Rice starch for babies and children: how to use it?

Rice starch is a natural ingredient derived from rice flour, specifically the Oryza sativa variety, and is used in both food and cosmetics.

It appears as a very fine white powder that dissolves easily in water.

For this reason, rice starch is commonly used in cooking as a thickener, as an excellent ingredient for gluten-free recipes and for preparing desserts and supporting leavening in general.

As often happens, nature provides us with ingredients that are extremely useful for treating the skin in a safe and effective way.

This is exactly the case with rice starch: when applied to the skin in contact with water, it provides a calming and soothing action against redness, itching and rubbing.

Its gentle composition makes it perfect for use on babies’ and children’s skin, which is naturally sensitive and very delicate.

By using this natural product, even the reddest skin can feel more hydrated and comforted, without the unpleasant irritation that is often associated with products that do not have a natural composition.

Today, we know that cleansing a newborn is very important, as it helps create protection against bacteria. Babies can be more vulnerable because their skin pH is not yet sufficiently acidic and their hydrolipidic film is still developing.

For a soothing, purifying, moisturising and skin-comforting bath, rice starch is ideal: one of the gentlest solutions you can choose.

You only need a few ingredients, and it is very quick to prepare. Simply dissolve 3 or 4 tablespoons of pure rice starch in the bath water, then gently place your baby in the tub.

A rice starch bath can be complete on its own: it is also suitable for the baby’s scalp and hair, without the need to use additional cleansing products.

How long should your baby stay in a rice starch bath?

Your baby can stay in the bath for around 10 minutes, then should be lifted out and dried carefully with soft, hypoallergenic fabrics such as cotton or linen.

Newborns often develop very irritated and red areas on their skin. There is usually no need to worry: their skin is extremely sensitive, and even light rubbing can cause mild redness or itching.

In this situation too, keeping a pack of rice starch among your baby cleansing and care products can be extremely useful.

With rice starch, you can create an emollient compress by mixing water and starch until you obtain a spreadable paste.

Apply the mixture to your baby’s skin after bathing or cleansing and leave it on for about ten minutes.