Do you know that most parents don’t know how often to wash their newborns or even the kind of towel to use? Research indicates that washing the baby 3 times weekly is enough. Daily washing can irritate the thin low-collagen skin of a newborn or cause dryness.
Having answered that, here are quick tips for choosing the best baby towel:
Material or Fabric
Material for the towel is everything. It is the first external object next to your hands that will frequent rub your babe. So, go for cotton or bamboo fibers because they are smooth, soft, breathable and gentle. Their rubbing does not excise the very thin epidermis (outer skin) of a newborn like rough fabrics do
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Weight (GSM)
Also consider the grams per square meter (GSM) of baby towels. While ordinary bath towels weigh medium at 500 to 700 g or 400 to 600 GSM, they are coarser than luxury ones. Luxury types are in the range of 700 to 1,000 g or 700 to 900 GSM and are ultra-soft, absorbent but heavy. But since you are not wrapping the baby in them, they the 700-900-gram option is arguably the best choice.
Weave or Texture
Babies need a breathable, quick-drying towel with high absorbent qualities. These features indicate a quality aerated weave and soft texture. Quality brands go for the pile/terry weaving structure where the yarn stays upright right from the bottom. This increases the plushness of the surface area for maximum water absorption. Such towels are made of either cotton, silk, bamboo fiber or wool, which right-away indicates ultra-soft texture.
Size and Shape
Let me whisper you a secret: always go for that big, plush, fluffy and soft towel you have always wished for your newborn. This means a towel of up 75 by 75 cm square for kids aged below 9 months and weighing 8.8 kg. If it is a toddler above 8.8 kg, a longer size is ideal, preferably 88 to 100 cm square.
Tip: a plush big towel is best for toddlers who love staying long in the tub for it absorbs more.
Durability and Care
A baby towel must be quality enough to withstand at least three months of washing without changing. Plush types can go through the first 9 months of use before change. Tips for both towel care and baby bath:
- Wash them with a soft, clinical detergent to reduce irritant residue settling on fibers. Tip: if the detergent is mild on your hands, it is too on the soft fibers of the fabric.
- Dry towels immediately after use to discourage mildew/micro-organism growth.
- Prefer direct sunlight or mild heating when drying baby towels. This reduces discolouration and encourages natural bleaching and disinfection.
- When bathing the baby, use a wide tub with flush water to reduce infection as opposed to pooling water.
- Make sure the water is lukewarm so that it does not burn the baby’s delicate skin.
