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Baby lotion/ baby oil? - what toileteries to I need for new arrival

60 replies

SalBySea · 05/03/2009 14:31

do you actually need baby lotion? I'm 34 weeks and trying to get everything I need stocked up so dont have to do too many shopping trips when LO arrives if I dont feel up to it so wondering if you actually need / use baby lotion?

what do you really need in the line of toiletries?
I have:
top and tail bath
baby bath (and newborn insert)
cotton wool
cotton pads
sudocreme
a baby hair brush and baby nail cutters
nappies
towels
flannel clothes
sponges
hooded towels

what else do I need for LO grooming

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
PortAndLemon · 05/03/2009 15:04

Sorry, yes, MrsMattie, I didn't mean to suggest that no one would need a barrier cream routinely. Clearly some babies (such as your DD) do. I just meant that there's no need to assume before the baby and his/her skin type arrives that you'll need a regular barrier cream.

MollieO · 05/03/2009 15:12

The only thing I had prior to ds's (early) arrival was this. Best thing I ever bought and stopped me getting back ache by trying to bathe ds in the bath. I used it until it almost collapsed under ds's weight (think he was about 2 by then!).

Also got this. Great because it lasts for 15 mins so enough time for you to have a shower/get dressed etc.

Never used baby lotion or baby oil on ds as he had very sensitive skin (bleeding ezcema). Was told to use olive or coconut oil instead for massage.

Bepanthen is good alternative when Sudocreme doesn't work. Also no nail cutters needed as when they are small you nibble their nails to cut them (nails are very soft in newborns). I also got some flannette wash cloths which I still use on ds even though he's 4!).

As for nappies I used washable during the day and used disposable at night. A nappy bin is very handy (I got a basic one from mothercare as I didn't want wrapped up dirty nappies going in the kitchen bin)and also a changing bag including a changing mat for when you are out and about.

MollieO · 05/03/2009 15:13

eczema even

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FlyMeToDunoon · 05/03/2009 15:17

Coconut oil! I think that was the other one recommended on Chris Evans show

AitchTwoOh · 05/03/2009 15:17

again,, had changingmat and table for dd1... dd2 is fine on floor.

rubyslippers · 05/03/2009 15:21

vaseline

this is great - for the folds under their neck where milk dribbles to stop it getting sore

for their bums - especially for the first black, sticky poos - the vaseline helps when you come to wipe it all off

also, you can use it for your eyelashes and lips

thumbwitch · 05/03/2009 15:27

Of your list, I had:

top and tail bath - NO
baby bath (and newborn insert) - YES
cotton wool - YES but only used for first 3 days
cotton pads - NO
sudocreme - NO
a baby hair brush - NOT UNTIL 6mo
baby nail cutters scissors
nappies - YES
towels - YES
flannel cloths - YES
sponges - NO
hooded towels - YES but actually he doesn't like them much - more use for swimming than bathing.

I used a dedicated washing-up bowl and dunked DS's bum in it when he needed changing.
If he was very poo-ey, I had an organic rice soap with a bit of lavender oil in, nothing else. If not poo-ey, no soap.

If he had nappy rash (rare) I used calendula cream first, and now an aloe vera cream.

I also had a beeswax-base herbal nipple ointment which was good as an extra for nappy rash (and excellent for dry/ cracked nipples!)

Have never used standard soap/ bubblebath/ shampoo/ body lotion/ baby oil/ talc (baby powder).

thumbwitch · 05/03/2009 15:30

DID start off with a baby-changing unit though - but didn't use the integral bath in the top part more than once, too complicated, the washing up bowl on top worked much better.

SalBySea · 05/03/2009 15:40

"Although first-baby shopping is fun and I don't blame your mum/MIL ). "

MrsMattie, its MIL's SIXTH grandchild so she doesnt have the first baby excuse! she's just a big old soppy (which is lovely! so I'll put up with the hooded towel mountain!)

OP posts:
snickersnack · 05/03/2009 15:57

Looking at your list, we had a bath seat (never had a baby bath or a top and tail bath). I used cotton wool rather than wipes for the first few months. I got given a small tub of sudocreme in the hospital but dd had the skin of a rhino and never had any nappy rash to speak of. I found (and still do find) baby nail cutters useful, but not essential. They used our towels, although did get given some. No sponges or flannels.

