When shopping for skincare products for your baby, the choices are abundant! When that baby has eczema, the process is further complicated. After all, you don't want to buy anything that could make the condition worse, and hopefully the products you buy will help the eczema heal up and not itch. Here is an overview of the baby products suitable for your little one with sensitive skin.

First of all, think of all the different products included in the average new baby toiletries gift pack. There will be baby oil, baby bath, baby lotion, baby powder, and possibly a cream or ointment for diaper rash. There may also be baby shampoo and a bar of baby soap. How much of this is necessary, and which are suitable for a baby with eczema, anyway?

It helps to understand eczema as simply super-sensitive, very dry skin. As such, you will want to avoid products that include any ingredients that may cause irritation. One product that babies really don't need is baby powder. In fact, many pediatricians are warning against its use for any baby because of the chance of it being inhaled. Also, the older talcum powder versions have been largely replaced with corn starch powders, and the truth is, corn can be a serious allergen. For the baby with eczema, it is probably best to skip baby powder all together.

Soap is another item that should probably be eliminated from the baby's skincare products, especially when eczema is in the picture. Replace soap with a non-soap gentle cleanser. One such brand is Cetaphil, but there are others. Some parents have good luck with a soap like unscented Dove, which contains cleansing cream for moisturizing. Baby bath often contains soap or other ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin, such as an ingredient to produce a scent. Shampoos are unnecessary unless the baby has a lot of hair.

Many parents don't use soap or cleansers for every single bath, but perhaps for every other bath, or only when the child is very dirty. Also, you can limit the use of cleansers to only the dirtiest areas, like the diaper area and the hands. Baby oil is useful as you can float a little on the bathwater to help moisturize the skin, but stick to a brand that is free of scents and other additives. Plain mineral oil, or even vegetable oil can also be used this way.

Baby lotions might help moisturize some babies' skin, but they are usually not adequate for a baby with eczema. It is better to choose a moisturizing cream. In fact, one of the best remedies is old fashioned petroleum jelly.

In summary, when putting together bath products for a baby with eczema, you can save your money and skip most commercial baby bath, lotion, soap, and powder. Do invest in a good non-soap cleaner or gentle moisturizing soap for those times when serious cleaning is needed, and choose a gentle baby cream to use frequently for moisturizing the skin. Good luck!