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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

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

66 replies

mears · 15/05/2005 14:59

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

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Hulababy · 15/05/2005 22:18

Why not try reusable baby wipes instead?

I have just ordered some - 10 for £5 - MUCH cheaper, and better for baby, than disposable ones.

I have only started using then in last few months, but will definitely use them from the start if and when we have #2.

Gwenick · 15/05/2005 22:21

that must make me the worlds worst mother then.

Dutifully (tried) to use cotton wool and water for DS1 when he was little - gave up after about 1 month as we had to use LOADS of cotton wool, and it tooks far to long - he hated nappy changes as it was without subjecting him to even longer ones as it took so long to clean him. He was given bubble baths and had his hair washed from the word go too.

DS2 was put straight onto wipes after the performance we had with DS1........and again shampoo and bubble bath all the way................

As for the cradle cap - we tried the oil route for DS1, and all the other 'natural' remedies - but eventually had no option but to use the detinox (sp)............took the cradle cap off and his small amount of hair too

Surfermum · 15/05/2005 22:26

Misdee - I used olive oil on dd's cradle cap, left it overnight and combed out the next morning with a nit comb. Worked a treat.

SofiaAmes · 15/05/2005 22:55

So nice to hear that it's now the official recommendation. I was literally yelled at by a midwife (after 40 hours of labor and and emergency cs) because I had brought a bar of hypoallergenic soap with no perfumes to bathe my baby with. She was furious that I hadn't brought liquid baby soap.

bubblerock · 15/05/2005 23:05

I used/use baby wipes (whichever are on offer) and johnsons products for both DS's and never had any problems - never had nappy rash or eczema.

kama · 15/05/2005 23:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

moondog · 15/05/2005 23:25

SA,amazed that they even expected you to bring your own stuff. This time round (second baby),I refrained from washing ds for days. kept him brand spanking new just a little longer that way...sigh....

hunkermunker · 15/05/2005 23:33

My midwife said that DS should be bathed in plain water and olive oil should be used. I didn't bath him till day 6 (though he was dipped as a show bath baby in the hospital - just plain water though!) and knowing what I know now, I'll leave any subsequent children longer!

Vernix smells lovely, IMO Am I alone in this weirdery?

hunkermunker · 15/05/2005 23:33

Olive oil after the bath, that is...

moondog · 15/05/2005 23:35

No you're not, hm! Actually, I thought my newborns smelled like parsnips,and you know how I feel about parsnips!!

SofiaAmes · 15/05/2005 23:35

kama, that was the least of the awful things that happened to me during my labor and aftercare. I was too busy complaining about everything else. What I didn't do, and really regret now, was make an official written complaint about everything. I was just too exhausted and excited with my first child. And didn't quite realize until I had my second how much of my treatment was abysmal.

hunkermunker · 15/05/2005 23:36

Well, nothing I produced would ever smell like parsnips

moondog · 15/05/2005 23:37

Oh.
Just me then.

hunkermunker · 15/05/2005 23:43

Yep

ghosty · 16/05/2005 02:31

I really understand what you are all saying and I am 100% behind you on all of this (DD only ever had cotton wool and water till about 9 months etc etc)
BUT ... perhaps someone could explain something really strange:

DS ... bathed in baby bath from day one ... washed his hair (head, actually, he didn't have hair till he was 1) every day in johnson's baby shampoo from day one ... used wipes from day one ... used barrier cream liberally after every single nappy change from day one (so much so that I am sure his bum was bleached white!) ... bottlefed from 6 weeks and put on to solids at 13 weeks = not one bit of nappy rash, cradle crap (our special name for it), not one rash, nor even the teeniest suggestion of eczema ... eats everything ... hardly ever sick.

DD ... no baby products in bath until at least 6 months ... no wipes till 9 months .... breastfed for 9 months .... didn't wash her head until she was at least a month old .... hardly ever had any barrier cream ... held off solids till 5 motnhs .... = she is soooooooo much more sensitive to stuff than DS ... not allergic in that we are restricted but she always had nappy rash as a little baby, always had cradle crap, sprouts rashes and spots at the drop of a hat, has a constant streaming nose ...

WHY????????????????????????

Oh ... and spent a bloody fortune on cotton wool .........

moondog · 16/05/2005 08:57

That's the way it is sometimes ghosty! (Bloody annoying though,eh?)

Original poster

mears · 21/07/2006 23:11

Time for a reminder
Scroll down to start of thread.

OP posts:

Xavielli · 22/07/2006 00:11

Midwives bath babies?!?!?!?!?!

hunkermunker · 22/07/2006 00:21

Mears, DS2 didn't have a bath for five weeks. And he's only had a bit of shampoo on his head now to make his hair fluffy - only plain water in his bath now. His skin is peachy gorgeous! I might've used bloody Johnson and Johnson if I'd not read your links - thank you.

Original poster

mears · 22/07/2006 00:23

You're welcome.

Xavielli - where I work midwives regularly bathe babies.

OP posts:

kittywits · 22/07/2006 07:15

I still don't use soaps on any of my childrem and the oldest is nearly 8, horrible stuff.

CarolinaMoose · 22/07/2006 07:59

Xavielli, when I had ds the MWs wouldn't shut up about showing me how to bath ds. But my antenatal teacher had warned us against the perils of Johnson & Johnson so I refused, and ds got his first bath at about 4 weeks.

Tbh, I wouldn't bother at all next time (just top and tailing) until the baby's big enough to appreciate the big bath. They don't get particularly dirty after all.

Xavielli · 22/07/2006 09:32

I wasnt even shown how to top & tail or change a nappy. Then I got shouted at because I had a 12 hour old baby with a smelly bum and I didnt realise!

DS was 4 weeks early I was 19, I could have done with the help.

CarolinaMoose · 22/07/2006 11:35

I only knew how cos I'd practised on my nephew.

Elibean · 22/07/2006 12:01

Didn't bath dd1 for ages, except once in hospital to 'learn'...and only ever used water. When she finally had hair, used teeny amounts of unperfumed/coloured baby shampoo - but she still had cradle cap and baby eczema, I think that stuff is genetic in her case. But at least we didn't make it worse.

Cradle cap got much better using almond oil rubbed into scalp (smells less than olive oil!) and left on all day - then I'd use a soft brush on it, and a teeny bit of the 'green' baby shampoo. Then again, not much hair - so oil was easy.

Also had problems with cotton wool and water, and changed to hyperallergenic unperfumed wipes...no nappy rash...but am intrigued with the idea of cut up towels, would like to try that with dd2 when she arrives!

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