Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder how the duck do I wash his hair?

35 replies

PuzzledOfPuzzledom · 20/02/2018 18:47

Toddler DS has eczema, have been referred to hospital and dermatologist has said that among other things he should have baths twice a day using an emollient bath oil. All good, fingers crossed it’ll help, but....

I’m probably being thick but when am I supposed to wash his hair given that if I wash it in the water with bath oil in it ends up all greasy and the shampoo washes the oil off his skin. They’ve said it’s important to pat his skin dry and leave the oil on it as much as possible.

I thought about running a second bath in the evening after the one with emollient in so I can wash his hair in clean water but again that would wash the oil off. Do I bath him in plain water first and wash his hair then run a fresh bath with the bath oil in? That seems like a massive hassle to take him out of the bath, try to stop him charging around the house naked and soaking wet while I wait for a new bath to run. I can’t take him out of the bath and wash his hair in the sink because, well, he’s a toddler and that ends up with tears, water everywhere, and me snapping at DH that it’s his bloody turn tomorrow.

Can any other mums whose DC have eczema tell me what you do? Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
MarthaArthur · 20/02/2018 18:49

I have dry skin and wash my hair in plain water first then just add oilatum to my bathwater whilst im still in it. Give it a swish round then add moisturiser when i get out.

3boys3dogshelp · 20/02/2018 18:51

I only washed my dc’s hair with shampoo if it looks dirty when they were toddlers. The rest of the time I just rinsed it with water so you could stick him in a bath of plain water, rinse his hair then add emollient most days.

tired17 · 20/02/2018 18:53

Could you use a toddler hair wash hat, I don't know how to link but if you Google it you will find it. Stand him in an empty bath or shower and I would think most of the water would miss his skin. Also toddlers hair doesn't need washing that often so you might be able to get away with a once a week wash

ExhaustedAndHormonal · 20/02/2018 18:53

Use a jug and full up sink to wash it. Then leave him in emollient water after

SharkSave · 20/02/2018 18:54

A couple of jug fulls of water from the sink would be enough to rinse it

Evelynismycatsformerspyname · 20/02/2018 18:56

Just wash it once per week. Children's hair doesn't need washing more often. The once a week will be a pita though... I'd do it first in a plain bath then add oilas Martha says.

CoffeenoTea · 20/02/2018 18:59

can you get a a shower attachment? ir don't worry about hair washing for the moment warm water will be fine

kaytee87 · 20/02/2018 19:06

Just fill a jug or two of clean water for the side, at the end of his bath empty the water then wash his hair before he gets out. If you have a shower attachment use that instead of the jugs.

kaytee87 · 20/02/2018 19:06

Just wash it once per week. Children's hair doesn't need washing more often.

Tell that to my 18mo who regularly smooshes his dinner into his hair.

thepatchworkcat · 20/02/2018 19:13

We always just gave DS his bath with the oilatum in and his hair usually got rinsed with that same water - it never seemed to be greasy after. Don’t know how as I’m sure mine would be! But he always came out clean.

LivingInMidnight · 20/02/2018 19:13

My mum used to use a plastic toy saucepan filled at the sink. We all loved it!

Lovelydovey · 20/02/2018 19:17

My two DS only wash their hair with shampoo after a haircut (so every 6 weeks). The rest of the time it only gets plain water on it (either in shower or bath).

Incidentally their eczema got much better when I stopped bathing them so often (every 3-4 days rather than daily).

Cantchooseaname · 20/02/2018 19:19

Inch of water in bath, wash hair, take plug out and rinse with shower as bath empties. Keep shower running/ switch to tap to fill bath again. Assuming your water temp is fairly stable- he doesn’t have to get out?
I have always had to avoid water with psoriasis/ eczema flares- 5 mins day max in shower. I’m fast!!

Evelynismycatsformerspyname · 21/02/2018 06:15

Bathing daily does seem odd advice for eczema - one of mine had (still has but less so) patches on his legs and they are definitely worse when he bathed daily, and in summer when we went to the pool a lot. Now he's older he showers and that doesn't seem to make it as bad probably because he only washes visible mud off his legs rather than washing them thoughly

TooFatForTahiti · 21/02/2018 06:33

When toddler DS had ear infection troubles that made hair washing difficult, we gave him a crew cut. Number 2 blade, a quick rub with a wet cloth and voila - a clean noggin without shampoo. Added bonus - no nits!

LaurieF · 21/02/2018 06:41

Run a normal bath, wash his hair. Then once all clean add the emolliant and grab a book so he can have a little soak with some bath toys. DS now 13 had excels as a toddler and that's how I used to do it. Thankfully he had grown out of it now! Also we used to wash his skin with aqueas (defo spelt wrong) cream rather than soap.

dementedpixie · 21/02/2018 06:48

Shower house attached to bath taps is what we use

dementedpixie · 21/02/2018 06:49

Hose*

Drainedandconfused · 21/02/2018 06:57

When my DD was a toddler the only way she would allow her hair to be washed was to lay on the kitchen worktop on her back with her head over the sink and use a jug to wet hair and then rinse after shampooing, very odd but no water/shampoo gets on their face or in their eyes. The idea came in very handy when DS used to get chronic ear infections.

justilou1 · 21/02/2018 07:05

Wash his hair then throw him in the bath with the oil - OR pat extra oil onto his skin while he's wet.

TheDailyMailIsADisgustingRag · 21/02/2018 07:06

Wash it over the sink / in shower quickly before bath?

I’d probably do what @martha suggests for myself, but if his eczema is severe enough to need two emollient baths a day then I expect you don’t want him bathing in detergent. If it’s eczema friendly shampoo though?

Bowerbird5 · 21/02/2018 07:27

Wrap him in a towel arms in. Wash over the bath with a shower attachment / jug then put him in. You might get a bit of noise but it will be over in minutes. Used to wash one of mine like this. More difficult past three.

10thingsIhateAboutTheDailyMail · 21/02/2018 07:29

My DC had eczema, and I only washed their hair once a week.

Am surprised you have to bath him twice a day, I bathed mine twice a week! Guess advice has changed!

seven201 · 21/02/2018 07:31

I just wash my dd's hair and mine in the emolient water. I don't think it looks greasy.

Nightfall1983 · 21/02/2018 07:55

Do you also have a prescription soap substitute? DS has dermol 600 (oil) and dermal 500 (soap substitute) and I just wash his hair with the soap substitute and rinse with the oily water - he is fine and never has greasy hair...