Good morning mamas & papas!

Today we are going to be looking at things to consider when choosing the right skincare for your baby.  Babies have far more sensitive skin than adults.  Did you know what most babies will develop a rash in the first 6 months of their lives?  Harsh environmental factors such as detergents, soaps, dyes, chemicals, sun and even your jumper can bring your baby out in a rash.  Always be sure to check with a doctor though, just in case there isn't something more serious.  

Here at the Baby & Toddler Awards, we see and try a wide range of baby skincare products.  So we've compiled a list of things to consider when choosing skincare for your baby, as creams can provide a protective barrier against environmental factors.  At the same time, skincare products themselves can irritate babies, so you need to choose the best product for YOUR baby.

Tip 1 - Use your intuition 
You know your baby best and probably have a feel for when their skin gets irritated or why.  So choose products with this in mind.

Tip 2 - Do a patch test
It goes without saying to do a patch test on your baby when trying out new baby products.  Try a small patch on the arm or leg (not face) 24hours to 48 hours before in case there is any reaction

Tip 3 - Choose products designed for babies
This may sound obvious, but of course baby products have been designed specifically for the sensitive skin of babies.  Check the product is dermatologically tested.

Tip 4 - Don't overload your baby with skincare
Try one cream at a time.  Whether you are just trying to keep your baby's skin hydrated and smooth, or you need to find the right nappy cream - try not to overload your baby's skin using multiple products

Tip 5 - Don't fix what ain't broke
If a skincare product works - stick with it!  It's best not to expose your baby to too many types of products.  If something works for you and your baby, stick with that product.

Tip 6 - Look at the ingredients.
Look for things that YOUR BABY needs.  Do you need it to be Hypoallergenic?  Do you need SPF as it is summer, or maybe it is winter and you have a very fair baby?  Is it oil or cream based?  Organic ingredients mean there are no harsh pesticides in the ingredients.  'Natural ingredients' this is less regulated, but the idea is, products which ingredients from nature are more packed full of nutrition, are less environmentally harsh and don't contain man-made harsh chemicals.  Don't be put off if a product isn't natural though - many SPFs are man-made.  Think about your baby, and what your baby needs.

Wow, what a year it's been for the 2020 Baby & Toddler Awards. 

There's been so much innovation in this year's 2020 Baby & Toddler Awards.  We have been astounded by all the brands dedication to ingredients and awareness of natural and sensitive ingredients for their products.  There have been some interesting trends this year with the entrants.  There is a clear direction from baby and toddler brands to move ever more towards greener and cleaner baby skincare brands and you will see more of this with the winners announcement list.

This baby awards has been like none other.  In a year as turbulent as 2020, self care (especially for new mums who have been facing many firsts alone) has never been more important.  Skincare pick-me-ups are so important for a new mums mental health, as having a new baby can be daunting, and even more so without your usual support network to help you because of lockdown restrictions.  Brands, like the ones we have seen entered in this year's 2020 Baby & Toddler Awards, provide new mums with products that often promote healing, soothing or just make life a little easier for them and lockdown a little more bearable.

It has never been easy for new mums, with baby blues being a very real and common problem.  It is so important for new mums to find time to look after themselves with a little treat or pamper, to help you feel like the 'old' you!  We hope reading our winner's list in December you will be inspired by different mother and baby brands which have been tried and tested by real parents. 

With regards to baby products, 2020 is a year where we really want to protect and nurture our little ones.  There are more outdoor walks in what feels like Arctic conditions, and looking after their sensitive skin has never been more important.  Other trends we have seen with baby & toddler brands, is of course more baby safe soaps, as it has never been more important to wash those little hands.  

There has been a range of big name brands and smaller Indy baby care brands, launching their revolutionary and award winning baby and new mum lines on to the market.  The quality of the products has been second to none, and our team of judges, who are all parents, have been blown away by the quality of the entrants.  We hope you look forward to reading the winners announcement on 15th December.  And if you are looking to enter next year's 2021 Baby & Toddler Awards, we will soon be announcing the dates. Who knows what next year will have in store for us, but what we do know, is whatever the world throws at us, humanity is here to look after us and self care really has never been so important.