Checklist: Soothe Your Baby's Eczema

Infantile eczema, or atopic dermatitis, can occur when a baby is switched from breast milk to formula, or started on solids. Use this checklist to reduce baby's risk of eczema and make her feel better.

By the editors of Parents.com from American Baby

___ Give your baby fewer baths -- and keep 'em short and sweet. Letting baby soak for too long will only dry his skin more.

___ Rub a rich skin cream all over his body right after bath time. Make sure it's fragrance-free (scents can sometimes be irritating) and made for delicate skin.

___ If your house is really dry, run a humidifier in the nursery to boost the level of skin-hydrating moisture in the air. And make sure the room's temp isn't too hot or cold.

___ Dress your child in loose, soft clothing (cotton onesies, as opposed to wool) to avoid further chafing or itchiness.

___ Don't overbundle your baby.

___ Keep baby's fingernails short. Otherwise, if he's really itchy he could do a number on his skin.

___ Cover his hands with a pair of baby mitts or socks while he's sleeping -- another scratch-reducer.

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