[mykdsmomy]

Hi mamas.....we are currently fostering (hoping to adopt) a little African American baby girl (she's 9 months). Her skin is very dry and I've been using coconut oil on it but was wondering if there's anything else I can use? It doesn't seem to have a long lasting effect.

Also, what kind of shampoo can I use on her? I've been using the J&J extra moisturizing shampoo but again I'd like something more natural.

My ds is african american but his skin isnt as dry so we just use regular lotion on him from time to time and whatever shampoo/soap the rest of the family is using. Thanks mamas!

 

[JustKiya]

Oh, congrats & Good luck!!

If the coconut oil isn't lasting long enough - she might need something a bit richer/thicker - some sort of butter.

Cocoa butter is a classic, as is shea butter. www.oyinhandmade.com (no association, I just LOVE their stuff) has a fabulous line of all natural skin & hair care products - the whipped pudding, specifically, can do WONDERFUL double duty for both skin and hair.
I'd go with the most natural shampoo possible (I don't use shampoo, so I have no product specific suggestions), and her hair doesn't need to be washed everyday (in case you weren't aware). About once a week is plenty....

 

[nora--not a llama]

I second oyin, as many of their products are made specifically for african americans.

 

[ASusan]

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[Ruthla]

In general, for people with dry skin, it's best to use as little soap as possible. Unless she's getting REALLY filthy and stinky, maybe try bathing her in just water and then put on the coconut oil when her skin is still damp? If that's not getting her clean enough, add just a drop of soap to the bathtub- just enough to get her clean, not more than you need.

I'd wash her hair with plain water as often as possible, and only use shampoo when it's really needed. Again, use the tinyest amount of shampoo possible to get her clean. Shampoo rinsing down her back can make the skin on her back too dry.

 

[mykdsmomy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruthla In general, for people with dry skin, it's best to use as little soap as possible. Unless she's getting REALLY filthy and stinky, maybe try bathing her in just water and then put on the coconut oil when her skin is still damp? If that's not getting her clean enough, add just a drop of soap to the bathtub- just enough to get her clean, not more than you need. I'd wash her hair with plain water as often as possible, and only use shampoo when it's really needed. Again, use the tinyest amount of shampoo possible to get her clean. Shampoo rinsing down her back can make the skin on her back too dry.

I was thinking about doing this but I have another problem....she smells like urine all the time

I actually put her back in disposables because I thought it was because she was peeing out of her cloth all the time but even in sposies, she still stinks. I dont know what is making her urine smell so bad.....but it's like every time I change her, she smells like she hasnt been bathed in like a week (but I bathe her every day).

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.....I'm going to check out that website

 

[muttix2]

Could be the oil reacting with her skin. My oldest ds has really dry skin (3/4 black) but oil would be too much for him. We use cocoa butter and also shea butter sometimes. I'm 1/2 black myself and cocoa butter has always worked best for me

I need to get some pure shea butter to try that out though b/c I've heard so many great things about it.

 

[LaffNowCryLater]

My kids are biracial....I had to switch to regular (non-baby) shampoo really early, but I switched to a all-natural version from the HFS. I also use conditioner and comb her hair while it is still in and then rinse it out and while it is still damp I put some sort of leave-in conditioner in her hair and let it dry like that. Right now we use stuff from the Pantene line for curly hair but I am gonna try and find some thing more natural. Pantene also has a line dedicated to ethnic hair.
I also heard www.mixedchicks.net and www.curls.biz and Miss Jessies products were good, but haven't tried them personally.

For lotion I found Avalon Organics Baby Lotion at Wal-Mart

: and it works really good!