Parents: How to Make an Oatmeal Bath for Babies

By Erica Jackson Curran

Babies may be known for having perfectly smooth skin, but even little ones can suffer from acne, eczema, and rashes. When skin irritation strikes, think twice before rushing out to buy an arsenal of expensive creams and potions. A homemade oatmeal bath could be all you need to get their skin back in baby-soft shape.

There's a good reason this healing remedy has been used for millennia—oatmeal baths have been proven to soothe skin of all ages while moisturizing, treating everything from hives and sunburn, to psoriasis and poison ivy. 

DIY oatmeal baths can be beneficial to anyone—not just babies. But they're a simple, inexpensive way to help treat and prevent skin problems that are common to babies and young children in particular. 

Keep in mind that oatmeal baths, though effective, aren't a magic elixir for curing all skin woes. Stephanie Kronberg, a nurse practitioner in the dermatology department at Children's Mercy Kansas City, says it's still important to diagnose the cause of the irritation and treat it appropriately. "It's important that this be combined with other traditional management, such as moisturizers, fragrance free products, and sometimes topical medications," Kronberg says.

Making an oatmeal bath is easy, but you do need to make sure you have the right type of oatmeal. "You should not just throw your breakfast oatmeal into your baby's bath!" warns Kronberg. Instead, look for colloidal oatmeal, which is finely ground into a soft powder that's designed to dissolve in fluids.

While rare, some babies and children may have an adverse reaction to oatmeal baths. Kronberg recommends speaking with your child's doctor before giving an oatmeal bath if you're unsure.

Read the full story via Parents

Learn more about Dermatology at Children's Mercy