Newborn skin and NCT view of world

[Anticyclone]

We have a newborn, and are noticing some chafing that looks a little raw along the inside creases of his upper thighs. What do we need to do to solve this, use some kind of cream?

The thing is we are fresh from NCT classes where it was made clear to us that we should not put any products at all on our baby's skin as it was so sensitive - so we are not sure what to do! Is there a solution between the NCT view and the practical real world?

[partyskirt]

I found that the Lansinoh nipple cream worked wonders for any sore bits on my DD.

[lornathewizzard]

Hi OP, our LO had a similar sounding chafing a few weeks ago (she is now 5 weeks), we changed to bigger nappies and put Sudocream in the creases with a cotton bud. Seems to have cleared it up.
Congratulations :)

[kiki0202]

DS was super chubby and got a fair bit of chaffing I used to put some sudocream on nappy free for a while then wipe the cream off after about 20 mins. I also used simple baby wash for DS just a tiny bit on a sponge to clean him babies can get wiffy bums and creases and felt that we needed more than water and we used pampers sensitive wipes or asda little angels wipes.

[VeryLittleGravitasIndeed]

I plan to use water second time around. It was fine the first time. Better than wipes, I thought, which I did try.

[ElephantsNeverForgive]

No one uses water second time round! Most second time mums take baby wipes into hospital the second time.

DD2 was born at home, so she never had the cotton wool and water nonsense.

Honestly, I'm sure there isn't an NCT policy on skin care, just a sensible discouragement to take all baby advertising with a pinch of salt.

Babies don't need slathering in barrier cream, but a bit of Sudercrem or sore bits works wonders.

[littlealien01]

We used water wipes generally and olive oil for dry skin on the advice of our midwife

[tiktok]

It's standard NHS advice to clean new babies with water only - it's not just NCT. Obv if a baby's skin is damaged, you can ask doc, HV or pharmacist.

"Do not use any creams or lotions as they may do more harm than good. The top layer of your baby's skin will peel off over the next few days, leaving perfect skin underneath. Wash your baby with plain water only for at least the first month. "

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pages/your-baby-after-birth.aspx

[moomin35]

This is so ridiculous (nct not you OP), I use sudocream on my babies bottom, a johnsons moisturiser on his legs and feet, pampers wipes when changing nappies and bath him in johnsons baby wash and he is absolutely perfectly happy healthy and fine. I too was told water only but I don't feel this would get baby clean enough certainly not after a poo.

[JuniorMumber]

I took away from NCT just to use water for washing - not if there's some kind of rash or inflammation. As previous posters have mentioned Bepanthan works well on nappy rash, but if he's just a bit raw in his folds of skin maybe the skin is just chaffing together? I would try applying a little bit of coconut oil / olive oil in the folds first to stop his skin rubbing together.

[VeryLittleGravitasIndeed]

Chamomile is amazing for nappy rash, and very gentle. We put it in the bath (tea bag) or use a cooled tea with cotton wool. We also very occasionally used weleda nappy cream when DD was tiny, but for the most part it was water or the chamomile. Never any major nappy rash problems, it always cleared up really quickly whenever there was redness.

Also we used water and cotton pads until DD was several months old, with washable wipes (bamboo I think they are) as backup. I find it's actually easier to get newborn poo off with the cotton pads than with wipes. With wipes it sort of goes everywhere. We use water wipes now she's older as they're more convenient.

[Anticyclone]

No doesn't look shiny. Skin is just slightly broken and reddened right on the crease.

[combust22]

Does it look shiny OP?

[hairymonkey]

Pure sunflower oil better than olive oil as olive oil can irritate. Also lansino nipple cream is a great barrier. May be you got the wrong end of the stick with nct, that babies don't need products in the bath and baby oil/lotion etc but creams and oil used topically is different.

[Artandco]

Oh and I found weleda do the best products for baby. Much more natural than most and tube/ bottle lasts ages as only need tiny bit

Btw we only ever used water to wash baby until around a year so I think it's fine.

We also used reusable wipes in a camomile solution that is soothing

[Artandco]

If doing nappy free time place baby on changing mat with towel on, lay baby down, then place a flanne over him so just the flannel/ towel get wet and not your face!

[AuntieMaggie]

Is your baby spending a lot of time in one position? Or could the nappy be done up too tight?

Vaseline should help the chafing.

