It seems like more and more babies are struggling with eczema,
or really dry skin.  As a mother, I have had to deal with my
child's struggle with really dry skin. Ever since my son's
birth, he has been getting rough, dry patches on his skin.   If
you haven't noticed, your baby's skin probably gets drier in the
winter than in the summer.  These are just some tips that have
helped my baby's skin stay "soft as a babies butt" all year
round.If your baby's skin is extremely dry, cut down on
baths--depending on how old your baby is.  When your baby starts
crawling, you will notice that he gets dirtier. Giving your baby
a bath every other day instead of every day will be sufficient
to keep your baby clean. Too much water can strip moisture from
the skin.Put lotion on within a couple minutes of your baby getting out
of the bath.  Because he was just in warm water, your baby's
pores are open and will absorb more moisture.  I have noticed
that when I put lotion on right away, my baby's skin just eats
it up. If I add a little more lotion to his skin at this point,
my baby's skin seems to stay moist all day long.Use a lotion that is made for sensitive skin.  I like using
Huggies extra sensitive lotion.  It's fragrance free,
hypoallergenic, and dye free.  It really moisturizes and uses
mild gentle ingredients that won't irritate baby's skin.Use plenty of lotion--really put it on. It may take a minute to
rub it all in, but it's worth it.  I have noticed that when I
really do a good job of rubbing the lotion in, my baby's skin
stays soft and the moisture lasts until the next day.Turn down the heat. The hotter the house is, the drier the air.
If your baby seems cold, add clothes instead of turning up the
heat.Cut down on the soap.  If baby's skin is dry, using a bubble
bath can make it worse.  Only use soap on the body parts that
need it, i.e. the diaper area.  Also, use a gentle soap.If your baby's skin is really dry, up his fluid intake. Babies,
as well as adults, get moisture from inside the body.When baby has dry patches, rub some mild hydrocortisone cream on
the spot, or ask your doctor for some medication to help these
patches go away.Add moisture in your baby's room with a humidifier. This will
put moisture in the air and help hydrate your baby's skin.As always, if your baby's skin is extremely dry go visit your
doctor.  But the best medicine is always preventative, so try to
prevent your baby's skin from being dry by following the above
tips.