Do you have questions about your baby's skincare? Ask expert Rebecca Bennett

[EllieSmumsnet]

We all want the best for our babies, especially when it comes to their delicate skin. Perhaps you need advice on your baby’s evening bath and skincare routine or maybe you are overwhelmed with all of the conflicting advice out there? That's why we've invited Rebecca Bennett, a trusted skincare expert, to answer all your burning questions and help you navigate the world of baby skincare with confidence.

• Share your questions on your baby’s skincare below.
• Everyone who shares a questions on the thread below by 19/06/2024 will be entered into a prize draw to win a £200 voucher
• Rebecca will be back in a few weeks time to answer some of your questions

About Rebecca Bennett:

Rebecca Bennett has worked with skin and skincare for over 25 years, listening to and learning from key skincare experts including dermatologists and paediatric dermatologists about baby skin and how best to care for it. She has also worked with AVEENO® Research and Development teams to understand the importance of skincare that has been specially formulated to care for sensitive baby skin, and shared all this knowledge with baby health care professionals, including midwives, and many many parents over the years.

Rebecca says "I love talking to parents (and babies) about how best to care for their skin whilst they are still very tiny and as they grow. Great skincare for babies should be easy to find and lovely to use with clinically proven ingredients to provide the very best care that everyone wants for their baby. Really looking forward to hearing all your questions! "

Here’s what AVEENO® Baby has to say:

"AVEENO® Baby is the UK’s No.1 Recommended Baby Skincare Brand by Pharmacists(1) and is Paediatrician & Dermatologist tested.

AVEENO® Baby products nourish, soothe & protect sensitive* baby skin from the first use and are specially formulated with high quality oats to preserve their protective, moisturising and soothing properties. We unlock the power of oats with our science and transform it to provide daily to soothing care to help keep your baby's skin feeling healthy."

1. Online survey of 200 UK retail pharmacists, conducted by IQVIA for Kenvue, May 2023. Participants were self-selected with geographic quotas to ensure national spread.

*AVEENO® Baby Calming Comfort range is suitable for delicate skin.

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ
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UK residents, 18+. No purchase necessary. Enter rom 10:35am on 15/05 to 10:35 on 19/06. To participate, share your questions to be entered into a prize draw. Only 1 entry per person. Prize available is 1x £200 VEX Voucher (available to use in selected retailers, subject to its own T&Cs: vexgiftcard.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021492600-VEX-Gift-Card-Terms-Conditions-Of-Use*).

What’s the best cream for a baby with ecZema?

How often should you ideally bath a baby to keep the skin healthy ?

What natural remedies for skincare issues (eczema etc) would you recommend - I have heard oats in a muslin bag are good - but not sure if this is verified.

Asking for my SIL -what advice would you have for a prem baby skin (born at 29 weeks) when he comes home in terms of bathing. His skin is very dry at the moment, and he's not due home for 8 weeks - just want to give advise and help when I can.

If you are on a very tight budget, can cannot afford the branded baby products - are supermarket own brands as good - in terms of kindness to skin, do they have to pass a screening to be as such ?

if I am taking my baby abroad - avoiding the sun, how should I care for their skin in a humid environment ?

What is best and affordable sunscreen available for baby with eczema???

My 11 week old has dry skin, particularly on the top of her forehead (below her hair line). Is this cradle cap? What would you recommended to help it? Also one of her eyebrows has lots of dry skin. Thanks!

My 10 month old still has cradle cap. What products can I use to help with this? Also what are some products to use on my baby to gently remove sun cream at the end of the day? Thanks.

I worry about the chemicals which water companies put in water - I can smell it when I have a bath and drink water from the tap - what are your thoughts on the quality of water we trust to bathe a delicate skin ?

What treatment would you recommend for drool rash, and can you advise on how to prevent it from happening? Currently I don't use any products on my baby's face, only dab with a muslin and wipe with damp cotton wool.

How often would you recommend bathing a toddler with sensitive ezcema prone skin? I’ve received conflicting advice from every night to every few days. Thanks!

what is the best product to use to ensure your babies skin in washed, and moisturised - especially if they get occasional mild nappy rash.

Aveeno baby suits my kids the best. However, the prices seem to have increased exponentially and there is such a variety of pack sizes it’s hard to keep up with if you will receive 150ml, 250ml or 400ml, very occasionally 500ml. I just got fed up with it. Why not make pricing and pack sizes simpler?

how often should Idealy bath a baby - can a cotton wool and wipe wash suffice every other day ? I am worried about stripping natural oils within the skin

Any suggestions what is triggering/aggravating babies allergy when it's his feet and back of legs the worst? Seems like certain nappies brands make it worse. Aveeno wash also seems a trigger, (sorry).

My 22 month old son seems to get red cheeks a lot! I think he has slight eczema which can get irritated when he is a bit under the weather. Any recommendations on how best to sooth it?

Hello, for me prevention is very important.