Agree with iK8 some wet wipes burn if you try them on your face or really irritate it at least so at 9 weeks I still try to use cotton wool pads and water when I can and just use wet wipes when out and about. (I also find Johnsons baby lotion stings my skin.)

I think what nct are probably trying to say is you don't need to use all the baby products that are available and if you do you may be doing more harm than good.

[Justgotosleepnow]

And honestly you don't need to keep on with the cotton wool and water malarkey.
If you want to be Eco check out cheeky wipes reusable soft cloths. Otherwise wipes are fine.

[Justgotosleepnow]

Awww no worries no question is stupid if you don't know the answer.

I think the Nct want to say don't use Johnson's & Johnson's rubbish, but they can't (would get sued) so they say don't use anything. But really olive oil is totally fine to use as a moisturiser

[Anticyclone]

Sorry for the delay, we were going through another feed - sleep cycle.

Thanks for all the advice, and for the record I am actually a new father in my early 30s!

I hope my question didn't sound naive, but both my wife and I went to NCT and they made a big point of new born skin not needing any products, and also recommend cotton wool and water for cleaning which is what we are using.

Our son is almost 10 days old, and to expand on the problem the slight rawness we are seeing is right on the crease at the top of the leg, so yes a tight nappy could be a culprit. I think nappy free time is def a good idea, we tried that yesterday - you just need to we ready for unexpected wees!

HV is here on Monday so we will check with her too.

Many thanks again.

[Justgotosleepnow]

That's a good tip to test wipes- on inside of your nose!

I highly recommend the brand jackson Reece. They are sold in Tesco and on amazon. They do a non scented and scented. But all the ingredients are natural, no parabens alcohol etc. (scented is essential oils) they are really the best for newborn skin. We never used cotton wool, used these wipes right from the meconium poo in hospital.

Be wary of the brands that say natural or Eco. 99% of the time the ingredients aren't actually.
Most wipes are made of rayon, which will never biodegrade. Jackson Reece ones are biodegradable. (I tested it in my compost bin) I know most people don't care, but I do!

[Justgotosleepnow]

Congratulations!

How old is your baby op? As it's common for a brand new baby's skin to be dry for a few days. Best thing is to gently massage in olive oil.

It could be the nappies are on too tight, ask someone to check that. As it's difficult to know if you aren't used to putting nappies on teeny bottoms.

Nappy creams that people have mentioned are to stop or avoid nappy rash. This is caused when the wee on baby's skin reacts to poo. And the skin goes red etc. so if you change the nappy as soon as they've pooed you can avoid nappy rash.

But I don't think this is what you are describing.

There are non medicated bottom creams like the waitrose one, and green people do one. These create a thin barrier from the skin to the wee. And less is more, they work better the thinner you apply, no need to slather it on.( Hygiene tip- if using a tub don't double dip.) and these creams would also be good for new baby's dry skin.
Hope it clears up soon, please do report back

[iK8]

Wet muslins, cut up fleece or proper cotton reusable wipes are also good. Just check them in the wash after use. I was skeptical but they are actually ok!

You can test a wipe on your nose (by wiping it so it makes contact with the inside). Some of them burn :(

[LongTailedTit]

Sorry me again OP - if you're just using cotton wool & water this prob doesn't apply, but if you're using wipes, try loads to see which suit your baby. I've ended up with ridiculously expensive Naty wipes as they suit 4mo DS2's skin, after trying Water Wipes and Huggies. For 3yo DS1 I use Sainsburys Eco wipes or Huggies if I've run out. I've barely used nappy creams to heal since sorting out the wipes issue, just Sudocrem as a protective layer sometimes.

[iK8]

What to put on it rather depends what it is and what's causing it. If your baby is v new then your midwife should still be about and can take a look or you can go to your GP.

Some NCT teachers say to use cooled boiled water and cotton wool but I think that is mainly in response to people slathering on creams, lotions and oils from the get go and most babies just don't need that that said only a masochist tries to clean up maconium with anything other than a wet wipe or wet sponge and it can be an irritant.

I don't think the NCT will have an opinion about you putting a little bit of cream on your baby. Not when they have sponsorship from Bepanthen! I think the idea is about empowering parents to make your own decisions and that there is no one size fits all approach.

[FastWindow]

deadcert my apologies. You are right, and if I've been heavy handed that was not what I meant to do, at all. It just seemed as if the NCT advice was detrimental to the newborns skin.