New mums - remember no need for baby bath/soap/shampoo

[mears]

Since there a a number of new babies on mumsnet I thought I should bring to your attention the latest guidance on skin care.

Babies should only be bathed in water alone for 2-3 weeks. Also do not use baby wipes. Apart from saving money you are proecting their delicate skins. Explanation here

meant to say 4 weeks (at least)

Mears I agree with the baby wipes bit!!! Especially if they have nappy rash. I once used them down stairs and it hurt like hell!!!!!!

Cotton wool and water was fine for ds for ages.

thanks mears. tho now dd3 is 12 weeks ish old, and hardly had a drop of shampoo near her head full of hair ( i have shampooed her hair about twice when she was sick in it and it made her hair smell like cheesey wotsits), she has bad cradle cap. dont want to use anything like dentonix or whatever its called due to family history of eczema. so whats a good easy way of shifting it?

Hi mears, it's lovely to see someone pointing this out. May I also add that most 'baby' products contain alarming amounts of parabens and foaming agents. I used water and cotton wool for 2 years and now use a little of the Neals Yard products or the little me range from Boots. They are more expensive and last for ages.

Misdee, a tiny bit of the little me baby balm rubbed in to the scalp will left the cradle cap out, it's great. Pure beeswax will do this too.

Cheers Mears - this was my gut reaction first time around - and just using good ol water again with No2 who's 11 days old. (Number 1 never had nappy rash so here's hoping.)

olive oil massaged into her scalp is good for removing cradle cap. massage it in, leave it for about 10 minutes and then shampoo (sorry) out.
i never used shapmopo or soap for my two, but when ds2 had cradle cap i used it after the olive oil massage as otherwise it looked like he had really greasy hair.

Thanks MArs, when was this guideline released?

Thankful that it has finally come through, DS suffered of very dry skin for a time and we realised months later (through eczema groups) how the condition was being exacerbated (sp?) by this products. Stupid in my part too, as it is normal advice in my country but !,as many other people, assumed that it really didn't make such a difference...

Mears

Mears, hope you don't mind me adding my tuppence worth. Can I suggest that after the 4 weeks, parents switch to towelling (small, cheap face flannels or cut up old towels) They work alot better than both chem. wipes and cotton wool IMO and can be bunged in the washer with a whites wash saving money and cotton.

Mia

I also am still using cotton wool balls and water on DS's bum; he's 8 months. The only time he got nappy rash was when we were using a barrier cream when he was a newborn. We thought we had to use it, but because we weren't washing it off properly his skin was always damp, hence the rash. We've never used cream since and he's been rash free!!

A midwife gave me this top tip for removing meconium and/or general sticky poo. Pour some mineral (or olive) oil on some loo roll and use that to gently remove poo. It saves you having to 'scrub' the skin.

I used only water to bathe DS in until he was 6 weeks then I used (still am) a product that is free of SLS. Used baby shampoo once and his was stinking for a few days afterwards - never again!

kama - babywipes are no more stress-free than a cloth or cotton wool balls. Honestly. I'm sure I could have taken the gold medal for being a stressed mum!

I kept the free wipes I got in the bounty pack to get rid of paint marks - no way would let them near my kids skin. - I use terry wipes with water and a bit of camomile in it - super for nappy rash

I was given this advice by mw before dd was born - but on the ward, b4 I was allowed to take her home, they insisted on a bath in...guess what! Johnsons! It was the only time it went near her!I was frightened they wouldn't let me take her home if I didn't let them bath her! silly lady that I was.

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my dd is 3 in august and i still can't use wipes on her, not even for one nappy change

lmccrean - is that camomile oil? sounds yummy

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Reminds me of my friend lamenting the fact that due to her ds's sensitive skin,she couldn't use powders and lotions on him. 'He doesn't smell lika a baby!' was her lament.
Wouldn't bloody Johnson&Johnson be pleased to hear that?

(BTW I read that the whole baby lotions 'n potions industry developed in direct response to the foul smell of puked up formula!)

Like woohoo I was given this advice before dd was born - so was gobsmacked when the morning after she was born the nurse prepared a massive bubble bath for her. Of course I challenged her straight away (not).

lol at thought of 'massive bubble bath'.....
(Silly cow!)