Olive oil is good for massage and dry skin. But you do not need to use the expensive Harvey Nichols extra virgin that your MIL gave you for Christmas. I think I had temporary baby madness - it was only when dh asked why dd smelled like salad dressing that I realised I probably shouldn't have gone down that route.

Bettymum · 05/03/2009 16:08

Slightly off-topic, but I was looking up something in my Birth and Beyond book the other day and discovered that babies can get pneumonia (usually fatal) if they get hold of a bottle of talc and breathe in, mistaking it for a bottle . This must be an EXTREMELEY rare occurrence, but one more reason not to buy talc...also our antenatal teacher told all of us that it's no good for babies.
I just use plain water for bathing, sunflower oil for dry skin/cradle cap and sudocreme/bepanthen for nappy rash, although I don't think I even opened the sudocreme till DD was about 6 months. I'm still using the dinky little pot you get in the Bounty pack in hospital

Seona1973 · 05/03/2009 19:53

top and tail bath - NO

baby bath (and newborn insert) - had one for dd but used a moulded plastic bath seat in the big bath for ds

cotton wool - too fluffy

cotton pads - better than cotton wool

sudocreme - still use it if dd (5) looks a bit red on her bits and if I have any minor skin irritations

baby hair brush and baby nail cutters - dd had such thick hair that we needed to use a proper brush within a couple *of weeks. I have baby nail clippers that are still used for dd

nappies - yes (dont buy too many newborn size as they soon grow out of them)

towels - yes

flannel cloths - NO

sponges - a couple of the soft ramer ones

hooded towels - bought them for dd and used them for ds too until we graduated to proper ones

I actually used baby wipes on my lo's from the first few days so didnt use cotton pads/water for long. I used Boots newborn ones and luckily neither dd or ds have had issues with them. I have never used baby lotion or talc. Talc can be dangerous if inhaled (talc can cause pneumonia, inflammation (or swelling) of the airways of babies, and even death) plus it is linked to ovarian cancer.

Qally · 06/03/2009 00:36

It's actually strongly recommended that you use nothing but water on a baby until it's at least a month old. The skin is developing a protective acid mantle and positive ("friendly") bacteria, and the absorbancy of newborn skin is enormous, so cotton wall balls and water is all you need. Spending money on things that may actually start allergic reactions on the skin is not ideal, obviously.

I use Neal's Yard Barrier cream for my son's bum. It's a miracle cure for everything. I had severe eczema when he arrived, all over my legs, and the prescription creams didn't help - but his bum cream did! It was a gift as I'd not have splashed out otherwise, but now we just suck up the cost and accept that we need it - only just on the second pot at 4 months though, so at least a little goes a long way. And I still didn't use it till he was a month.

I also use a pea-sized bit of Green baby wash from John Lewis, when he gets bathed, and aqueous cream on his neck where dribbling caused chapping. That's it, even now.

Qally · 06/03/2009 00:38

Oh, and he gets in the bath with me. Lots less faff and it's skin to skin which is great for babies - plus we both love it.

I like hooded towels, which I didn't buy, but were a gift. Bathrooms are chillier for little people.

AitchTwoOh · 06/03/2009 09:39

lol, i somehow fashion a hood out of my towels by wrapping her up in them, as dd2 says, 'like the baby jesus'. she seems to be fine... warm, even.

CherryChoc · 06/03/2009 14:27

My baby is 5 months old. This is what we have/use:

top and tail bath - Got given 2, never used either, they have become useful storage!

baby bath (and newborn insert) - Again got given a baby bath. I tried to use it once and DS screamed the house down. Also too big and heavy when full of water, a pain to fill! Had a plug so easy to empty though. We now use it as a basket to carry things from room to room! We have the insert but never used it really. DS hates any form of bath unless he is in with his Dad anyway!

cotton wool - Very useful, but watch out if you have cats, they love to shred it! I also found I used (very wet) cotton wool on myself post-partum to gently clean blood from sore bits a few times a day.

cotton pads - Useful but cotton wool is sufficient, and cheaper. I found cotton wool balls the best - the pleats were a bit of a faff.

sudocreme - I have never used it, but you get a small free sample in your Bounty pack anyway.

a baby hair brush and baby nail cutters - Both bought after a few weeks. DS had hair but not all babies do. The nail cutters I found useful but for the first few weeks just used my teeth.

nappies - Obviously

towels - We have 2 small hooded towels and honestly I don't find the hoods have any use other than for cute photos! It is useful to have small towels just for baby though.

flannel clothes - The ones which go over your hand like a glove are good but you don't really need them - you can wash with your hands.

sponges - Seem a bit pointless to me. Baby likes to suck on them though!

hooded towels - See above.

