Why You Should Use a Bamboo Washcloth When Bathing Baby
A washcloth is one of the cheapest things we sell. It's also a good place to be clear about what a fabric can and can't do for skin.
What makes bamboo softer than cotton?
It comes down to the shape of the fibre. Bamboo viscose is made as a smooth, round filament. Cotton is a flat, twisted ribbon with a rougher surface. So bamboo causes less friction against the skin, and on a newborn you can feel the difference. It counts for more on a washcloth than on almost anything else, because you press a washcloth onto the skin again and again: her face, a neck fold, her bottom, the thinnest skin she has. Even so, how you use the cloth counts for more than the fabric. Pat, don't rub. Newborn skin is thinner than an adult's and its barrier is still developing. Rubbing is what turns ordinary redness into a rash, and a soft cloth used hard will still irritate.
Is a bamboo washcloth better for sensitive or eczema-prone skin?
It's a sensible choice, but it is not a treatment. I say that plainly because baby brands often blur the line.
For sensitive skin, two things count: low friction and no fragrance. A soft cloth and plain water is the usual advice for the first weeks, and it stays the right advice for broken or inflamed skin at any age.
Eczema is a medical condition and needs medical care. If the skin is inflamed, weeping, cracked or not getting better, see a doctor. A new cloth cannot replace a treatment plan. What fabric can do is support one, by reducing friction and keeping the skin dry between applications.
What you wash the cloth in counts too. Use a fragrance-free non-biological detergent and an extra rinse. Leave out fabric softener: it coats the fibre and makes the cloth less absorbent.
The rest of bath time
Mentioned above
Why absorbency and quick drying matter in our climate
In this climate, this is the property I'd rank first, and it's the one people think about least.
A washcloth is damp most of the time. In a bathroom at eighty per cent humidity, a thick cloth will still be wet at bedtime and will smell by the next day. A cloth that smells is growing bacteria, and you would be wiping them onto your baby's face.
So choose thin over plush, even though plush feels nicer. A thin bamboo or muslin cloth soaks up enough water, lets it go quickly and dries between uses. A thick terry cloth feels more luxurious in the shop, but it's the wrong choice for this climate.
Hang it spread out and never folded over a rail, wash at sixty degrees where the label allows, and own enough that none has to be used twice in a day. Six is a sensible number.
Beyond the bath
You'll use it for far more than baths: face and hands after meals, a cool compress on a warm forehead, mopping up after a feed, wiping the high chair tray, or folded as a pad under her head in the pram. There are probably uses I haven't seen.
So own plenty of them, and don't spend much on any one.
A fresh cloth counts for more than the fibre. I write the specifications for ours, and I'll still say it: a plain cotton muslin square does most of this job well and costs less. The bamboo one is softer and dries a little faster. If you have to choose between a better cloth that gets reused and a cheaper one that's fresh every day, take the cheaper one.
On the specifics
Is bamboo washcloth good for baby skin?
Yes. Bamboo fibres are smoother and rounder than cotton, so the cloth is gentler on thin newborn skin and less likely to irritate sensitive or eczema-prone areas.
How many baby washcloths do I need?
Four to eight is a comfortable number: one in use, one drying, one in the nappy bag and one in the wash. Sets of four make the rotation simple.
How do I wash bamboo washcloths?
Machine wash cool or warm with a gentle detergent, skip fabric softener and bleach, and line dry. Bamboo softens further with each wash.
Can I use a bamboo washcloth on a newborn's face?
Yes, with plain warm water it is ideal for the face and eye area. Use a clean corner for each eye, and pat without rubbing.
Evidence
This guide is general information, written to help you understand a topic and ask better questions. It is not medical advice and does not replace your own doctor, midwife or paediatrician. Anything that worries you about your baby belongs with them.
See also
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