Smart Parenting Magazine officially announces the winners for Smart Parenting’s first-ever “Best for Babies Awards” for 2014!

Together with a panel of experts, Smart Parenting conducted tests on different products essential in daily baby care, following specific criteria.

The winners are the following:

Laundry Detergent for Baby Clothes Category: Pigeon Baby Laundry Detergent

Disposable Diapers Category: Pampers Active Baby

Baby Wipes Category: Pigeon Baby Wipes

Baby Skin Lotion Category: Baby Sebamed Baby Lotion

Regular Baby Skin Cleanser: Johnson’s Baby Milk + Rice

Sensitive Baby Skin Cleanser (Bar): Oilatum Bar

Sensitive Baby Skin Cleanser (Liquid): It’s a tie between Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser and Physiogel Cleanser!

Here's how the mommy editors, baby experts, and a medical professional narrowed down the winners:

LAUNDRY DETERGENT FOR BABY CLOTHES CATEGORY

The laundry detergent brands were tested and evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Cleaning ability
• Scent (mildness)

For cleaning ability, each of the panelists was randomly assigned one out of the four laundry detergent brands. The detergent were tested against cotton shirts that were stained with one tablespoon of chocolate-flavored milk and one tablespoon of baby food. The shirts were then soaked for 30 minutes in washtubs.

The panelists then checked how clean the shirts were first without scrubbing. Afterwards, they scrubbed each shirt 100 times (10 rounds of 10 scrubs) then checked which laundry detergent was most effective in removing the stain and making the shirt look whiter and cleaner.

For scent, each of the shirts was sniffed and the panelists did a collective ranking for the scent.

Laundry Detergent for Baby Nominees:

• Pigeon Baby Detergent
• Cycles Mild Laundry Detergent
• Perla Laundry Soap
• Smart Steps Baby Laundry Detergent

DISPOSABLE DIAPERS CATEGORY

The disposable diapers were tested and evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Absorption speed
• Dryness
• Skin protection
• Stretchability
• Softness

To ensure that the outcome was unbiased, the diaper brands were arranged in random, and brand names were covered all throughout the testing period.

To simulate urine, a mixture of one teaspoon of salt and blue food dye at a temperature of 37.4 degrees Celsius was used to match real urine’s salinity.

For absorption, 150 ml of the mock urine solution was poured into each of the diapers via a beaker and funnel. Panelists timed how long the liquid would take to be fully absorbed by the diapers. The diaper which most quickly absorbs the liquid wins.

For dryness, using a different set of diapers, the same amount of mock urine solution was poured and timed for 60 seconds after absorption. A sheet of paper towel and two kilogram weights were then placed on top of the diaper for a total of five seconds before being removed. Each of the paper towels for the diapers was evaluated based on its wetness or dryness.

For skin protection, the panelists had to wear rubber gloves on both hands and using oil film paper, rub down the whole length of each diaper in a circular motion for 30 times. The oil film with the most absorbed oil, cream or lotion will indicate which diaper has a protective layer or mechanism to protect baby against wetness.

For stretchability, each diaper had to be stretched to its full length so that its flexibility could be checked.

For softness, the panelists were blindfolded and made to feel each diaper, afterwards noting the softest diaper.

Disposable Diapers Nominees:

• Pampers Active Baby
• Drypers
• EQ
• Huggies
• Mamy Poko

BABY WIPES CATEGORY

The baby wipes were tested and evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Cleaning ability
• Mildness (absence of irritants like formaldehyde, parabens, perfumes, chlorine, alcohol, lanolin, soap-free and has a mild scent / no strong fragrance)

Four brands of baby wipes were given to each panelist so that they could test these at home.

First, they checked products’ scent, the milder the scent, the better. Next, after using the baby wipes on baby food-soiled placemats, they were asked to rank the different wipes for the following criteria: after-feel, scent, size, texture, thickness and special features (i.e. vitamin E, chamomile, special kind of fabric for sensitive skin). After that, the panelists used the wipes on their skin (or their kids) to check for mildness.

Baby Wipes Nominees:

• Pigeon Baby Wipes
• Johnson’s Baby Skincare Wipes
• Nursy Baby Wipes
• Tiny Buds Sticky Hand Wipes

BABY SKIN LOTION CATEGORY

The different baby skin lotion brands were tested and evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Mildness
• Scent (“amoy baby”)
• Absorption into skin
• Non-greasy feel

For mildness, the labels were checked for any indication of the “hypoallergenic” mark. The panelists were instructed to use one brand per day for testing purposes or to use their knowledge/research of the brands for judging.

Baby Skin Lotion:

• Baby Sebamed Baby Lotion
• Johnson’s Baby Lotion
• Pigeon Baby Lotion
• Mustela Bebe Body Lotion

BABY SKIN CLEANSER CATEGORY (FOR REGULAR & FOR SENSITIVE SKIN)

The baby skin cleansers were tested and evaluated based on the following criteria:

• Mildness
• Scent (“amoy baby”)

For mildness, the product labels were checked to see if it had “hypoallergenic” on them. The panelists were instructed to test each of the baby skin cleansers.

For the skin cleansers for sensitive skin, they were asked an additional question of which brand they feel or know is best for babies 0 to 6 months old, based on their experience or knowledge. The cleansers for sensitive skin were categorized based on marks on the label indicating “for sensitive skin”, or “can be used on newborns”.

Regular Baby Skin Cleanser:

• Johnson’s Baby Lotion (Milk + Rice)
• Pigeon Baby Wash 2in1
• Lactacyd Toddler Tubs

Sensitive Baby Skin Cleanser:

• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser
• Baby Sebamed Liquid Cleanser
• Johnson’s Baby Top-to-Toe Wash
• Oilatum Bar
• Physiogel Cleanser

Aside from the Smart Parenting mommy editors and publisher, the panel of judges consisted of moms & baby experts, and a person from a related medical field:

Mrs. Menchit Ordoveza has been an expert nanny trainer for 15 years. Her discriminating clientele include doctors and professionals. Mrs. Menchit is also a mother to a 15 year old son, an 11 year-old daughter, and a 9 month-old baby boy.

Ms. Fleur Sombrero works as a Post-Construction Manager for one of the largest real estate companies. More importantly, she is a hands-on mommy to 4 year-old Annika. Her blog, mommyfleur.com, is full of her daily motherhood adventures.

Ms. Arriane Nervez is an ob-gyne nurse of St. Luke’s Hospital. She graduated from University of Santo Tomas.

(Photo courtesy of Smart Parenting's Instagram account)