Experts believe that too much bathing may harm babies skin and lead to eczema and other problems.

Bathing babies too often may harm their skin

Parents who bath their babies more than needed are unknowingly giving them serious skin complaints. The number of infants who are suffering from terrible skin conditions such as eczema has nearly doubled in a generation.

Child health experts believe this is due to the over-zealous washing of babies and that the obsession with cleanliness is leading wellmeaning mothers and fathers to unwittingly damage their child's delicate skin. The survey says 35 per cent of babies today suffer from sore, flaking and itchy skin.

When their parents were born, it was just 17 per cent. One-third of parents now say itchy, irritating skin problems are keeping their child and themselves awake at night.

According to the survey, which was commissioned by Mother and Baby magazine, 60 per cent of babies are now bathed at least once a day and spend an average of 15 minutes being attended to in the wash-tub. One-fifth are bathed every other day and just 19 per cent are washed the recommended two or three times a week.


This content was created on Wed 6 June 2007

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