What is your best advice to avoid any skin problems after my baby’s born? How often should we bath, what products are the best to use for quick bathing, cleaning bum after bowel movement of the newborn, which hydration cream, butter or lotion you recommend, which barrier cream before putting a nappy?

Can we use any hydration product on baby’s face if their face is quite dry or better to avoid altogether the neck & face area of the baby? And instead only rub a small amount of hydration lotion (hazelnut size) on baby’s belly, bum, legs and arms only.

And lastly, can we order smaller samples to try? Thanks

If your baby has been diagnosed with eczema, it is always best to discuss treatment options with your health care professional. With most cases of eczema, it is very important to keep the skin moisturised to help keep it feeling comfortable, and potentially reduce eczema flares. The best emollient is on that you (and of course your baby) is happy to use, as moisturiser should be applied at least once a day or more frequently if needed. I often recommend the Aveeno Baby Dermexa range as the Aveeno Baby Dermexa Emollient Cream contains triple oat complex and ceramides to help strengthen the skin barrier function. For a complete routine use with Aveeno Baby Dermexa Moisturising Wash, and for long lasting comfort at night use Aveeno Baby Dermexa Good Night Emollient Balm. And of course, if you have any further concerns about your baby's skin, or what is best to use on it, do please visit your health care professional.

Babies can be bathed as needed. Very new babies may not get very dirty (unless there is a nappy explosion!) and therefore may prefer to be bathed only two or three times a week. As babies get older, more mobile, and start feeding themselves, a daily bath may be necessary. And check if your baby enjoys baths too - some babies find them relaxing, some find them upsetting, so be led by your baby. An important consideration too is your baby's skin. If you find their skin dry, or even itchy, consider reducing the number of baths and ensure you add a specially formulated baby bath product to the bath water, such as Aveeno Baby Daily Care Gentle Bath and Wash, or the Aveeno Baby Soothing Relief Baby Emollient Wash, as these washes can cleanse the skin gently and are pH balanced. Add a soothing emollient cream after each bath too, with a gentle massage that everyone can enjoy.

Oats are an age old remedy for dry and itchy skin conditions, and using porridge oats in a sock or muslin bag and allowing the bath water to flow through the sock has been recommended for many years. Aveeno have studied the benefits of oat for over 70 years, and it is the basis for all their products = Aveeno really are the oat 'experts'. Aveeno baby ranges including Daily Care, Soothing Relief, and Aveeno Baby Dermexa, all contain oat, and some products also contain other beneficial parts of oat including oat oil and oat extract - check the Aveeno website for more details. If you would like to use oat in the bath for a baby, a more convenient way would be to try the Aveeno baby Soothing Oat Bath Soak which contains 100% natural oat and extra moisturiser for baby skin benefits. Of course, if your baby has been diagnosed with eczema, do check with a health care professional before making changes to their skincare regime.

How kind of you to help out your SIL - and you are right to be aware of his skin and skincare needs. I am sure the hospital will provide advice and support, but in the meantime, we know that baby's skin is thinner and more delicate than an adult's skin even at full term, so it is likely that your new nephew's skin will take a little time to catch up. In the very early days at home your SIL may well be advised not to bathe him, rather top and tail with water or with a very mild cleansing agent, such as the Aveeno baby Dermexa Moistursing Wash, and then apply a gentle moisturising cream such as the Aveeno baby Dermexa Daily Emollient Cream as needed to help keep his skin moisturised and comfortable. Perhaps you could check with the hospital on behalf of your SIL and have their recommendations ready by the bath for when he comes home. Lots of luck to the little one and his family.

Although of course I cannot speak for all brands, in general, own label products for babies from reputable retailers will have passed checks to ensure they are suitable for baby skin. If you check the claims on the bottle, such as 'tear-free' or 'gentle to sensitive skin' these claims need to have proof that they are genuine. If you have any further concerns, I would suggest that you check with the retailer directly who would be able to answer your specific questions.

As you are aware, babies under 6 months of age should be kept out of direct strong sunlight and older babies and children should be well protected from the sun using shade, suitable clothing, and by wearing at least SPF 30 sunscreen that has been specially formulated for babies and/or children. But humidity can certainly bring its own challenges including heat rash. To help keep babies comfortable in humid environments, dress only in light soft cotton clothing and try to spend some time in cooler environments such as air conditioning. If air conditioning is unavailable, try using a fan, which is placed far enough away from the baby so that there is only a gentle breeze drifting over them. Try the Aveeno Baby Soothing Bath Soak in a cool bath if baby's skin appears itchy or uncomfortable as it contains 100% soothing oat plus additional moisturisers to help soothe skin. Of course, if you have any concerns about a rash on your baby's skin, do please consult a health care professional immediately.

If your baby has been diagnosed with eczema, I suggest that you ask your pharmacist or other healthcare professional for advice. It is important that babies under 6 months of age should be kept our of direct strong sunlight and older babies and children should be well protected from the sun using shade, suitable clothing, and by wearing at least SPF 30 sunscreen that has been specially formulated for babies and/or children, which usually contain mineral rather than chemical sunscreen ingredients.