Bubble Bath Bar / Bath Bomb Ingredients for Children

Creating a gentle bubble bath bar or bath bomb for a young child requires careful selection of ingredients, especially the foaming agent and any extracts.

The basic ingredients you listed are common in bath bombs and bubble bars:

• Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda): This is a key component that reacts with citric acid to create the fizzing effect.
• Citric Acid: Reacts with sodium bicarbonate to produce the fizz.
• Corn Starch: Acts as a filler and helps bind the ingredients together. It can also help to soften the water.
• Almond Oil: Provides moisturizing benefits for the skin.

Now, let's address your specific questions about substitutions:

Foaming Agent (SLS substitute)

You asked if Oil Soap or "Baby Foam" (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate) can be used instead of SLS.

• SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) is a strong surfactant that creates significant foam but can be irritating, especially for sensitive skin like a child's.
• IseFoam™ (Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate), which is often referred to as a "Baby Foam" type ingredient, is a much milder anionic surfactant. Product descriptions confirm it is highly gentle, produces good foam, and is commonly used in bath bombs and cleansing products for both body and hair.

Recommendation: Substituting SLS with a milder surfactant like IseFoam™ (Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate) is an excellent choice for a child's product. It will provide foam while being significantly gentler on the skin than SLS.

Witch Hazel Substitute

You asked if Witch Hazel (Alcohol Free, Paraben Free) Plus Allantoin can be used instead of standard Witch Hazel.

• Standard Witch Hazel extract can sometimes contain alcohol, which might be drying or irritating.
• Witch Hazel (Distillate - Alcohol Free, Paraben Free) is a gentler, alcohol-free version that helps tighten pores without irritation.
• Witch Hazel (Alcohol Free, Paraben Free) Plus Allantoin is also alcohol-free and includes Allantoin, an ingredient known for its soothing, moisturizing, and skin-healing properties.

Recommendation: Using Witch Hazel (Alcohol Free, Paraben Free) Plus Allantoin is a very suitable and gentle option for a child's bath product. The addition of Allantoin provides extra skin-soothing benefits compared to the alcohol-free distillate alone.

Summary of Recommended Ingredients for a Child-Friendly Formula:

Based on your list and the product information, a good set of ingredients for a gentle bubble bath bar or bath bomb for a 2-year-old would include:

• Sodium Bicarbonate
• Citric Acid
• IseFoam™ (Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate) (as the gentle foaming agent)
• Corn Starch (such as CornThick™ (Corn Starch Modified))
• Witch Hazel (Alcohol Free, Paraben Free) Plus Allantoin (as the gentle extract)
• NaturalProfile™ Sweet Almond Oil (Cold-Pressed) (as the emollient oil)

These ingredients provide the necessary fizz and moisturizing properties while using milder alternatives for the foaming and extract components, making the product more suitable for a child's sensitive skin.