As soon as you get your baby out of the tub, pat his or her skin dry (don't rub), then promptly apply a liberal amount of moisturizer. 
Taking good care of your baby's skin is crucial. Here are some tips:
- Try to keep your baby's skin from becoming too dry. Talk with the doctor about how often to bathe your baby. Many experts now believe that daily bathing can be helpful for babies with eczema. Just don't make the water too warm, because very warm water dries out the skin faster than lukewarm water.
- Use a mild cleanser, and wash and shampoo your baby at the end of her bath so she isn't sitting in soapy water. As soon as you get your baby out of the tub, pat his or her skin dry (don't rub), then promptly apply a liberal amount of moisturizer or emollient — an ointment, cream, or lotion that "seals in" the body's own moisture.
- "I recommend emollients for children of all ages," says Michael Smith, associate professor of medicine and pediatrics in the division of dermatology at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Smith suggests trying an emollient for a short period of time to see whether it makes a difference and continuing it if it does.
- Allow your baby's skin to breathe (and not become overheated) by dressing him or her in smooth natural fabrics, like cotton. Avoid wool and other scratchy materials, which can irritate very sensitive skin.
- Switch to mild, fragrance-free cleansers and shampoos, or those made for sensitive skin. Use mild, fragrance-free detergent for washing your baby's clothes and bedding. Avoid fabric softeners.
- Rapid changes in temperature can make eczema worse, so try not to let your baby get too hot and then cool quickly, or vice versa. Help your baby avoid scratching. Your baby may try to get relief by scratching or by rubbing her face against the sheet when sleeping. But scratching and rubbing can further irritate or inflame the skin and make matters much worse.
- Use the softest sheets possible in the crib, and keep your baby’s nails short. Put him or her to bed with cotton mittens or socks on his or her hands, if your baby will tolerate them.
- During a flare-up, you can try applying cool compresses to the area several times a day, followed by a moisturizer.
