Mama + Baby

As a new mom, it can be overwhelming trying to decide on the best products to use for your baby. With so many options on the market, it can be tempting to go for the most convenient or affordable choice. However, it's essential to consider the potential long-term effects of your products on your baby's delicate skin and overall health. This is where natural products come in. 1. Gentler on the Skin Using natural products on your baby has numerous benefits. For one, natural products are often made with plant-based ingredients that are gentler on the skin. Many baby products on the market contain harsh chemicals that can irritate or dry out your baby's skin. On the other hand, natural products are less likely to irritate and can help nourish and moisturize your baby's skin. Try Simple Mama Naturals pH-balanced Baby Wash + Shampoo and Body Lotion. 2. Safer for Overall Health In addition to being gentler on the skin, natural products are safer for your baby's overall health. Many traditional baby products contain potentially harmful chemicals such as phthalates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. These chemicals have been linked to various health concerns, including hormonal imbalances, allergies, and cancer. You can avoid exposing your baby to these potentially harmful ingredients by choosing natural products. 3. Environmentally Friendly Using natural products can also be more environmentally friendly. Many traditional baby products are made with synthetic ingredients that can harm the environment. On the other hand, natural products are made with more sustainable and biodegradable ingredients. This means they are less likely to pollute our waterways and contribute to environmental degradation. 4. Natural fragrance Another benefit of using natural products on your baby is that they are often free from artificial preservatives and fragrances. Many traditional baby products contain artificial fragrances that can cause irritation and allergies in some babies. On the other hand, natural products often have a more subtle scent derived from essential oils or other natural ingredients. This makes them an excellent option for babies with sensitive skin or allergies. It's worth noting that not all natural products are created equal. It's important to research and choose products that are genuinely natural and made with high-quality ingredients. Look for products that are organic and made with all-natural ingredients. Avoid products that contain potentially harmful ingredients, such as sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances. In conclusion, there are numerous reasons why new moms should consider using natural products on their babies. Natural products are gentler on the skin, safer for overall health, more environmentally friendly, and often free from artificial preservatives and fragrances. Your baby's health and well-being are well worth it. SHOP SIMPLE MAMA xoxoJewels

One of the hardest things about being a parent is comforting your child when they are in pain. As a mom, I remember how frustrating a diaper rash can be for both parents and babies. In this blog, let's discuss prevention and ways to help babies heal from diaper dermatitis.   What is Diaper Dermatitis   Dermatitis is inflammation of the skin, most commonly caused by a substance in the environment. In the case of diaper dermatitis (diaper rash), the substances that frequently cause irritation and inflammation are urine and feces. Removing the irritating substances before they cause irritation can be tricky since a newborn baby typically has between 6- 10 bowel movements a day! That's a lot of diaper changes! Also, be aware that fragrance and harsh ingredients in laundry detergents and lotions can also irritate the soft, sensitive skin on a baby's bottom.   Preventing Diaper Dermatitis   One of the best defenses against diaper rash is prevention. Basically, diaper dermatitis occurs when the skin covered by a diaper is wet for an extended period of time. The less time the irritating substance comes in contact with the skin, the better. However, this is easier said than done, especially if you are also caring for other little people! One thing that can really help is putting a protective layer over the skin preventing it from contacting the substance doing the irritating (urine and feces). Doing this can buy you a little time and save your baby the pain and discomfort of developing a rash. Using an emollient-rich balm like Simple Mama Naturals Diaper Balm each time you change your babies' diaper can help prevent the irritation that can lead to diaper rash.   Offering Relief   When a baby's skin is raw and red from diaper dermatitis, it will need extra protection to heal. First, remove the irritating substance. Clean your baby's bottom and provide some diaper-free time! Simple Body created a line of products specifically for new moms and their babies called Simple Mama Naturals. This line includes an all-natural, vegan, cruelty-free Diaper Balm to help prevent, soothe, and recover from diaper dermatitis. The ingredients make all the difference.   Emollient Ingredients   Shea Butter, Olive Oil, and Coconut oil: The fats (oils and butter) used to make our diaper balm have properties that create a protective barrier on the skin to enhance skin cell growth, repair dry and damaged skin, soothe inflammation, facilitate wound healing, and soften skin.   Protective Ingredients   Zinc Oxide is often used in mineral-based products like sunscreen and makeup because it remains on the skin's surface, forming a protective coating. This is why it works so well in diaper balm; it creates a barrier between the offensive irritants and allows the skin to heal.   Healing Herbs   Practitioners have used the combination of St. John's wort and Calendula in traditional medicine blends because of their beautiful marriage of herbal properties for the skin. The antibacterial and wound-healing properties of St. John's wort, along with Calendula's anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties, create the perfect power couple of herbs for most skin trouble, including diaper rash.   An Extra Layer of Protection   There may be times when your baby gets a raging mad diaper rash! If this happens, you'll need an extra layer of herb-infused protection. With two additional skin-healing herbs, marshmallow root and yarrow, you'll notice a considerable difference in the amount of redness and inflammation on your little one's bottom. Before applying Diaper Balm, apply a thin layer of Simple Body's Skin Rescue. In fact, Skin Rescue can be applied to any skin inflammation, like eczema, hives, burns, cuts, and rashes. Plus, it comes in a convenient travel size, too!   Diaper rash is the most common skin problem in infants. Sometimes rashes can occur when introducing new foods, teething, and for no explanation at all! So, protect your babies' skin before problems occur with Simple Mama Naturals Diaper Balm and Simple Body's Skin Rescue. Always consult your baby's primary care physician after a few days if there is no improvement or if the rash gets progressively worse. xoxoJewels

