[ahimsa]

I am adopting two AA toddlers. This weekend I put lotion on their arms and legs, and within a few hours, they were dry again. I was wondering if anyone had suggestions. A local store owner recommended Shea Butter. Has anyone tried that or does anyone have any better ideas!

Thanks!

[mckenna]

i think i read another post from you about shampoo and people were sharing thier "knock-off" version of hair products, so i will share mine in regards to lotion.

i have a 3.5 y/o (aa/cc) son. i love the wal-mart version of eucerin. not only because it is much cheeper but also because it is much more spreadable (if that makes sense?). anyway, i can't think of the name (i should know i use it on him every day) but i will check tonight. it comes in a tub like container and is right next to eucerin on the shelves. good luck. i have been using this on him since he was about 6 months and it really works great.

[LisaCA]

hi,

I like the aveeno lotions myself. I use them on my skin (very dry but also very sensitive to allergens). I have started to use aveeno lotion for babies on dd, and it works well, but her skin isnt too dry. We also use aveeno baby bath that is moisturizing, so that may help her skin (she bathes in it daily).

as a rule, any of the heavy feeling lotions work better than the light ones, which just absorb into the skin and disappear. You can also layer, so I sometimes use a light lotion on first, wait a few minutes and add the aveeno lotion.

as mckenna says, any of the expensive dry skin lotions (Keri, eucerin, etc) will work well, including their cheap knock offs.

sometimes folks don't think that AAs need sunscreen, but a heavy sunscreen with all the oils will work just as well. No matter the shade of skin, sunscreen is important too.

LisaCA

[lisa in venice]

Raising my hand to "second" Aveeno. That stuff works miracles with dry skin. I took antihystamines for years because my skin was so itchy. I switched to Aveeno products and over night the problem was solved. I use it on all of the kids and my big kids don't even get ashy after a day at the beach and my dd swims in clorine 5 days a week. She can even forget to lotion up and still not get ashy. I LOVE the stuff. We use the body wash which leaves a terrible oatmeal ring in the tub but it feels soooooo lovely.

lisa

[Linny]

I'll have to try the Aveeno! I think I've tried everything possible for my two girls! But, I've had the most luck with baby petroleum jelly-----just don't put it on at night, unless it's a REALLY dry weather night.
The suggestion for sunscreen was one I found good too. I have used sunscreen on the girls, and worried about using it all the time for moisturizing. Someone else told me that it was fine to use; BUT, I found that you really DO have to buy the heavy stuff....because the lighter kind just doesn't last.

I have found that if I bathe them using the Johnson's lotion liquid soap (it's fairly new?)..........it does well to make them softer and less drying than just using a baby's soap.

Good question!

Sincerely,

Linny

[bevy]

I have to third the AVEENO! Our dd (aa/cc) has fairly dry skin and we use aveeno daily. She also has sensitive skin and has been fine with the aveeno products. Another good bath oil is KERI OIL. It works wonders for dry skin. Our only problem is that when I buy it, my husband uses it all up when it is supposed to be for Alexa!

Eucerine is also good.

[34andhopeful]

The Keri oil that is spozed to be for your hair???

[Kelli]

My daughter has very dry skin, and we tried everything to no avail (Aveeno included). After asking our pediatrician about this, she suggested we try good old fashion petroleum jelly on her damp skin twice a day just after her wash/bath. This has done the trick and now her skin is considerably softer and isn't as dry. For a nice fresh smell, we also like to use a little of the scented Johnson's "thick" baby oil. (I like to use that too). I also always pour some regular baby oil in her bath and limit the use of bubbles which tend to be very drying, as well. For soap, our pediatrician told us to use Dove, rather then the Johnson's baby soap which I found to be harsh, even on my skin.

34andhopeful, I've used Kemi oil on my hair, but I believe Keri oil is in the same family as the Keri lotion (??)

Peace and blessings,

Kelli

[DLee'sMom]

Hi,

Our son has eczema, and we've tried several lotions to help with his dry skin. We finally tried shea butter and it work well too. We brought some from Bath and Body, kind of expensive though. Also, we found Aquafor Cream or Neutrogena Cream (like vaseline) worked well too.



Hope this helps!

[DebCsMom]

I too have tried the Aveeno, Shea Butter, Eucerine, etc. Right now I am using "Johnson's Softcream" "extra care body cream" It has baby oil in it & it smells GREAT! It says it lasts 24 hours. It really does last a long time. It comes in a tube & you can buy it just about anywhere. I get it at Wal Mart.

Deb

[ahimsa]

This is why I love this message board! You're all so great about sharing information. As a first time CC mom of AA kids, I have a lot of questions! The Aveeno sounds good. I'll look into it. I first want to try the Shea Butter. It wasn't to expensive because I got it from a local store called "Shades of Africa". They sell it wrapped in plastic wrap, so there is no charge for packaging. She gets it shipped from Ghana. I also have some not-petroleum jelly. It is a more natural version. I try to limit the petroluem based products that I purchase. Well, I just found out that we get our two sweeties again this weekend, and maybe will move them in next week! I will try your suggestions!

Thanks!!!!! :-)

[gkasche]

My three daughters are not AA but east Indian. The dry skin and hair problem abounds in our home too. For their hair the best I have found so far is Pantene for women of color conditioner. For the skin...my oldest daughter has had a constant problem with dry skin. We have used many over the counter creams...the dryness comes back easily. Then an elderly neighbor of mine gave me a sample of her homemade cream. It was the best stuff I have ever used. It is a simple remedy...1/4 part parafin and 3/4 parts baby fresh petroleum jelly. She simply melts the two together and puts it in a container. It is very creamy and soaks into her skin. Sounds odd..but it is the best stuff I have used yet. AND it is extremely inexpensive and lasts a long time...a small dab goes a long way. She was given the recipe for this by her doctor when she had a horrible problem with chapped hands. It works beautifully. Karen

[NaomiNJaysmom]

I do not have AA children but my best friend is AA and she is also an OB/GYN I called her about my youngest DD's "chicken skin" on her arms and legs and she suggested that I put baby oil all over ber BEFORE I dry her off. So basically smear her with baby oil while she is still dripping wet. OMG what a difference!!!! she says this is what she does to her 3 kids and then adds a lotion if they need it afterward. I tried it myself and talk about soft skin!!! I hope this helps some of you. Its worth a try! ~Amy

[DLee'sMom]

We've tried the oil after the bath and the vaseline also while our son is stil wet. This does work well, better than if you wait to dry them off when the oil does not moisturize at all.

[punchkin]

I've found that hot six oil by African Royale is great, but so is vaseline. I've also found that if you add baby oil to the bath water it will keep the skin from drying out so bad. Also camay soap is very good. Hope this helps.