Aveeno on newborn?

[bellagrace]

Can anyone tell me if it’s ok to use Aveeno on my 11 day old DD? I’ve had mixed advice from midwives - some say not to use it until 3 weeks or even a month, but a couple have said it would be fine. DD is getting very dry, flaky skin (particularly on hands, feet and torso) and I have been bathing her in only water, but I imagine the dryness must be itchy and I don’t want her to be uncomfortable. Also, DH suffers badly from eczema and if DD’s dryness is related, I would like to help soothe it as early as possible.

Any advice gratefully received TIA!

The bottle says not to but I didn't read it and used it. Not sure what the ill effects are supposed to be but haven't noticed anything. I think ideally you're supposed to use oil like coconut or olive.

How often are you bathing her? I only bathed DS once a week in water until he was 2 months old then I started using Oilatum to bathe him and it really helped his dry skin. We use the cream after baths and it's brilliant.

We were told to use distilled olive oil (can buy it in chemists) on newborn skin. Worked for us

My DS had very sensitive skin so I found Aveeno & Child's Farm helped.

I also washed his clothes separately and used non-bio on them

Not sure. 12 week old DD has eczema and Diprobase is doing wonders.

The dry skin on new borns is natural due to the skin getting used to being outside the amniotic fluids. It isn't anything to worry about and will go away on its own it just doesn't look prefect. The skin is very permeable and absorbs everything so I wouldn't put any man made cream on unless prescribed.

Agree with woolly - basically you’re baby has been in a water bath for 9 months and once they are born the skin dries out and the top layer peels off. That’s normal.

We always used to recommend olive oil (and I used it on my kids to good effect!) but more recent research has indicated it is actually not good for skin.

I’d watch and wait and with a history of eczema if things worsen ask for a simple emollient cream to apply several times a day.

I think they just slough a bit at the beginning. I don’t think you need to do anything with it. If it’s bothering you maybe put some olive oil on it, but it’ll just stick it down temporarily.

Oh ignore my olive oil suggestion then! 😀

Averno is colloidal oats , and some preservative ingredients.
Get the same effect without the preservatives by putting a handful of oats in a sock, tying a knot in it and putting it in the bath,, under the running tap. Squeeze it, leave it in, and you will have made a giant cup of oat tea to soothe your baby's skin. Works really well, and your dh would find it eased his eczema too.
Has helped my eczema y family no end.

I used coconut oil on my son as advised by HV

Another one for coconut oil on my baby after he was 10 days old. I used kokoso baby coconut oil.
Just check it’s organic and pressed if you decide to use it

Student children's nurse here 🙋🏻
The peeling is completely normal and stops around 3-6weeks.

You're better off using coconut/olive oil rather than a lotion as per current advice. 2 baths with just plain water a week is plenty, unless there's a poo/sick explosion.

products with the least ingredients on babies is skin best. 6 weeks is recommended minimum age for using gentle bath products and other skin products but olive/coconut oil is really the best for it!

Thank you everyone, this is really helpful

I second what everyone has said about peeling skin. I also used coconut oil but you can also use sunflower oil. Neal's Yard also do some all natural organic baby creams which I believe are suitable for newborns.

We also used coconut oil on DD. But it's true that the peeling (esp hands and feet) is just their skin getting used to the outside world.