Nothing is sweeter than a newborn baby with chubby cheeks, tiny fingers and toes, and the softest skin in the world. But unfortunately, they don't come with an instruction manual! A baby's still developing skin, in particular, requires special consideration. So, let's discuss what makes it different, how to protect it, and why our founder formulated the Simple Mama Naturals line with all this in mind.  A Baby's Developing Skin  Skin provides a physical barrier between us and the external environment. However, the skin barrier isn't fully developed during the first year of your newborn's life. As a result, babies are vulnerable to excessive dryness and permeability until the skin barrier is fully mature. Because of this, anything applied topically, like cleansers and moisturizers, absorbs more readily, making babies susceptible to harmful chemicals and drying agents in products. In addition, hydration level, pH balance, and the skin's microbiome are markedly different from that of adults and are all things to consider when caring for your new baby. Hydration When babies are born, their skin is about 20% thinner than adults. With less fat, melanin, and other natural moisturizing factors, their skin loses water (and absorbs water) and heat much more easily than an adult's. As the skin barrier continues to develop during the first year of life, which cleansers and moisturizing agents you use and how often you use them become particularly important.  Skin pH The pH of babies' skin is also different from that of adults. Why is this important? pH is a number scale (between 0-14) given to a solution to describe the level of acidity or alkalinity. A pH of less than 7 is acidic, and greater than 7 is alkaline. Mature skin (sweat and glands, specifically) has a pH between 5-6, a perfect environment to support the function of key enzymes that maintain a healthy skin barrier or "acid mantle." This mantle is a wall of defense, keeping out intruding organisms and substances and keeping in needed hydration and heat. However, at birth, babies' skin has a pH of around 7 and gradually becomes more acidic as it ages. During this vulnerable period, it is vital not to damage developing skin by using products that are too alkaline (over a pH of 7). Skin Microbiome You may have heard of the "Gut microbiome," the micro-organisms in the intestines that help break down bacteria and influence your health in numerous ways. But did you know that your skin has a microbiome as well? The microflora that lives on healthy skin grow optimally at an acidic (below 7) pH. When healthy microflora isn't present, harmful bacteria will thrive, leading to inflammation, acne, and other skin problems. Using overly alkaline products on your baby's developing skin can establish a less-than-ideal skin microflora, setting them up for problems down the road.  Protecting the Skin Barrier Soap, lotion & moisturizers for dry skin, even those marketed for use on babies, often have a pH well above 7. Repeatedly washing babies' skin with alkaline cleansers triggers inflammation, and disruption in the moisture barrier, leaving skin more permeable and susceptible to dehydration, inflammation, infection, eczema, and other chronic skin issues. Then, we apply overly alkaline lotions to a weakened skin barrier, exacerbating the problem. If babies' skin is damaged when the barrier is still developing, chronic skin issues can linger into adulthood. So, how do we set our little ones up for healthy skin? Specialized Products for Your Baby Simple Body's Simple Mama Naturals line of products are pH balanced for the unique needs of a baby's skin. The Baby Wash + Shampoo starts with tea made from Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) flowers that soothes irritable, dry skin. Then, we add two humectants, aloe vera, and vegetable glycerin, to restore barrier function by drawing moisture to the top layer of the skin. For best results, limit baths to 2-3 a week.  After bathtime, protect skin with Chamomile Baby Lotion. Using Chamomile and Lavender tea, Jojoba oil, Apricot Kernel oil, and Vegetable Glycerin, this pH-balanced Baby lotion will hydrate and nourish skin without damaging the developing barrier. Use the Chamomile Baby Lotion twice daily on more exposed areas that may require a little extra hydration. We formulate all the Simple Mama Naturals products with the highest quality, natural, and organic ingredients (when available). We never use sulfates, phthalates, synthetic fragrances, or mineral oils. Our goal is to empower and educate parents so they can care for their babies and future generations by creating products that are clean, natural, and affordable. In addition, our Simple Mama Naturals line considers hydration, pH, and microflora so you can relax and enjoy the little humans in your life, knowing you're protecting their developing skin.