Baby's dry skin

mamaoba

DS was born looking like a lizard shedding as I ran out of amiotic fluid at the end of my pregnancy. I was told to use plain eating quality (eg from the supermarket not the chemist) olive oil on him by the pead and midwife.

Nothing else like soap or baby bath and DEF NO mineral oils (johnsons baby oil et all).

I washed him using plain water and smothered him in olive oil. it worked a treat! Olive oil is easily absorbed by the skin. I did it every night - any greasininess was gone by morning and his skin is lovely now. babies love a 10 minute massage at bedtime and olive oil is ideal for this.

nowadays I use a minimal amount of halos n horns baby bath when he's really filthy (mucky toddler) and stick with the olive oil if he needs it. They (advertisers and big companies) try and sell you all sorts of tolitries that actually do more harm than good.

fesdufun

I totally agree with the previous poster regarding the use of oils. Johnstons baby oil is a mineral oil (just have a lot at the ingredients, you will be amazed at what is in there). Mineral oil will coat the skin and is not absorbed by it. Your baby's skin will feel less dry whilst the oil on the skin but once the oil has rubbed off the skin will be drier than before. As the skin is now drier you think that you need more oil and so it goes on.

I teach baby massage and we recomend the use of cold pressed vegatable oil such as sunflower oil. However heat pressed oil (such as the stuff you use for cooking can also be used but isn't quite as pure). The oil is absorbed into the skin and will have a moisturing effect on the skin and doesn't block the pores.

Before I did my course I too was using Jonhston's etc thinking it was suitable for baby's skin - dermalogically tested, ultra mild, specially formulated for baby's skin etc, etc. However as previous posters have said keep it simple - you can't bet some good old fashioned water.

The other benefit of avoiding using too many products is it is easier to stop if something is irritating your baby's skin.

I'm sure you will find her skin will improve. Most baby's have dry skin at one stage or another.

HTH

Savvy_Sue

can't add to what's already been said, except to add that if the GP says 'eczema', then it's probably worth being aware of the National Eczema Society. Brilliant people! Helpful for any age, any stage.

Gingham_Ribbon

It depends on how dry it is. But babies only need water in their bath. Any bubbles and soap will have a drying effect. Olive or sunflower oil will be absorbed into the skin and is unperfumed.

jackieb

When one of my sons was a baby the health visitor recommended using oatmeal in his bath. Tie some up in a hankerchief and just use like a washcloth.

getcarter

I second the oats - just put some into an old sock and put in the bath, I used to be able to use it twice then give it to the birds in the garden.

jackieb

Socks! :doh: Now, why didn't I think of that? So much easier.

Petal_3

My son had eczema as a baby (still has some). I tried all the above. Oats in the sock and tied to the tap so that water runs thru it was good but v messy when emptying the sock etc. I eventually settled on less baths, plain water and a massage after bath with either olive oil, grapeseed or sunflower oil. He smelt like a chip pan most of the time and his hair was greasy but he was the shiniest, smoothest baby you've ever seen (and those things are far less expensive/harmful than other products)

~x~

jellyhead

the doc might give you some oilatum lotion for the bath, it's white and makes the bath slippery, so take extra care.

i was also given some cream called diprobase, it's excellent. i got a massive container on prescription for him and i use it on my eczema too

pdoff

our health visitor prescribed hydromol emollient for bath (like oilatum) & diprobase for cradle cap at first, then changed cream to doublebase. he developed excema & we had to see doc who gave us steroid creams which i don't like using so only use when really bad. we don't use shampoo or soap or anything other than hydromol in the bath (which he shares with older brother who also has lovely soft skin now!).
i went into the body shop for advice as don't like the steroid creams & they were really helpful, have me sample pots of hemp cream for face, hemp cteam for body for when bad & cocoa butter for when hemp cream working & excema not so bad. worth asking them for a sample. can't comment on effectiveness as not used enough yet though!
i would definitely ask health visitor at the baby clinic though.