An extra-mild, low-foam wash for a baby's hair and body, designed not to sting the eyes.
Soft, light lather that rinses away easily with no tight or slippery residue.
Baby hair and body wash, Baby bath foam, Baby shampoo, Sensitive-skin family wash
What it is
Baby wash is a gentle surfactant system for washing an infant's hair and body in one step. It uses very mild surfactants at a skin-friendly pH, little or no fragrance, and is tested for eye and skin tolerance.
Sodium benzoate with potassium sorbate, or another system suited to infant use
Benefits and challenges
Benefits
Washes hair and body in one step.
Low-foam lather rinses away easily.
Mild systems also suit sensitive adults.
Challenges
Narrow choice of preservatives and fragrance.
Needs eye and skin tolerance studies.
Very mild systems can be hard to thicken.
Shelf life
Unopened
24–36 months01236 months
After opening
6–12 months01224 months
Main risks are viscosity drift, loss of clarity and microbial growth.
Packaging
Pump bottleSqueeze bottlePouch
In the lab
How it is made
01Blend mild surfactantsInto water with low-shear mixing, often cold.
02Add soothing ingredientsHumectants, botanicals and an infant-suitable preservative.
03Set pHClose to skin pH.
04Thicken gentlyWith a gum or polymer.
05Check each batchClarity, viscosity, pH and microbial limits.
cold fill · 25 °CRuns at controlled speed to limit foam, often into pump packs for one-handed use at bath time.
Specifications
pH
pH 5–6.52 acid7 neutral10 alkaline
Viscosity at rest
2,000–8,000 mPa·swaterlotioncreambutterpaste
Batch sizes
50 L pilot1,000 L5,000 L production
Lab notes
Preservation
Required; select a system suited to infant use and challenge test to ISO 11930.
Stability testing
Storage at 40–45 °C and 4 °C, freeze–thaw, viscosity and pH tracking, and eye-irritation and skin-tolerance studies.
Regulatory, Australia
Cosmetic for cleansing claims; 'tear-free', 'hypoallergenic' and 'dermatologist tested' claims need supporting studies under Australian Consumer Law. Label ingredients under the Consumer Goods (Cosmetics) Information Standard 2020.