Other stuff we use:
Baby wipes - I know, I know - and in fact I wouldn't recommend getting them before the baby is born, but some kind of cloth to wipe bums with is so much simpler than faffing around with cotton wool when they have done a huge explosive poo. I did start off using cotton wool + water, and then when DS did a giant poo I would use one movement with a baby wipe to get most of the poo off and then go over with cotton wool + water for all the creases. Actually I found warm water more effective on sticky meconium/dried on poo than baby wipes.

Muslin cloths - Get at least a dozen and secrete two or three in easy to grab places in every room of the house. They are invaluable for wiping up sick, poo, dribble... everything!

Cotton nappies - prefolds and terry or cotton squares, I got some from freecycle and although I don't use them as nappies, they are fab as changing mats, sick cloths, nappy free time, bum wipes! Also I found if DS weed or I leaked milk on the bed, I could put one of these over the damp patch and go back to sleep without having to change the whole sheet. (Although having said that, we also have a waterproof matress cover on which has been brilliant in protecting the matress from everything)

Old towels - For nappy-free time, which seems to reduce nappy rash, and babies love it at about 3-4 months when they are just starting to roll and/or find their feet to play with. And also to sleep on in the first days after birth (if you come home very soon or have a home birth - I came home the same day)

Weleda Calendula Nappy Change Cream - Alternative to sudocrem. Smells much nicer and works very well - a little goes a long way. I got a free sample which I think was from sending off a flier I picked up at the Baby Show. I don't use it as a barrier cream, just if he has any redness.

strictmumof3 · 06/03/2009 19:19

I have used Epaderm cream with all of mine. It is fantastic for rashes, dry / cracked skin and perfect for baby acne (no one tells you about this, but babies seldom have gorgeous skin). A bit of Epaderm 2-3 times a day keeps your babies skin soft and smooth. Aveeno is another good one.

Baby socks work perfectly as scratch mitts, and stay on, unlike scratch mitts....

Good luck

mololoko · 06/03/2009 20:08

nowt but cotton wool and water here (7 months). i second bathing with the baby - much easier and lovely and relaxing for both of you.

i have found this apron towel really handy, to my surprise (it was a gift).

for you - a small watering can. put a drop of lavender oil in the water and "sprinkle while you tinkle" for the first couple of weeks. stops your wee stinging your delicate bits .

oh, and lactulose and pile cream

good luck!

PartOfTheHumphreysGroup · 06/03/2009 20:19

I'd recommend a nail file rather than cutters, no chance if hurting them that way- splash out on a glass one, removes the spare nail in one swoop and very smooth

PfftTheMagicDragon · 06/03/2009 20:21

I had some Metanium for bums, works a treat.

Nothing in the way of toiletries. Used our towels, bathed her in the sink. No lotions or washes or anything.

I liked the idea of bathing with her but I couldn't stand a bath that cool!

PfftTheMagicDragon · 06/03/2009 20:21

Yes and I also used socks instead of scratch mitts, mitts don't stay on!

AitchTwoOh · 06/03/2009 20:58

god, yeah, lactulose for the OP. an essential.

thumbwitch · 06/03/2009 23:00

I tried using my glass nailfile on DS's nails but it didn't work - the nail was too soft and wouldn't file properly. But then I have very soft bendy nails too, so maybe that's why.

I had a very cheap (Tesco economy) manicure set containing nail scissors with teeny tiny narrow blades - safer than clippers and my teeth (cos I can see what I'm doing!) - not much use for adult nails of any hardness though, I wouldn't have thought!

Chellesgirl · 07/03/2009 00:08

Vaseline!

Chellesgirl · 07/03/2009 00:16

Oh yeah Muslins for def.

And I third the bath time with mummy.

Its amazing and they get that proper skin to skin contact.

My top n tail just collects dust!

I find all I need for bath time is

the bath, me, DD, shampoo, towels -2 for me 1 for her. Vaseline for after as she is mixed race and gets very very dry skin.

Though I shampoo DD's hair first, let her spend time with me in bath and then get DH to take her out so I can shampoo my hair as dont want it irritating DD's skin.

DD only has sudocrem on after her bath. Weve been through not even half of one of the tiny tubs in a year!