Anatomy of an Ear Infection
Slideshow: The Best Baby-Care ProductsMore Slideshows from eMedicineHealthWatch and learn from these additional pictures slideshows. Salt Shockers Slideshow Fattening Fall Foods Slideshow Weight Loss Slideshow Swine Flu Slideshow See All Slideshows WebMD Experts' Choice reflects the opinions of the editors or experts only, not of WebMD. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment. Buy, Buy Baby Lost in the pastel-hued wilderness of baby care products? Every item on the shelf seems to claim it is fragrance-free, unscented, organic, natural -- the words make your head spin. We turned to the pros for help. Our panel of experts, two pediatric dermatologists, Sharon Glick, MD, and Colette Lieber, MD, and health and wellness expert Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, judged dozens of baby care products on five criteria: scientifically sound; brand promise; price; look, smell, and feel; and overall excellence. Winner: Best Diaper Rash ProductBoudreaux's Butt Paste ($4.99) beat its old-standby competitors by a landslide, in part because it's a paste, which is more effective than a cream and provides a better barrier against urine and other irritants. It is also fragrance-free and has an especially high concentration of zinc oxide, which helps speed healing. To offset the cost (the only downside our experts noted), use it only to clear up a rash and opt for a less-expensive product for everyday use. "All my patients love it," Glick says, "because it works." Honorable Mention: Best Diaper Rash ProductOur experts chose Method Squeaky Green Diaper Cream ($6.99) for everyday use. "I like that it comes in a pump, which is sterile and easier to use," says Glick, who also praised its ingredients, which include sunflower seed oil and rice, and its naturalness (95%). Winner: Best Body LotionAveeno Baby Daily Moisture Lotion ($6.29) was our experts' pick, which bested the other brands because it spreads easily and is fragrance-free and economical. Glick applauds Aveeno's nongreasy feel as well as the pump container. In addition, it protects the skin more than other lotions, because unlike most petroleum-based products, it contains allantoin, which is soothing to the skin. It also lacks the stickiness of a cream. Honorable Mention: Best Body LotionEarth's Best Organic Everyday Lotion ($8.79) won points for smell, feel, and clean ingredients. Glassman likes that it contains lavender. "It's relaxing and will help baby sleep," she says. Also, it's organic and housed in a pump, but the only downside, the group says, is price. "It's the most expensive of the bunch," Lieber notes. Winner: Best SunscreenCalifornia Baby SPF 30+ Sunscreen Lotion ($19.99) impressed our experts with its UVA and UVB protection and because it is a physical block. "You never want to put a chemical block on a baby," Lieber says. A chemical block protects by absorbing UV radiation, takes 20 minutes to work, and could cause contact dermatitis, explains Glick, while a physical block reflects sunlight, and will not cause dermatitis. Although it's a little thick, it's ideal for babies 12 months and under. Honorable Mention: Best SunscreenEarth's Best Chemical Free SPF 30+ Baby Sunblock ($10.99) wowed our judges, who found it not as sticky and easier to apply than our winner, but it lost points for having less zinc oxide. "It's chemical-free, which is so important for babies," Glick says. "That's why it's definitely necessary to read labels." Winner: Best Body Wash/ShampooUntil the age of 1 or 2, your little (and likely bald) one doesn't need a separate shampoo and body wash. And, surprisingly, the two-in-one product you use "doesn't have to say 'baby' on it," Lieber says. "That's just marketing." Because Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($7.63) was created specifically for sensitive skin, it's the ideal wash for a newborn. "Cetaphil is as gentle as water," Glick says, "and it's what I use myself and what I recommend to all my patients" Both Glick and Lieber also used it on their children. Honorable Mention: Best Body Wash/ShampooMethod Baby Squeaky Green Hair and Body Wash ($6.99) scored major points for its "adorable packaging," which includes a lid that doubles as a cup to rinse your baby's head. "What a genius idea," Glassman says. "I'm always looking for a cup." The product contains fragrance, which disappointed our panel. "But I do like that it has olive oil," says Glassman. "It's very soothing and moisturizing for the skin." Winner: Best WipesParents use these handy cloths for more than just wiping baby's bottom, says Glassman, who finds them especially useful for cleaning her kids' hands and faces after playtime at the park. And for derrieres and hands and faces, Earth's Best Tender Care Chlorine-Free Baby Wipes ($3.79) was the panel's top pick. They're hypoallergenic, unscented, and alcohol-free, and contain aloe vera and vitamin E. They are also the sturdiest and cleanest of the bunch. "I like the texture, and they feel solid and strong," Glick says. Honorable Mention: Best Wipes"I like the smell and the feel," says Lieber of Pampers Sensitive Baby Wipes ($2.99). "Plus, it doesn't rip easily." The only major brand with wipes made of soft cotton, Pampers is fragrance-free, making it ideal for the most sensitive of bottoms. How Our Experts' Choices Were MadeTo select our WebMD the Magazine Experts' Choice Best Baby Care Products winners, our three experts considered hundreds of items. Their mission? To help parents read labels, understand ingredients, and choose the best washes, creams, and wipes. About our experts: Keri Glassman, MS, RD, CDN, nutritionist and president, Keri Glassman, A Nutritious Life, New York. Sharon Glick, MD, director, Pediatric Dermatology; associate professor of dermatology and pediatrics, SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn. Colette Lieber, MD, in private practice and pediatric dermatology consultant, New Jersey. Watch for more Experts' Choice winners in future issues of WebMD the Magazine. Note: WebMD Experts' Choice reflect the opinions of the editors or experts only, not of WebMD. WebMD does not endorse any specific product, service, or treatment. More Reading on ParentingAdvertisementReviewed by Michael W. Smith, MD on July 10, 2008 IMAGES: This tool does not provide medical advice. See additional information: THIS TOOL DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment and should not be relied on to make decisions about your health. Never ignore professional medical advice in seeking treatment because of something you have read on the eMedicineHealth Site. If you think you may have a medical emergency, immediately call your doctor or dial 911. © 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. |









