby has a decent amount of hair, it will be fine to use a drop of the baby shampoo to wash their hair and the small amount of bubbles in the bath water will act as a mild soap. Baby shampoo is really pure, people actually use it to clean under their eyelids
(:eek:) if they have flaky skin there, so it is ok to use on a small baby's hair. But use as little as possible, to protect the natural oils in their skin.

Baby lotion shouldn't be used all over a baby's skin if they are under 3 months old. it's fine for wiping bottoms but babies don't really need moisturising anyway, their skin has it's own natural protection, that's why you shouldn't use soap or baby bath, which can destroy this. Don't use baby oil either, it's a by-product of the petro-chemical industry and is really drying. Try rubbing some between your finger and thumb, you can hear it squeaking, it's not moisturising at all. Horrid stuff!

The official advice against talc is because of the danger of inhalation. It can irritate a baby's lungs so is best avoided, at least when they're tiny. It's fine for bigger kids, but not if they're asthmatic or have allergies, they will be sneezing and wheezing all over the bathroom!