When your gorgeous newborn's baby soft skin is affected by eczema it can seem overwhelming and really upsetting. When Lara developed eczema at around 2 months of age I was really upset for her and felt quite helpless too. Conventional medicine only seemed to offer harsh chemicals, and having used only water on her delicate skin since birth I knew I certainly didn't want to go down that road.
But what to do to help her? I didn’t want to put harsh chemicals on her delicate skin, but I didn’t know how else to help her, or how to prevent future outbreaks. It is terrible to watch your child go through pain or illness at any stage, but all the more so when they are a tiny baby. I made it my mission to find out as much as I could as quickly as possible.
With trial and error we were soon able to control our daughter’s condition and, thankfully, her outbreaks have been minimised by simple actions that everyone can take. It was empowering to find that the little things we did had an immediate effect on her comfort, and they began to calm her eczema within days. Of course, it depends on how severe your little one’s eczema is as to how easily these preventative methods can impact on it, but they are definitely worth a try.
Here are the baby eczema treatments that worked for us.
Skincare and Washing
Only bathe baby once or twice a week and make sure the water is only lukewarm.
Use a soft cotton towel to pat baby’s skin dry, do not rub.
Do not use any commercial preparations on your baby’s skin, just pure coconut oil. We massaged Lara's legs with coconut oil every night and eradicated the eczema completely after a few months.
Babies’ hair is unlikely to need washing, just rinse the head with bath water, and apply an oil like flaxseed to prevent or treat cradle cap.
Trim baby’s nails regularly to prevent scratching.
Nappies
Use cloth nappies and small muslin or terry squares instead of harsh chemical wipes.
Make sure baby has plenty of nappy-free time, including outside in the fresh air when weather permits.
Clothing
Dress your baby in loose, cotton clothes, preferably without seams on the inside, and check for nickel-free poppers etc. Always wash clothes at least twice before wearing to remove formaldehyde etc. Buy organic if possible.
Switch to a un-fragranced, non-bio, gentle detergent, preferably organic and double rinse clothes to remove all traces of chemicals.
If it is very hot, wearing nothing day and night is fine, just check baby isn’t too cool by feeling their back or chest with the back of your hand.
Feeding
Breastfeed for as long as possible.
When baby begins to eat solids, introduce one food type at a time via baby led weaning so you can check for eczema flare-ups.
Try to give only organic, unprocessed foods and avoid known eczema-stressors and allergens like wheat, dairy and red meat for as long as possible.
Related post: What's So Great About Breastfeeding?
Environment
Keep windows open all the time, even in winter to allow air to circulate and to make sure the air is not too dry from central heating. Avoid air conditioning as much as possible.
Avoid putting too many blankets on your baby or overdressing them when you go out. Try to avoid being out for too long if it is very hot or very cold.
Ensure the home is peaceful, and practice calm, responsive parenting as stress is often a trigger in eczema flare-ups, even in babies.
Sleeping
Make sure bedding is cotton only, and always loose. We found our daughter always pushed the covers off anyway, so we put warmer pyjamas on her and left the covers off.
Try these simple tips to help manage your baby's eczema naturally. If problems persist, consider consulting a homeopath for further advice, as their success treating eczema in babies and young children is well-documented.
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But what to do to help her? I didn’t want to put harsh chemicals on her delicate skin, but I didn’t know how else to help her, or how to prevent future outbreaks. It is terrible to watch your child go through pain or illness at any stage, but all the more so when they are a tiny baby. I made it my mission to find out as much as I could as quickly as possible.
With trial and error we were soon able to control our daughter’s condition and, thankfully, her outbreaks have been minimised by simple actions that everyone can take. It was empowering to find that the little things we did had an immediate effect on her comfort, and they began to calm her eczema within days. Of course, it depends on how severe your little one’s eczema is as to how easily these preventative methods can impact on it, but they are definitely worth a try.
Here are the baby eczema treatments that worked for us.
Skincare and Washing
Only bathe baby once or twice a week and make sure the water is only lukewarm.
Use a soft cotton towel to pat baby’s skin dry, do not rub.
Do not use any commercial preparations on your baby’s skin, just pure coconut oil. We massaged Lara's legs with coconut oil every night and eradicated the eczema completely after a few months.
Babies’ hair is unlikely to need washing, just rinse the head with bath water, and apply an oil like flaxseed to prevent or treat cradle cap.
Trim baby’s nails regularly to prevent scratching.
Nappies
Use cloth nappies and small muslin or terry squares instead of harsh chemical wipes.
Make sure baby has plenty of nappy-free time, including outside in the fresh air when weather permits.
Dress your baby in loose, cotton clothes, preferably without seams on the inside, and check for nickel-free poppers etc. Always wash clothes at least twice before wearing to remove formaldehyde etc. Buy organic if possible.
Switch to a un-fragranced, non-bio, gentle detergent, preferably organic and double rinse clothes to remove all traces of chemicals.
If it is very hot, wearing nothing day and night is fine, just check baby isn’t too cool by feeling their back or chest with the back of your hand.
Feeding
Breastfeed for as long as possible.
When baby begins to eat solids, introduce one food type at a time via baby led weaning so you can check for eczema flare-ups.
Try to give only organic, unprocessed foods and avoid known eczema-stressors and allergens like wheat, dairy and red meat for as long as possible.
Related post: What's So Great About Breastfeeding?
Environment
Keep windows open all the time, even in winter to allow air to circulate and to make sure the air is not too dry from central heating. Avoid air conditioning as much as possible.
Avoid putting too many blankets on your baby or overdressing them when you go out. Try to avoid being out for too long if it is very hot or very cold.
Ensure the home is peaceful, and practice calm, responsive parenting as stress is often a trigger in eczema flare-ups, even in babies.
Sleeping
Make sure bedding is cotton only, and always loose. We found our daughter always pushed the covers off anyway, so we put warmer pyjamas on her and left the covers off.
Try these simple tips to help manage your baby's eczema naturally. If problems persist, consider consulting a homeopath for further advice, as their success treating eczema in babies and young children is well-documented.
Pin it:
Want more eczema content?
How to Calm the Itch and Have a Good Night's Sleep
How to Look After Skin Prone to Eczema, Psoriasis and Dermatitis
Top 5 Uses for Coconut Oil
Want more baby content?
Our Journey from Convention to Attachment Parenting
The First 6 Weeks After Birth: The Truth
Breastfeeding Top Tips
Money Saving Tips for New Parents
Natural Ways to Help Teething Baby
The REAL Essentials for New Parents
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