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A friend called me this morning with the exciting news she's about to become a mom! She breathlessly asked for advice on every imaginable type of product.
She's feeling thrilled, overwhelmed and a little rushed...she's just found out last week she's becoming a mom on Monday morning! On Saturday, she'll board a plane and fly for 24 hours to meet her new daughter in Vietnam. The adoption agency sent her a list of about 10 bullet-pointed product categories they suggested she might want to bring with her. Seven of those were concerning the skin in one way or another. Kids from Southeast Asia have a high propensity for eczema. And of all the baby stuff I am personally well versed in, eczema (unfortunately) is near number one.
My first daughter's itchies, owies and other eczema related discomforts were so painful to me that I started my business to make a softer, safer cush on her adorable tush (and the rest of her adorableness). But if not for Weleda's Calendula oil, my kid might now be muscle-y and bearded. You see, I almost opted for the prescription steroid cream. After another night of desolate crying (hers and mine) and sore irritated skin (only hers), I trotted over to fulfill her prescription when a knowledgeable (albeit pushy) holistic pharmacist set me straight: "You're giving topical steroids to a six=month-old baby? Are you nuts?"
Hmmmnnn, "nuts" was not the parenting style I was after....he went on to tell the potential side effects of steroid usage on my baby: permanent thinning of the skin, decreased hair growth, increased hair growth, insomnia (no way...I certainly didn't need any more of that!) and possible reproductive issues much later. He offered up an alternative: pure calendula oil--this one from Weleda, the Swiss company that's a gajillion years old, and even certified biodynamic (a step beyond organic). So of course, I bought the golden serum. And I gotta tell you, it did the trick. Not as fast as the 'script might have done, but it kept it under control and eventually ushered it right off her back and out the door.
Of course every baby is different, but please keep in mind that whatever you put on your baby, you put in your baby. Up to 60 percent of what we put on our skin gets absorbed through the skin and makes it into the bloodstream (if in doubt, consider the nicotine patch). So less chemicals, generally speaking, equals better and more natural health.
Some things to watch out for in any baby body-care product, but especially if you have a child with eczema:
1. Any synthetic fragrance
2. Nanotechnology (not listed so it usually says something like "quick absorbing," "no greasy film," etc.)
3. Anything with the word paraben (a high-powered preservative banned in the United Kingdom and many other countries for it's possible links to cancer)
4. Anything antibacterial (actually a form of pesticide)
Some brands & things to love
Weleda
Dr. Hauschka
Egyptian Magic (works GREAT for everything...no really!)
Organic olive oil (works as a bath oil, doubles as an after bath baby massage)
OK, good luck Jane. And congratulations! Hopefully you won't need any of this advice for your new daughter!
More about diapers
Solve the Diaper Dilemma: gDiapers, the Hybrid Diaper
Solve the Diaper Dilemma: The Cloth Option
Solve the Diaper Dilemma: Safer Disposables
Solve the Diaper Dilemma: Elimination Communication and the Diaper-Free Movement
Difficulty level: Easy
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