Help me find a natural solution!

[anamama]

My little dd, 2.5 has dry skin issues. Like her skin feels like sandpaper if I don't stay on top of it. I have tried california baby lotion, burt's bees (makes it worse), Weleda calendula cream in the tub and ointment on her skin, and coconut oil already. The one thing that has worked is Johnson's Naturals (which it most certainly is not natural) skin cream, Johnson's Baby Shampoo (the yellow no tears kind), and Johnson's Body wash. Her skin is now silky and soft after using this for about a month.
It really rubs me the wrong way to rub this stuff all over her, washing her little body with it and then topping it off with the super thick cream. I know it is full of junk that is not good for her. We have such a healthy home, and this is our one big inconsistency, and it is our BABY'S skin. Okay, I have major guilt over this.
I was thinking about trying Earth Mama Angel Baby, has anyone used this on really dry, sensitive skin? Any other ideas for us?

[phroggies]

This probably isn't the direction you were wanting to go it, but my first two thoughts are:

1. You might want to stop using soap (and shampoo) on her unless she's genuinely dirty. Kids need a lot less cleaning than we often think, and even natural soap can be drying.

2. Do you think she's getting enough fat in her diet? I'm a big believer in the outside being a reflection of the inside, as it were.

[Ruthla]

The lotion you're using on her probably has petroleum based oil in it, which is much thicker and has much more "staying power" than coconut oil. I wonder if a thicker natural oil, such as cocoa butter or beeswax, would work well for her. OTOH, you know this works and do you really want to experiment with different stuff that might cause more irritation?

You could also buy pure petroleum jelly (not the nursurey jelly with fragrance added) and use that on her skin after baths. It's the "active ingredient" in the thick commercial "baby lotions" but without the added yuckies.

[thixle]

I agree, stop using soap, or use very, very little, only on the dirty bits. You can add baking soda to her bath water (1/4 to 1/2 cup), which will get her clean without being drying.

Here is what me and my dd have been using this winter:
1 stick (2 oz) cocoa butter (from the local pharmacy)
1 cup coconut oil (any grade will work, I use Luann's!)
Melt it over low heat, blend well then pour into a wide mouthed jar- it will gradually get harder and you can whip it as it hardens for a body butter consistency. I just let it get hard-- it melts with skin temperature to a really rich oil that soaks in quickly and doesn't leave a greasy feeling.

I would not use petroleum jelly too much, it is one of the main ingredients I stear clear of...
If you can get your dd to take cod liver oil, it really does help with dry skin.

[leila1213]

Originally Posted by phroggies

This probably isn't the direction you were wanting to go it, but my first two thoughts are:

1. You might want to stop using soap (and shampoo) on her unless she's genuinely dirty. Kids need a lot less cleaning than we often think, and even natural soap can be drying.

2. Do you think she's getting enough fat in her diet? I'm a big believer in the outside being a reflection of the inside, as it were.

ITA

[anamama]

Yes, I think you're right about the fat thing. We've just recently started eating more butter and cheese, and I have noticed a change since then. Maybe her improved skin has more to do with diet than the lotion/wash.
I am going to start giving flax seed oil or hemp seed oil, because my own skin is dry, and it can't hurt the kids to have that extra brain food.
I'll try the cocoa butter/coconut oil combo. I made some when I was preggers with dd for my belly, and I might still have some cocoa butter left over. I use straight coconut oil on myself, face and all. I love it! It didn't seem to have enough "staying power", as a pp put it, for dd, but maybe with the cocoa butter it will keep her skin more protected.
Thanks so much! I needed that crunchy voice of reason to help me figure this out!

[swd12422]

I have similar skin issues, and in addition to the coconut oil others here have suggested, I use diluted vegetable glycerine now and then as a lotion. It really holds in the moisture and helps smooth out the rough patches!

[grazy101]

agreed with melting shea butter and coconut oil together, I'd go further and add some beeswax, almond oil, and calendular oil.
Beeswax is great to add because it will keep the moisture in your skin.

[ledzepplon]

Just FYI, I found the California Baby shampoo to be very drying to my sensitive skin. If your dd is sensitive to them, all the wonderful, delicious, natural products that contain a lot of botanicals can be really irritating. That might be why the Johnson & Johnson stuff seems to work better.

I don't have any great recommendations as far as specific products, but I would try to find a more natural one that doesn't have as many of the botanical ingredients. (I now use Avalon Organics baby shampoo on my kids, and I fnd this one way less irritating than a lot of other I have tried.)

[moonlight mom]

Originally Posted by ledzepplon

Just FYI, I found the California Baby shampoo to be very drying to my sensitive skin. If your dd is sensitive to them, all the wonderful, delicious, natural products that contain a lot of botanicals can be really irritating. That might be why the Johnson & Johnson stuff seems to work better.

I don't have any great recommendations as far as specific products, but I would try to find a more natural one that doesn't have as many of the botanical ingredients. (I now use Avalon Organics baby shampoo on my kids, and I fnd this one way less irritating than a lot of other I have tried.)

You know - that is really good advice. I was obsessed with finding a natural cure for my son's eczema and spent so much money on all these botanical lotions. I think I bought every single one at my HFS and several online. All of them only made my son's skin worse. I am using Aveeno eczema right now and his skin has never looked better. I really don't like using Aveeno, but I can't find a natural lotion that works. I think the oats in the aveeno really help the itching.

[attachedmomto3]

Originally Posted by moonlight mom

You know - that is really good advice. I was obsessed with finding a natural cure for my son's eczema and spent so much money on all these botanical lotions. I think I bought every single one at my HFS and several online. All of them only made my son's skin worse. I am using Aveeno eczema right now and his skin has never looked better. I really don't like using Aveeno, but I can't find a natural lotion that works. I think the oats in the aveeno really help the itching.

I totally agree with pp. My dd1 has eczema and Aveeno eczema wash and lotion is doing wonders. She was not getting better or sometimes worse with all the natural lotions we tried.