advice please re gentle bubble bath/ washing powder for excema?

[bethdivine]

DS is 2.5 and has had baby excema, which flared up last summer. He has oilatum for the bath and the cream as well, but after the first few months flare up, it's been fairly well under control. I've been too wary to dare swap anything we use though, but would love to be able to give him a bubble bath again, rather than the murky looking unfun stuff that is oilatum. He's not best keen on the bath and I would like to try to get him in more often to see if it'll help his little belly (also constipated poor boy).

Also, I'd like to swap our washing powder - we use tesco non-bio which is not the best at cleaning, but the one time we swapped to another non-bio, he flared up again, but that was some time ago now. anybody know if it might be ok now his skin has calmed? TIA.

[expatinscotland]

I use Earth Friendly baby bubble bath and it works a treat.

[bethdivine]

can i buy that in a shop or is it just online expat (thanks).

[namechangerforareason]

My DS(8.5months) has really bad eczema, we use infacare for bubbles in bath and I use his cetraben bath additive in mornings when he gets washed. Still apply the emollient cream 2x daily if not more. E45 do a bath range for over 12 months for delicate skin example here I have seen it in asda.

I woul;d be reluctant to change soap powder if he is ok with it as the change could cause a flare up, but i do find fairy non bio(expensive but we use only for his clothes) and surcare to be good for him.

Unfortuately eczema is a thing which varies person to person, so the only way you will know for definate is to do a swap.

Sorry its not much help I know

x

[expatinscotland]

I used to buy it in a speciality shop, but now I just buy it online.

[girlsyearapart]

So unhelpful I'm afraid but we have found Tesco non bio (tablets not powder) one of the only ones not to cause flare ups. Doesn't get many stains out though! Sometimes wash it twice/wash everyone elses stuff in something else/wash at higher temp..

[bethdivine]

should have said, we were using burts bees, but that didn't do his skin much good (shame as gorgeous smell) - and funnily enough, doesn't suit DD either (who is 14wks).

[bethdivine]

ooh, thanks all, will stick with the tesco wash powder for now then, but try the bubble baths, thank you.

[girlsyearapart]

Also Surcare and Ecover meant to be good. Have bought surcare but haven't tried it yet..

[kando]

I have been using Earth Friendly stuff on dd2 (who's now 6!) and have seen a good improvement in her skin. She doesn't have a lot of exczema but it is definately a lot better. I got it from Waitrose. She wasn't best pleased at using "Baby" stuff in the bath so I've also bought Halos and Horns stuff (also recommended by mnetters) as it's a bit more "grown up" for her

Not sure about washing powder as changing it has never made her skin better or worse. I did try Asda's eco-stuff which was quite nice, but as I say, didn't have any effect on her skin.

[MrsOlf]

We've been using Burts Bees - very pricey but DD2s skin cleared up very quickly once we were using this and the cream. Also Neal's Yard baby soap is the gentlest I've come across.

[Aniyan]

I can also recommend Surcare washing liquid. I think DS is growing out of his eczema now, but it was the only one I found that he didn't react to when he was little.

[thatsnotmymonster]

I can only use Fairy non-bio. DH and both dd's get little patches of scoriosis if I use anything else. Even if I do one load with another powder the residue in the machine is enough to cause a flare up and dh complains it makes his skin itchy.

[MummieGee]

I've used Surcare powder on my own clothes for a couple of years as I react to even the slighest perfume in washing powder. Also use a bit of lemon juice to get out stains on white clothes.

I found the boots expert baby bath stuff excellent - much better than oilatum, maybe they do a bubble bath?

DS (9mths) used to hate his bath but then I got rid of his bath seat and give him lots of toys - rubber ducks, some platic balls, and a wash mit, etc - and he's happy as anything. Sometimes even cries when I take him out. Had to use a boots, non-slip mat though for safety.

He also quite likes sitting in his baby bath surrounded by his toys if I cant be bothered to fill the big bath.

MG x

[cbmum]

My DD has Aveeno oil in the bath and Aveeno cream - you can buy them from Boots but the GP will also prescribe them if you ask. It's great stuff. I've always used Fairy washpowder which has been fine.

[bethdivine]

ooh, thanks you, another few to look at when I get to the shops then - we live in a rural area, with not the biggest ranges of shops in town, so it's good to have a choice as our boots might not stock everything and we're short on natural product shops.
thanks everybody.
Bx

[GreenMonkies]

I love Organic Surge in the bath, I use the Bergamot one for the kids and the other stuff for us grown ups and Ecover non-bio washing powder. None of us have any reaction to it, it might be ok for your DS.