E45 emolliant bath oil - do I not need soap any more?

[deepfriedcupcake]

DS2 (13months) has some small patches of dry skin (poss mild eczema) on the inside of his elbows.

I've just picked up E45 emolliant bath oil and cream on prescription - it says on the bath oil bottle I don't need to use soap - at all? Do I just give him a wash over with a wet sponge instead? Does it matter if I use soap (baby bath wash) as well on him or DS1 if they've had a particularly grubby day?

I use my DS's eczema cream as soap. Soap is no good for skin with eczema unless it is a specific one. I have never used soap on him (3.5) or DD who is 19 weeks and just developing eczema.

I hadn't thought of that - the bath oil has definitely left the DSs and my hands silky soft, I'm quite interested to see how quickly the little patches will clear up / soften.

You definitely don't need soap, or shampoo for that matter. I haven't used either on my son since he was a few mths old (now nearly 4). All normal forms of soap dry the skin.