More About Baby Healthcare

Baby Healthcare gathers the French pharmacy staples that parents reach for every day: gentle washes and shampoos, no-rinse cleansing waters and milks, liniment for nappy changes, nappy creams, moisturisers, wipes and saline for little noses. The range covers Klorane, Biolane, Mixa, Weleda, A-Derma, Uriage, Physiodose and more, all available at Epicerie Corner with delivery across the UK.

What Is French Baby Healthcare?

In France, many families buy baby toiletries at the pharmacie, and several brands in this collection come from dermatological or pharmacy laboratories. Each tends to build its baby range around one signature ingredient: A-Derma uses Rhealba oat extract, Klorane uses calendula from organic farming, and Uriage and Jonzac add their own thermal spring waters.

The French baby routine also leans heavily on sans rinçage (no-rinse) products, applied with a cotton pad and simply wiped off, which is handy for changing tables and travel. A few words help when reading the packs: liniment oléo-calcaire is the traditional nappy-change cleanser, eau micellaire is micellar cleansing water, sérum physiologique is sterile saline, crème de change is nappy cream, surgras means a soap enriched with extra fats, and dès la naissance means from birth.

Baby Bath, Wash and Cleansing Products

Washes, soaps and baby shampoos

For bath time there are 2-in-1 body and hair gels from Biolane, Mixa, A-Derma Primalba and Le Tout Petit Marseillais, the calendula-based Klorane Gentle Baby Wash (including a 2 x 500ml pack), Weleda's cream wash with sweet almond and sesame oils, Natessance's chamomile wash, a Jonzac organic gel and Klorane's surgras soap bar. For hair, choose the Uriage Baby Shampoo 1st Age with thermal water and edelweiss, or one of the Mixa shampoos, including an organic version and a shea butter detangling formula.

No-rinse waters, milks and wipes

Cleansing waters such as Bioderma ABCDerm H2O, Biolane H2O and the Klorane and Mixa waters clean the face, hands and nappy area without a bath. Cleansing milks from A-Derma, Klorane and Mixa are a richer option for dry skin. Use them with Biolane organic cotton pads, or pick wipes: Biolane makes face and hand wipes, pocket packs, cleansing milk wipes, liniment wipes and moist toilet wipes for potty training, while Mixa offers milk, mineral water, cleansing water and physio wipes.

Nappy Change Care: Liniment and Nappy Creams

Liniment is an emulsion of olive oil and limewater that French parents have long used at nappy changes. It is wiped on with a cotton pad, removes residue without water and leaves a thin oily film on the skin, with no rinsing needed. The collection includes Biolane Liniment in 300ml and 700ml bottles, Klorane Baby Liniment with calendula and Weleda Liniment made with olive and sunflower oils.

For a protective layer, choose a nappy cream: Biolane Dermo-Pediatric Diaper Cream, the fragrance-free Klorane Eryteal ointment with zinc oxide, Weleda's calendula nappy cream or Jonzac's organic nappy change cream. Klorane Protective Baby Powder absorbs moisture in skin folds. Change nappies often and let the skin dry before applying anything. If redness persists, spreads or your baby seems unwell, ask a pharmacist, GP or health visitor for advice.

Baby Moisturisers, Oils and Teething Gel

For dry patches, the French cold cream is a rich, protective texture: try Klorane's Cold Cream Nourishing Cream or Jonzac's organic baby cold cream. Lighter everyday moisturisers come from Klorane, Biolane (with shea butter) and Le Tout Petit Marseillais. For baby massage, there are Biolane Sweet Almond Oil Spray, Natessance Sweet Almond Oil and Cadum Bébé Wonder Oil. Sweet almond oil comes from a nut, so check for allergies in the family first.

When the first teeth arrive, Elgydium First Teeth is a gum massage gel with chamomile and marshmallow root extracts; follow the instructions on the pack. The collection also includes two products for parents: Weleda's stretch mark massage oil for use during pregnancy and the organic Weleda breastfeeding herbal tea, a red fruit-flavoured blend with fenugreek, caraway and anise. Check with your midwife or GP before using herbal products while pregnant or breastfeeding.

Nose and Eye Hygiene for Babies

Babies breathe mainly through the nose and cannot blow it themselves, so a blocked nose can make feeding harder. Saline, or sérum physiologique, is purified water with 0.9% sodium chloride, sold in sterile single-dose vials. Choose Physiodose Physiological Serum (40 x 5ml) or Biolane's 30 x 5ml pack for the nose and eyes, and use each vial once only.

A few drops loosen mucus, which can then be cleared with a nasal aspirator (mouche-bébé) such as the Prorhinel Baby Fly, which comes with two disposable tips; refills of 20 tips are sold separately. Sterimar Baby is a nasal hygiene spray with a nozzle sized for small noses. Follow the instructions on the pack, and seek medical advice if your baby has a fever, struggles to breathe or is not feeding.

How to Choose Baby Healthcare Products

• Age: most products here are labelled from birth, but NHS guidance suggests plain water for cleansing in the first few weeks before introducing baby products.
• Skin type: cold creams and cleansing milks suit dry skin; for sensitive skin, look at fragrance-free options such as Bioderma ABCDerm H2O and Klorane Eryteal.
• Rinse or no-rinse: gels, soaps and shampoos are rinsed off in the bath, while waters, milks and liniment are wiped on and left.
• Ingredients: read the full list if your baby has allergies. Some products contain sweet almond oil, lanolin or wheat-derived ingredients.
• Size: 750ml bottles and 2 x 500ml packs are for daily use at home, pocket wipes and 200ml bottles for the changing bag.

Compare a single brand in Biolane or Klorane, or explore food and feeding in the Baby collection.

Baby Healthcare FAQs

What is liniment used for on babies?

Liniment oléo-calcaire is a no-rinse cleanser for the nappy area, made from an emulsion of oil, usually olive oil, and limewater. Apply it with a cotton pad at each change to remove residue, then let the skin dry. It leaves a light oily film behind. Shake the bottle before use, as the oil and water can separate.

Can I use these products on a newborn?

Many are labelled for use from birth, but NHS advice for the first few weeks is to clean a newborn with plain water and cotton wool, then introduce mild products that are free from alcohol and perfume. Check the age on each pack and ask your midwife or health visitor if your baby's skin is very dry or irritated.

How do I use saline dosettes on a baby?

Lay your baby on their side or back with the head turned, place the tip of the vial at the entrance of the upper nostril and squeeze gently, then repeat on the other side. Wipe away any mucus or use a nasal aspirator. For the eyes, a few drops on a clean cotton pad work well. Each vial is single use, so discard it after opening.

Are these baby products fragrance-free?

Not all of them. Many French baby washes, creams and wipes are lightly fragranced, while some, such as Bioderma ABCDerm H2O micellar water and Klorane Eryteal nappy ointment, are fragrance-free. Each product page lists the ingredients, where fragrance appears as parfum, so you can compare before buying.