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Original poster

Aqueous Cream - okay for 6 week old?

17 replies

GeorginaA · 26/06/2004 19:51

Is it?

It's just I've noticed that ds2's skin is a bit dry after a bath (just use water, nothing else on him) and I thought I'd give him an after bath massage with it.

Yes, I know I should probably get some massage oil instead but:

a) I already have a huge tub of aqueous cream bought during my pregnancy that is going to waste!
b) I don't want my baby to smell of anything, only baby.
c) I don't like the feel of oil on my fingers - I find it a bit sticky/slippery.

Obviously, if it's not good for his skin then I will invest in some "proper" stuff, just didn't want to go out and buy something if I already had something suitable!

OP posts:
Piffleoffagus · 26/06/2004 19:53

I used the oilatum cream for dd's occasional dry patches... not sure about aquaeous cream though?

hmb · 26/06/2004 19:59

There is no 'active ingredient' in aqueous cream, it is just a barrier. I would have thought it would be better for a babies skin than highly perfumed baby oil.

Aero · 26/06/2004 20:07

Pretty sure it's ok GeorginaA - have used it on my ds1 and dd from very early on. Got it on prescription as didn't really like plastering them in (good old) olive oil. Ds1's skin was pretty scaly whenhe was v young!!

eddm · 26/06/2004 20:18

I would imagine it's OK, we had it at one point for ds's eczema (although he was more like three months I think).
HTH but if you are worried try calling NHS Direct. You might be in for a loooong wait before they call you back when you admit he doesn't actually have meningitis though!

Jimjams · 26/06/2004 21:36

Should be fine- check the ingredients though as some aqueous cream has something dodgy in it..... aggh can't remember (not dodgy dodgy- just something some people are sensitive to) may be lanolin, or EDTA- and then other brands don't have that in. IIRC Boots own brand is fine.

It's nice whisked up in the bath as well- makes it all creamy.

cazzybabs · 26/06/2004 21:38

My midwife recommened it for dd when she was tiny (less than 6 weeks old) because she had such dry skin. We even checked with the pharmasist and doctor and they said it was fine - there is min. chemcials in - so better than "proper stuff".

twiglett · 26/06/2004 21:42

message withdrawn

misdee · 26/06/2004 21:58

yup, should be fine. just check its lanolin free preferrably as some people are sensitive to it. boots own and co-op versions i belive are lanolin free.

Original poster
GeorginaA · 26/06/2004 21:59

Eeep - I have Tesco's own brand - is that likely to be lanolin free? (it's currently sitting in ds2's room, and he's such a light sleeper I daren't go in there until his next feed time!!)

OP posts:
misdee · 26/06/2004 22:00

not sure if i have a tub of tescos own, lemme just check the box of creams sitting here.

Original poster
GeorginaA · 26/06/2004 22:01

Twiglett - only vegetable oil I have in is extra virgin olive oil, and that stuff is so pricey, there's no way he's getting that slathered over him, no matter how good it might be for his skin and how much I love him

OP posts:
Original poster
GeorginaA · 26/06/2004 22:17

Okay, I snuck in there! The ingredients are:

Emulsifying ointment 30% w/w (the ingredients of which are: Cetostearyl Alcohol, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Liquid Paraffin and White Soft Paraffin), Phenoxyethanol 1% w/w and Purified Water BP to 100%.

Are they all nice innocent ingredients, or is anything bad lurking in there?

OP posts:
Branster · 26/06/2004 22:45

Just after dd was born (i mean she was only a few days old) my hv reccomended i used aqueous cream on her daily and no other product. it's absolutely fine. i use it on myself a lot too. I buy mine from an independent chemist but used sainsbury's own a couple of times too. i never used anything else on her skin (apart from sudocream, johnson bar of soap, and sun lotion) and i would always say do not buy baby bath &skin products unless reccomended by gp, the stuff off the shelves often contains perfume and nobody needs it.

twiglett · 26/06/2004 23:26

message withdrawn

highlander · 28/06/2004 03:35

Georgina,

the sodium laureth sulphate is a detergent - there's no way I would put that on a baby's skin as it will strip off the natural oils. SLS is the main ingredient in shower gels etc.

Hectic · 28/06/2004 17:17

What about almond oil? Get it from your chemist. It can go directly on babe's skin, and it sinks in very well. Avoid commercial baby oils. They are too heavy, too perfumed, etc. Alternatively, if you like, you could pour a little of the almond oil into ds's bath to make the water less "drying". My own ds3 (now 6 months) had very dry skin too, almost from birth. I must say I simply bathed him as little as possible, and oiled him instead. His skin is really peachy now ! Oh, and I have had no problems using aqueous cream either.

charliecat · 28/06/2004 17:18

Superdrug are doing a huge pot for 1.99 if anyones after it.

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