What's a good baby oil?

[lou19]

My husband and several members of his family suffer with severe eczema and I'd like to use a product on my baby that does not have parfume or other nasties in it to start on the right foot. I was going to use almond oil but my husband is allergic to nuts so that might be a problem. Can anyone reccomend a good brand? Is J&J baby oil ok?

i like burts bees its pricey though, but smells gorgeous, might be a bit highly scented though.

olive oil? my daughter smelled like salad dressing for the first few weeks, but it is quite inert.

what about a very bland emmoliant like double base?

I also have a family history of eczema and have it myself.

Olive oil is fine, you can buy it in Boots, costs about £1.50 and the bottle lasts for ages. Burts Bees is nice to use too but 10 times the price.

J&J baby oil is very strongly scented, I find all their stuff to be overpowering and wouldn't use it on a baby.

I think Boots also do a sensitive baby oil which is unfragranced, but I have not tried it.

I am currently using (cough) Ren Rose Otto oil in dd's bath which is mondo pricey at £25 a bottle, but it's made her skin lovely. She's not overindulged, she only gets it when I or DH have a bath too.

Thanks for your answers ladies, it sounds like olive oil might be the way forward, although the J&J website have a quote from some scientist or other stating that olive oil has "desquamating properties" and therefore might end up drying baby skin even more, but then they would say that wouldn't they? I often use olive oil in my bath and it makes my skin really soft. Also my brother, who lives in Italy, uses rice starch in their baby's bath, which they get in the pharmacy, as it's supposed to make the water softer and nourish the skin. Not sure if it's available here though. xx

J&J is a mineral oil and so derived from petrochemicals, which, it is claimed by some, cannot be absorbed into the skin like vegetable oils can. It also contains artificial perfumes which is why most people who choose organic/natural/unscented products would not use it. I personally would never use it on my children's skin.

Neals Yard Remedies Organics do 2 lovely baby oils. One unscented, for babies up to 3 months, and one beautifully scented with essential oils of rose, lavendar and chamomile, which may be used from 3 months onwards. The oils are a mixture of vegetable oils chosen for their moisturising properties and also blended so that the oil itself is pleasant to use (olive oil on its own is a bit gloopy for my liking!)

If you want to go cheap, grapeseed oil was recommended by the lady who took the baby massage class I did. It is less likely to cause a reaction than a nut oil and is light and easily absorbed. It also has very little smell.
Hope this helps!