Every mum wants to keep their precious little one healthy and safe from harm, and many mothers are choosing to steer clear of toxins and harsh chemicals that can cause skin irritation. Bathing your baby using natural alternatives will help keep their skin clear from impurities and snuggly soft. There are many options for bathing baby, some of which you will already have around your home.

Rather than using harsh soaps, use a very mild, unscented soap, such as Dr Bronner’s Baby Mild Castile Bar Soap, which comes in a cake and liquid form. It’s made out of coconut, olive, hemp and jojoba oil, and we’ve had rave reviews from people with skin allergies after they’ve used this soap.

Add a few drops of olive oil to the bath water and swish around. When baby is older than three months, you can also add one or two drops of lavender oil in their bath at night to relax them for sleep.

Put half an organic lemon in the bathwater. The astringency of the lemon makes a great cleanser, and it is also anti-bacterial.

Add one teaspoon of baking soda to make the water super soft and soothing. Especially good if baby has a nappy rash or heat rash.

Add 20ml of full-fat milk to the bath. The lactic acid in milk is a great cleanser and leaves baby’s skin smooth and soft.

Tie a tablespoon of rolled oats into a piece of cloth the size of a small handkerchief and tie at the top with a piece of string. Add it to the bath five minutes beforehand, and just before you pop baby in give it a squeeze. The oats are very soothing for skin (check out our blog) and you can use the sachet to clean your baby with by rubbing gently. Also good for rashes.

The best way to clean babies hair is to use a drop of Dr Bronner’s Baby Mild Liquid Castile Soap.