[dalene]

The last time I posted here, we were planning on adopting a biracial baby in Dec. That fell through this week but now we have a *possible* match for October with an AA baby. I can't plan very far ahead right now, but I can be fairly certain that we will most likely adopt a biracial or AA baby at some point. What recommendations do you all have for skin and hair care products? I know that what works can vary from child to child but I don't even know where to start right now. I'm pretty sure that from the day we bring our baby home we need to be prepared with something to try at least--and then change or adjust as needed. Any advice?!

[rredhead]

Hi!
We use Burt's Bees products - the Burt's Bees Apricot Oil was great when Jack had cradle cap. We use the Buttermilk lotion and the Baby Body Wash.
We've also used California Baby, but those are quite expensive.
You want to stay away from fragrance, phtlates, and parabens. Check out the EWG for information:
For Parents | Environmental Working Group
They have a database, Skin Deep, that lists and rates the various personal care products.
http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/special/parentsguide/

I hope this helps!

[mondk]

Our Joshie is biracial and just turned 1. I still use baby shampoo on his soft curly tendrils of hair (Johnson and Johnson). I have heard of another shampoo with an AA baby on the bottle called Soft and Precious or something like that; I can only find it online; it is like $4 a bottle.

Others have told me that AA/biracial babies' skin can get dry quickly. So I use Johnson and Johnson baby lotion after every bath. I give him a massage and rub down with it, plus it makes him smell good, like a baby should! (I say that to him a lot LOL)

That is all the advice I have for you at this time; Joshie's hair didn't curl until he was about 9-10 mos. old...it was perfectly straight until then.

Blessings, Michelle

[dalene]

Thanks for the responses so far--that helps give me a place to start at least. If this possible match works out (in the process of talking to the birthmom & giving her time to make her decision), I think things will be open enough that maybe I can even ask the birthmom what has worked for her older son. Otherwise, I have some great ideas to start with--thanks for the product names & website!

[mommmmy]

My daughter is AA. She's just 2 now.

I use cetaphil (in the tub) on her skin right after bath. I use Redkin Butter Treat on her hair to wash and condition (conditioners have detergents in them). And then I spritz her hair with 1/3 olive oil to 2/3 water with some Lavender EO in it to smell nice.

The Redkin and the Cetaphil is expensive. But the truth is most of the products are.

I haven't found J&J to be good for any of my children.

Carol's Daughter is one that people really seem to like...you can find it online.

Avoid products with mineral oil and/or petroleum.

[dalene]

A friend of ours who adopted a biracial baby boy (he's now 6 actually) told me the other day when we met for lunch that she used Soft & Precious products when he was little. Then she emailed later to say that she has ordered me the starter pack of Soft & Precious products to try--so that's awesome! I'm just excited to have something to start with when our baby boy arrives; I want him to look as well cared for and loved as he already is and he hasn't even been born yet.

[reetoreet]

We use Burt's Bee's Baby Bee line. I love the apricot oil on her hair and the buttermilk wash and lotion. I wash her hair with the Baby Bee Shampoo bar and it seems to work well. I only wash her hair once a week though. I use the buttermilk lotion on her in the morning and before she goes to bed. It smells nice!

[KarynB]

Hello,

I would say stay away from anything with alcohol as a base - it is really drying to their hair - so J&J etc

We shampoo once a week with all natural shampoo, then we use carols Daughter Black Vanilla Leave in conditioner. CD Hair milk works really nicely on loose, curly hair, we like the hair butter for a tighter curl.

We also use Jason's all natural conditioner to leave in for those comb outs that will be rough...works really well!

Aveeno lotion in the dark blue container works fabulous for our boys especially in our cold Canadian winter - the LO has exzema (sp?) and it is the only thing that cleared it up well. We found Burts Bees to be too runny...but it all works differently on different people!

[ChromaKelly]

OK, I know this is about my CC daughter, but she has very, very curly hair Pic of Ainsley (not the best pic of her, but you can get the full effect of the hair, she's on the left). From what I've gathered lurking in the hair-care threads, I do treat her hair very similarly to AA/BR hair. I only wash it once a week, and I found this through trial and error, I put a very small amount of Trader Joe's Vitamin E oil massaged into the scalp. I started doing this for cradle cap, and it left her hair so soft, that I kept doing it.

She also has keratosis pilaris (aka "chicken skin") so I use coconut oil instead of lotion on her after bath. It has helped lessen the severity of the bumps.

For bath, we've been using Aubrey Organics baby bath product.

[JustCourtney]

This is what we have discovered for our CC/hispanic son who happens to have very sensitive skin - that J & J products smelled nice, but left him dry and flaky. Our doctor recommended Dove sensitive skin body wash for the bath, and Aveeno baby lotion. He is soft as can be, and no more flakes or redness. I have very fair sensitive skin, and have always sworn by Dove, so I was not surprised! Not to mention super glad that that something that was cheap and easy to find worked so well! Best of luck on your adventure!