Need non stinging lotion for chapped baby cheeks

[DevaMajka]

Ds is 5 mos old, and his cheeks are red and chapped. I tried olive oil, but it wasn't working as well as vaseline. I'd like something other than petroleum. Plus, vaseline seems to rub off before it can absorb very well, and I'm hoping a lotion or oil will do a better job of keeping his cheeks moisturized.

We tried Aveeno baby soothing relief moisture cream, which is intended for chapped, cracked skin, and it stings! Ds2 cried when I put it on him, so I tested it on ds1's chapped skin- he said it stung a bit. I tried it on myself, and sure enough- it stings a little bit. Granted, not a lot, but still.

I imagine anything that has any "alcohol" as an ingredient could potentially sting? Is that correct? As long as I avoid any "alcohol" ingredients, will I be ok?

[newbymom05]

I'm using cocoa butter on my 18 mo's old's cheeks now. It's very emollient and kind of thick, like Vaseline, so it seems protective. I usually use coconut oil as a moisturizer, but the cold really dries out his skin.

[Dabble]

Aquaphor and Eucerin are both excellent for chapped skin. There are a couple different varieties - one is a lot like vaseline, and the others are creams.

BTW, my pediatrician always says that lotions are only for use in the summer, when the air is very moist. Creams are heavier and should be used for fall, spring, and winter. Very dry skin in the winter deserves thick ointment (vaseline consistency) for adequate protection. I've found this advice to be very helpful for my own and my children's skin.

You can usually prevent that chapped cheek appearance by applying a thin layer of clear ointment over the skin just before bed and before going outside. Works wonders for holding in moisture.

Oh, and be sure to always moisturize immediately after baths! Keep baths lukewarm and brief, and slather on the cream as soon as he gets out.



ETA: Creams will almost always come in jars, whereas lotions will come in pump bottles and squeeze tubes. So make sure you get something in a jar/tub, with no alcohol, no fragrance or dyes, and you should be set!

[dachshundqueen]

We use Mustela Stellatopia exclusively in the winter. It was recommended by our pediatrician and we have been very happy with it, and the results, as the children have very mild eczema.

Liz

[~Demeter~]

Lansinoh lanolin... it's natural and it doesn't sting at all. No chemicals, not petroleum based.

[DevaMajka]

Thanks everyone Now to go shopping... lol

Originally Posted by Dabble

BTW, my pediatrician always says that lotions are only for use in the summer, when the air is very moist. Creams are heavier and should be used for fall, spring, and winter. Very dry skin in the winter deserves thick ointment (vaseline consistency) for adequate protection. I've found this advice to be very helpful for my own and my children's skin.

very helpful! thanks

[Tav Mom]

I LOVE calendula!!! I use it for diaper rash and just tried the other day eczema. My son's hand broke out in this horrible eczema rash (we'd been lax on the dairy) and over night, literally his hands were 80% better!! I'm not kidding. Diaper rash goes away overnight as well!!! And it doesn't burn, it actually felt cooling to his hands. HTH!!!

[MaxMommy]

What about shea butter? We live in the North and dry skin is an issue we contend with every winter. Shea butter worked on ds when he was a baby, for diaper and face cheeks too
A pp mentioned calendula...we have a nice calendula ointment that is made locally, it works on any type of chapping, lips, hands, cheeks, diaper. It has a base of olive oil and shea butter....might want to look for something like that.
Good luck to you and your babe.

[DevaMajka]

Well, olive oil and Lansinoh are a no go. After less than a day using those, his cheeks got super red and chapped. A few hours after using vaseline again, and they are getting better.

I have to get out to a store! We have a nice "health food" store near here, and there seem to be a lot of locally made products- it would be nice to find a calendula product without any alcohol. It seems like a great product!

[QueenOfTheMeadow]

Weleda Baby face cream. It's so wonderful! I put it on ds3 when his excema starts on his face. And I'll even use it on my face when I'm really dry. You could also use their calendula diaper cream if you have any of that.

[Denvergirlie]

Aquaphor... find it at Walgreens or the like.

It is based in petroleum jelly, but what ever else is in it, it wonderful. I used to be on a medication that dried out my oil glands and I was so chapped that I was bleeding. Cracked hands with blood does not make for a good bartending shift when I had to wash dishes all night.

Aquaphor is the only thing that saved me, I've had several different demratologist's recommend this product to me.

[~Nancy~]

My baby has sensitive skin, and his cheeks would get so chapped and raw.

We tried everything, and what has worked best for us is Green Salve, by Motherlove
www.motherlove.com

It is all natural, and organic. Ingredients: extra virgin olive oil, comfrey leaf, plantain leaf, marshmallow root, and beeswax.

It is thick, ointment consistency.

I also use Green Salve as a preventative fix for raw noses when my kids have cold. Everytime they blow their nose, I apply the green salve, and especially before bedtime. It is really good stuff.

Another good option is shea butter (if you aren't concerned about nut allergies). I love the raw shea butter from Mountain Rose.

I avoid petrolem based products, and I have found that the Green Salve and shea butter are better for my skin.

[DevaMajka]

I went to the health food store, and found Baby Dermamed Healing Cream with Calendula.
No atificial fragrance (though it smells really good!), no dyes, no alcohol. This stuff is magic! After a day of using it, his cheeks are just barely pink, and not chapped! It's really expensive, but I was desperate. lol. It takes just a teeny bit though.

So this works much better than vaseline (whick kept his cheeks from getting really bad) and Queen Helene cocoa butter cream (which was better than vaseline, but still didn't get rid of it completely).

I'm very happy

[MaxMommy]

DevaMajka, so glad you found something that works. There's nothing worse than seeing your baby hurt and being at a loss as to what to do.
I'm happy for you!

[MissRubyandKen]

I know this is a bit late, but just saw it. Hopefully his little cheeks are all better already, but I wanted to suggest breastmilk under the cream. Squirt a little out as often as you want, easy to do if he's already eating, and rub it on the affected area. Seriously. Breastmilk is awesome for this sort of thing. I know from experience. Sophie's skin was always so sensitive, she often had chaffing or rashes. They really did heal much faster when I put the breastmilk on. She still asks for milk on booboos, not every one, but if one is bothering her.

[LynnE73]

OP: I'm so glad to see you found something without petroleum or parabens! Both of which are harmful!