2 week old with dry, flaky skin. I know you're supposed to use OLIVE OIL but...

[princessmel]

I have a 'thing' about oil. I can't bear to have it on my hands. Plus I am thinking all his clothes and blankets will get all greasy.

So will olive oil work as well if I put it on with cotton wool???

Also does it dry/sink into the skin after a while or will his clothes be really stained?

I know, I know I should put my babies skin before my silly hang ups, but I am really hoping there's an alternative.

I have done a search on here and some people said emmoliant cream or oilatum. Is this ok??

tia

[CatIsSleepy]

can't you just put a drop or two in his bath?

is his skin dry all the time or just after a bath? both dd1 and 2 used to get v dry skin after a bath, but once i added a little oil to the water they were fine

i used to rub a little into their heads as well, which got particularly dry
you don't need to use loads so it shouldn't make everything greasy

[princessmel]

Hi CatIsSleepy, it's all the time atm. He's only had 2 baths with just water.

I will put a drop in his next bath.

[princessmel]

hanaflower at rubber gloves. I feel bad actually, I should just be able to do it and sod the clothes and greasy-yuk-ness. But I really don't want too!

I am deffo not opposed to massage, infact I'd love to, but with something non oily.

I have some bath stuff and cream the gp gave me for ds1. But he is 6 and I'm not sure if it will be safe for ds2.

[theyoungvisiter]

I wouldn't use oilatum or anything like that. Vegetable oils are supposed to be preferable when they are so tiny.

Unless his skin is painfully dry though, personally I wouldn't bother. Both my babies got slightly flaky skin and it just came off without seeming to cause them any discomfort.

When I have used olive oil though, it doesn't stain the clothes as you wipe off any residue. I'm sure it would be fine to put it on with cotton wool, or a flannel maybe?

[PCPlumIsMyHomeboy]

HV told me to use vaseline when my 2 were flaky babes. Would that be bearable, or still too oily once it warms up?

[theyoungvisiter]

The only thing with those solid massage bars is they usually contain essential oils, which I would have thought would be too strong for a newborn.

I thought you weren't supposed to use vaseline on newborns because their skin is so permeable?

We were told at antenatal classes not to use any mineral based oils at first (so not vaseline or baby oil), only vegetable-based.

[princessmel]

Haven't got a massage bar

I think I read on here that vaseline was a MN no no for newborns , why is that? Am confused.
I could probably cope with that.
MN deffo hates Johnson and Johnson stuff I'm sure of that!

[juuule]

I used Vaseline on all mine for dry skin.

[princessmel]

cx posts, so massage bar and veseline are out then?

How about the Little Me Organic range of creams? Or something smiliar?

[juuule]

You don't need to use much, just a smear.

[PCPlumIsMyHomeboy]

Grapeseed oil is what the baby massage teacher told us to use. Okay, so it's still oil, but not so thick and gloopy as olive, so might be less traumatic1

[Snowtiger]

I was going to suggest Grapeseed oil too, it's much lighter than olive oil and just as good for the skin.

Or you could try aqueous cream, it's totally safe for newborns and is water based so not at all oily. Or E45?