Gentle Care for Babies

NOT all baby products, despite the baby-friendly, gentle-on-the-skin claims, are equal. I know this because for the past three years, I have been using some brands and trying others to see which ones work better on my son.

One baby shampoo leaves his hair coarse and his scalp dry. One lotion gives him rashes and itch.

Even with Cetaphil, my go-to line for him, I find that the main line's moisturising lotion is better than the one especially formulated for babies.

Bzu Bzu, pronounced bisou bisou, from the phrase "loving kiss" in French, is another brand that promises products free from sulfate, paraben, alcohol and asbestos for babies and children.

The company says it's the first in Southeast Asia to feature both age and gender-specific shampoos for kids.

Its products are formulated in Japan and made from natural ingredients that cleanse the skin while locking in moisture and key nutrients.

"We strive to produce the safest family care products in the world. So we use safe and natural ingredients. The process is also carefully thought-out — from sourcing raw materials to assessing ingredients, clinical testing, evaluating and production, which are of the highest standard," says its chief executive officer, Raphael Jiang.

Jiang says the brand sees bath time as a "bonding, playing and learning time" for both parents and their newborns.

"It is important that the bath products are as gentle and soothing as they can be, to make the experience delightful and fuss-free. Our products are gentle and safe for babies and kids, especially for those with sensitive skin, eczema or other skin conditions."

BATH TIME BUDDIES

We try the Head to Toe Body Wash (RM24.90) and find that the scent and foam are mild. At 600ml, the bottle feels lighter than the Happy Kids Body Wash (RM22.90) and I think this is because of the different formulation.

Enriched with vitamins B8 and E and infused with soothing ingredients from natural extracts such as bark extract oubaku, peach leaf and artichoke leaf extracts, it is very gentle. As it doesn't dry Murshid's hair, I can use this often. It washes off easily too.

The Happy Kids Body Wash is thicker but I find that it's still gentle on baby's skin. The plus point of the products is the calming scent. They don't smell like typical baby products. There's just a slight, floral scent that washes off as you rinse.

For kids from 4-12 years old, where bath time has often transformed into playtime, the brand has Little Man and Little Lady bundles.

The Little Man bundle comes with a Fresh Cooling Kids Shampoo to prevent oily and itchy scalp and a Body Wash. The Little Lady bundle comes with a Silky Soft Kids shampoo added with conditioner, designed for frizzy and fragile hair, and a Body Wash.

PRODUCTS FOR THE NEW NORMAL

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, BZU BZU has introduced a hygiene pack suitable for young children.

The Kids Disposable Medical Mask, designed for young children, is a face mask that has more than 99 per cent bacterial filtration efficiency, offering three-layer protection against bacteria, dust or droplets and micro-particles.

Free from alcohol and sulfate, its Anti-Bacterial Foaming Hand Wash is enriched with Vitamin C and citrus extracts, keeping young children's delicate skin soft and nourished.

The Hand Sanitiser Spray is made with certified organic ingredients and 100 per cent natural without alcohol, with a non-sticky and non-greasy formula that comes in a citrus and peppermint scent.

The products are available on its Lazada and Shopee flagship stores. They are also sold at Watsons and other pharmacies.