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AIBU?

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Original poster

to ask how often you wash your child

79 replies

blinkyoullmissit · 30/04/2016 18:04

under 2 years in particular.
Only because my ds (10 months) has developed some nasty eczema, passed down through me.
It irritates him immensely when he's had a bath as I know this happens after I've showered.
He's being bathed every other day at advice of GP and having creams put on twice daily (if not more if there's ever a chance he's bare legged or armed).
He's not a grubby child. He can't walk and has just started to crawl but the only dirt ever on him is from food he's eaten and that's contained to mouth area only.
He went 2 days without a bath and the redness went down and he was a lot happier and less irritable.

OP posts:
Nuttypops · 30/04/2016 18:44

We bath DD every night, hair wash every second or third night. But only use water, and mainly because she loves playing in it. I would happily do it less often at this age.

MrTumbleOnRepeat · 30/04/2016 18:45

When he was younger I bathed my DC once a week as he had sore skin and I was told washing made it worse. Of course he if he got really dirty I would bath him and I would make sure he had a good wipe with sensitive wipes every day. ( for some reasons those never reacted with his skin)
From 1 when he was at nursery he has a bath twice a week (on days he has been there). Wipes and extra baths when dirty as above, his skin has improved loads

Muskateersmummy · 30/04/2016 18:45

Dd has eczema. We bath her daily. I was told its not so much the washing that dries the skin as the amount of time between washing and drying. You need to get them out, and moistiriser on quickly.

We use a gentle body wash and a moisturiser when it's very bad. Interestingly when she takes her hayfever medicine (piriton) the eczema disappears almost completely.

ImperialBlether · 30/04/2016 18:45

OP, have you used the aqueous cream as soap? My dad had a lot of trouble with his skin and used to use that instead of soap and it didn't irritate.

Roomba · 30/04/2016 18:45

My DS2 was just like this as a baby. He seems to have outgrown it now at almost 4YO.

It cleared up completely when I started bathing him just once a week. Obviously I would clean him if necessary in between and his hands, bum and face were well washed regularly. Definitely made all the difference.

Sparrowlegs248 · 30/04/2016 18:46

Ds has mild eczema but it sometimes looks very red and angry. He is bathed every second or third night. I use zerobase to wash him withapart from his hair and hands which I use oilatum on. On non bath days he has a cotton wool and water wash on face, neck hands and bum. Face and hands wiped with a warm wet flannel after eating. 9months

hazeyjane · 30/04/2016 18:51

Sorry just seen you use aqueous cream - we were told by dermatologist not to use this as it can cause skin irritation (it seems to in dd2 - but I find it OK to use as a handwash for my very eczema-y hands) www.gov.uk/drug-safety-update/aqueous-cream-may-cause-skin-irritation

5minutestobed · 30/04/2016 18:55

Once a week because he hates it and its not worth the battle! He gets cleaned in between times and looks mostly clean! Don't feel bad OP!

BabyMonkeyMummy · 30/04/2016 18:59

We always plan to do a bath every other night but realistically it's probably 2 or 3 times a week.

My daughter has eczema patches on her scalp and I've found the Child's Farm shampoo and conditioner quite good to clear it up. I haven't tried their bath stuff/body wash as her skin is otherwise okay.

startrek90 · 30/04/2016 18:59

My 19 month old gets bathed every evening. It's part of his bedtime routine and I have found that he settles quicker and sleeps better when we have done dinner bath milk and bed. I wash his hair every day as he likes to put food in his hair.

TheWeeBabySeamus1 · 30/04/2016 18:59

My son has severe eczema so I was only bathing every other day hoping it would help. Got told by the eczema clinic to bathe him every night with Cetrabaum oil in his bath, and it has improved slightly.

Oilatum really didn't agree with my son and would leave his skin really angry and red - could you ask the doctor to prescribe something different? The issue with eczema is different creams/bath additives work for different people so it's all trial and error until you find what works for your DC.

MegBusset · 30/04/2016 19:03

Aqueous cream is not recommended for eczema sufferers. For the vast majority it will make symptoms worse.

Current advice is to bathe every day with eg Oilatum or Aveeno and slather on the emollients after (and use steroids as needed). However some people find that it's better to bathe less often. unfortunately with eczema there's no magic cure and often it's a case of managing the symptoms as best you can until they grow out of it.

Salene · 30/04/2016 19:04

No skin issues with my 19 month old and he gets bath every 3 days or if for some reason he is really dirty like dinner poured over head etc

ImperialBlether · 30/04/2016 19:09

Sorry, MegBusset, I meant Oilatum when I referred to Aqueous cream. I thought they were the same thing but it was definitely Oilatum that my dad was using.

Ramaani · 30/04/2016 19:21

This is going to sound really bad - but she has a bag maybe once a month?

She really doesn't like it and I have no motivation for the fight once I've bathed her brothers.

I damp flannel liberally and often after every meal given the current food smearing phase . Sometimes sit her on the edge of the bath and splash her.

Ramaani · 30/04/2016 19:22

bath

PinkParsnips · 30/04/2016 19:31

Twice a week here, DD also has eczema.
We use an oil in the bath from the GP and oilatum wash and she is completely clear at the moment but it has taken a good while.

NinaGalbraith · 30/04/2016 20:26

Only every few days, use Weleda wash (expensive but lovely) and rub coconut oil over her after bath. Hair wash about once a week. Also use water wipes as others seemed irritating to skin.

AlwaysDancing1234 · 30/04/2016 20:38

DD (21 months) has eczema and ichthyosis unfortunately inherited from me. Every other day is too much and causes problems, twice or even once a week during flare ups is enough. I obviously clean her face, hands and nappy area several times a day!

TimeToMuskUp · 30/04/2016 20:39

Whenever I remember.

underrugsswept · 30/04/2016 20:40

2yrs old, bath every night except the odd occasion where he's too shattered. He comes home from nursery with food all over him and paint in his hair a lot of the time so needs a good scrub. It's part of his bedtime routine too.

MrsUnderwood · 30/04/2016 20:48

We do the 3 year old every night but only wash her hair once a week. It's part of her bedtime routine and she loves to play in the bath.

The 4 month old gets dunked in with his sister about once a week as he doesn't really get dirty and he has his bum and bollocks washed every time he gets his nappy changed.

CigarsofthePharoahs · 30/04/2016 21:20

When my eldest was

EveryoneElsie · 30/04/2016 21:24

Have you tried epsom salts soaks? Its old fashioned but great for excema. Bung him in the bath with plain water and a few tablespoons of epsoms.

Original poster
blinkyoullmissit · 30/04/2016 21:33

Thankyou everyone! We have a family history of eczema so I don't think he'll be outgrowing it anytime soon Sad
I won't use aqueous cream and just stick to what the GP have him on the very sore patches and E45 all over.
My mum used to swear by porridge oats in tights for me when I was little so maybe I'll give that a go?
Haven't tried Epsom salts but have bags of the stuff lying around (used it on the horses regularly) so will try that tomorrow night

OP posts:
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