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Original poster

5 day old baby dry skin

23 replies

Vics100pink · 03/05/2017 22:35

So much conflicting advice from my midwife said I can't use anything on her skin, she has dry skin can i put a few drops of Johnson baby oil in her bath to moisturise skin? Also does anyone use wipes I was told not to use them or nappy cream at changes. Just water and cotton wool

OP posts:

kshaw · 03/05/2017 22:38

I've got a 5 week old and I've used wipes from the beginning - sensitive ones.
I was told not to bath until cord dropped which was 3 weeks. We've been using coconut oil on dry skin!

crumpetsandcoffee · 03/05/2017 22:38

Was she late? I used cotton wool and water with my first but unscented wipes with my second. The dry skin will disappear soon if she was late if not I would avoid johnsons if I was you and maybe try a pure or natural oil

HateSummer · 03/05/2017 22:44

With pfb I used water and cotton wool but the amount of poo she did just wasn't cotton wool and water worthy! I always used pampers sensitive wipes for my newborns and upto 4/5m. Wrt nappy cream, babies rarely get nappy rash at that age. You should make sure the bum is completely dry before putting a nappy on. Metanium is the best nappy cream for nappy rash.

Don't use baby oil. It's shit and makes skin worse. I'm shocked it's still sold. The dry skin is normal, you could use something simple like aveeno. This is what the doctor recommended for my ds who had really dry skin as a newborn.

Oh and congrats!

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Nowthereistwo · 03/05/2017 22:47

I used olive oil on my dds and did a mini massage all over.

With dd1 she had warm water and cotton wool. Only cream when she had a sore bum with teething. Dd2 had wet wipes from day one and we've never had a problem.

JoWithABow · 03/05/2017 22:55

Water wipes are a good compromise in the early days, you can get them at boots or main supermarkets. Bit more expensive but better for the skin.
I'd personally not use the baby oil, I'd use a proper moisturiser like e45 or similar

ExplodedCloud · 03/05/2017 22:56

I put olive oil on ds's dry skin when he was a newborn. I only did it once and it worked but a mw or HV told me off when I mentioned it

Waterlemon · 03/05/2017 23:01

Both of mine were very late and came out dry and flaky.

I smoothered pfb with olive oil, with no2 I had discovered coconut oil, so he was smoothered with that instead. We also still put a spoonful in the bath.

With little babies, their bodies are just getting used to all the different pollutants and allergens in their environment after being in a sterile environment for so long.

I do think you're best to stick with natural products, rather than add more chemicals to their already overloaded little systems.

Imstickingwiththisone · 03/05/2017 23:01

I was prescribed Doublebase cream for newborn's dry skin but another poster's HV might have said this was awful! Apparently baby oil is too scented for sensitive skin. Could be more bullshit though...

TheVanguardSix · 03/05/2017 23:04

Sweet almond oil is also great. Cheap on Amazon. Lovely and excellent for baby's skin. Congratulations by the way!

Wayfarersonbaby · 03/05/2017 23:05

My (very late and peeling) DD was recommended Diprobase lotion by the HV and MW - olive oil no longer recommended, they said.

furryelephant · 03/05/2017 23:06

My DD was dry and peely head to toe, I just left it and peeled off what I could and it just got better on its own I also used wipes from day one as I wasn't faffing about with water and cotton wool and haven't had a problem.

Goprogo · 03/05/2017 23:12

Just a word of caution on using any sort of almond oil especially if the skin is broken anywhere. My DD had patches of excema in her first 6 months and we massaged with sweet almond oil on a regular basis. At 1 year old she was diagnosed with a nut allergy - I remember reading a theory that nut oil on excema skin might lead to nut allergy later on - sorry I've no idea what research this came from - the horse had already bolted in our case so I didn't investigate thoroughly.

AutumnGlitterBall · 03/05/2017 23:13

We used Oilatum bath liquid and the moisturiser. He was about two weeks old when he started peeling. The phamacist said they were fine to use on a new baby. Think it cost us about five quid from Boots for each item. We also used wet wipes as cotton wool was too much hassle with the mess he often made, especially once he started the comfort milk.

plannedshock · 03/05/2017 23:20

We used olive oil for both of ours, water and cotton wool, used the flat make up pads so the fluff didn't stick to poo for about 5months with first then went into water wipes, with second used cotton/water for about 6weeks then onto water wipes
Use aveeno on them now 4yrs/2yrs

mycatloveslego · 03/05/2017 23:31

I have a 16 day old who had very dry, peeling skin. We were advised not to put anything in his bath but to use aqueous cream after bath time/top and tailing him. It worked a treat and his skin is lovely now.
I used Water Wipes from the very first nappy change, there's nothing in them besides water and grapefruit extract.

TheVanguardSix · 04/05/2017 21:20

Yikes! Hadn't even considered nut allergy when I advised sweet almond oil. Good advice Goprogo. Olive oil is so excellent anyway. You can't go wrong with it. Also I swear by Cheeky Wipes. Check it out on Amazon. Basically it's a box of soft flannels which you add water to but they've seen us through for three years. DC3 had terrible nappy rash and eczema. The Cheeky Wipes reduced so much inflammation. Better than the water wipes because of the texture of the flannels. Really worth the money!

Poosnu · 05/05/2017 06:38

Yy to water wipes for nappy changes and coconut oil for dry skin.

mistermagpie · 05/05/2017 07:14

I have a 5 week old and he was very flakey and dry at first. The HV was obsessed with it (or seemed to be) and kept telling me I should be putting Vaseline on him. I didn't really fancy smothering a baby in petroleum jelly so ignored her and continued to just bathe him in plain water as I had with my first baby.

His skin is perfect now. It just takes a while to settle sometimes after birth I think, and in the absence of an actual skin condition I would avoid putting unnecessary creams and lotions on brand new skin.

bumblingmum · 05/05/2017 07:30

Our MW said not to use anything Johnsons. We used sensitive baby wipes from day 1 and olive oil from the chemist.

chloechloe · 05/05/2017 07:47

You can use wipes but check that they don't have alcohol in them (drying) as many do.

DD1 was overdue and covered in dry scales. The midwife smeared her from head to toe in Weleda calendula oil.

If using an oil use the best you can buy - it's best to get it from a chemist. You shouldn't use any old bottle of olive oil knocking round as they can be full of nasty stuff which isn't suitable for newborn skin.

Cakescakescakes · 05/05/2017 07:50

DS1 with terrible dry skin and eczema. Recommended by consultant to use Aveeno and Oilatum Junior in the bath if needed or plain water was fine. For a baby this young I'd use plain water. Aveeno is very gentle. Give Johnsons a wide berth.

Daytona79 · 05/05/2017 07:59

Just use olive oil , nothing elsec

MinisWin · 05/05/2017 22:14

Water wipes, and I slapped coconut oil all over flakey DD from week 1, sorted her right out and her skin has been fab ever since.

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