Hand washing with DCs with eczema

[SquidgersMummy]

Hi - my 7mth dd has eczema - we are baby led weaning at present so I have been needing to wash her hands (which previously I never bothered with). But she has just been really ill following an infection in her eczema between 2 fingers. I think the hand washing hasn't helped as this has dried her hands out, its hard to dry them and of course all that lovely squished food will have nicely fed an infection. I was just using a teeny tiny squirt of mild baby bath wash in a sink of water and dipping her hands in (she is bathed in plain water so I thought I might as well use the baby stuff for this!!) And she only has a bath once or twice a week so I don't feel we can just leave them. Would a drop of tea tree oil or lavender oil in water be better?? Any tips very welcome x

Hi there!

My children are considerably older but my younger suffered terrribly with eczema as a baby so I am hoping I can shed some advice on what may help. If possible how about giving her finger foods that are not 'wet' in texture. She could feed herself with those things that are seemingly 'drier' in texture and the other foods, you could help her with especially if she has a flare up and infection has set in. I think medication as advised by your doctor is a must but when washing her hands you could use 'aqueous' cream which is water based but acts as an emoilient. You can use this to wash her hands and her whole body in fact. Cover hr in this and allow her to sit in her little bath. It will soak in and act as a moituriser. When you have 'pat' her dry, you can cream her with this also. Her hands I suggest you do the same with; paying particular attention to drying in between her little fingers. Hopefully she will grow out of this condition. Keep persevering I am sure, from experience with my son, it will get better! Good luck and let me know how you get on! Kindest regards to you and little one x From one caring mother to another.

E45 hand wash is yukky and gloopy and slimey but works really well! It doesn't lather (imagine using lard and you get the picture)! DSs hands crack, swell and bleed in cold weather and since he switched to using this, he's been fine.

Just a word of caution; e45 contains lanolin, of which my son is allergic. Please do a patch test first as a precaution! x

Does it? I thought they'd stopped putong that in things these days! My midwife recommended slapping it on as 'shampoo' in the cradlecap days.

I'd probably try not to wash too much - maybe use a mild, unperfumed baby wipe if hands not too manky?

Thanks all - suggestions much appreciated x