Is it safe to bathe a newborn every day with scented baby wash?
Use less and choose fragrance-free. Daily scented wash is not the best default for newborn skin.
What is in it
Scented baby wash can include fragrance mixtures, surfactants, preservatives, and other ingredients that rinse over newborn skin. Newborn skin has a developing barrier, so the best routine is simple.
Daily soap is usually not needed. Use warm water for most baths. When soap is needed, use a small amount of fragrance-free baby soap and rinse well.
What the research says
A 2008 Pediatrics study measured phthalate metabolites in 163 infants. Use of baby lotion, powder, and shampoo in the prior 24 hours was linked with higher urinary levels of some phthalate metabolites. The association was strongest in younger infants.
That study did not test every baby wash, and it does not prove one bath is dangerous. It supports a low-product routine: fewer scented products, fewer leave-on products, and fragrance-free soap only when needed.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Baby care products: possible sources of infant phthalate exposure. | Pediatrics | 2008 |