You’re Doing Everything Right — But Your Baby Still Has Eczema. Now What? Part 1
Let’s keep going, mama. Let’s look at the layers no one talks about.
You’ve made the switch to real food.
You’ve embraced meat stock, raw milk yogurt, ferments, and nutrient-dense meals.
You’re watching ingredients, tracking triggers, and nourishing like a mother on a mission.
And yet… the eczema lingers.
If you’ve done the GAPS or WAPF-inspired work and your baby’s still struggling, this post is your next step. This is where we zoom out and look at what might be silently triggering inflammation — even if you’re doing everything “right” in the kitchen.
Let’s explore both internal and external influences that can still be feeding those skin flares — and more importantly, why each one matters.
Part 1 of This Series
🧼 What’s Touching Their Skin?
(Clothing, Detergents, Soaps, Baths, and Body Products)
Why this matters — beyond what you’ve been told:
When we think of eczema, we’re often told, “It’s just genetic,” or “Try a gentle cream.” But this overlooks one of the most crucial truths: your child’s skin is a living, porous, immunological organ — not just a covering. It’s not just reacting to food. It’s reacting to everything.
In babies and toddlers, that skin is still forming its defensive structure. It has fewer layers of keratin, less robust oil production, and a less acidic pH than adult skin — which means it allows more things in, more quickly.
From a physiological standpoint, this skin is not just “sensitive” — it is literally more absorbent, more active, and more expressive. It speaks for the inside of the body when the gut can’t yet regulate the immune response.
And that means: everything that touches their skin is a potential message to the immune system. Whether it’s soothing or triggering, helpful or harmful — the body hears it.
Let’s walk through what’s touching your child’s skin every single day — and what it’s telling their immune system.
🧴 Laundry Detergent: The Chemical Residue No One Sees
What’s going on:
Most conventional laundry detergents (even the “gentle” or “baby” ones) contain surfactants, preservatives, synthetic fragrance, brighteners, and enzymes. These substances don’t fully rinse out — they cling to fabric.
When that fabric warms against your child’s skin (especially during sleep or play), the heat + sweat + moisture reactivates those residues, essentially forming a constant chemical exposure.
From a skin microbiome perspective:
These residues alter the pH of the skin’s surface, disrupt the acid mantle (the thin film of protective oil + sweat + beneficial microbes), and impair the skin’s natural bacterial balance. This weakens the skin’s barrier — making it more vulnerable to water loss, irritation, and immune confusion.
From a GAPS/ancestral perspective:
Historically, clothes were washed in ash soap, lye, or hot water — no synthetics, no artificial enzymes. Skin flares caused by detergent didn’t exist because our ancestors didn’t surround their babies in petrochemicals.
But what if I’m already using “clean” detergent?
You’re doing amazing, mama. If you’re using something like Attitude (EWG-certified) and adding borax and washing soda — that’s a huge step forward. You’ve removed a massive amount of the chemical burden already.
So why might your baby or toddler still be reacting?
Let’s break it down.
💡 Why does Attitude + Borax + Washing Soda work — and when might it not?
Attitude detergent:
Free from artificial fragrance, dyes, optical brighteners, and harsh surfactants. It’s plant-based and well tolerated by most sensitive families.
Borax (sodium borate):
A natural mineral salt that boosts detergent effectiveness by softening water and binding with dirt and oils. It also has mild antifungal properties, which is great for reducing musty smells and mold spores in laundry.
Washing soda (sodium carbonate):
Raises the pH of water, helping remove grease and body oil. It’s an old-school powerhouse — part of what your great-grandmother used in “laundry soap.”
Together, this combo works well for many families. But there are two caveats:
🚱 1. It could be your water.
If your tap water is very hard (high in calcium/magnesium), or treated with chloramines, those minerals and chemicals can react with even clean detergents — creating residues or binding with fabric in a way that still irritates the skin.
Some clues your water may be a factor:
Your baby’s flare-ups get worse with clean clothes
You see white chalky residue on dark fabrics
Laundry feels stiff or smells “off” even after washing
What to do:
Consider using a showerhead filter or in-wash water softener (like Calgon), or boil-rinse delicate items to test for improvement. Even switching to distilled water for rinsing bedding in severe cases can help as a temporary solution.
🧂 2. More is not always better — should you reduce or simplify?
Sometimes, even “clean” additions like borax or washing soda can be too alkaline for extremely compromised skin. If your baby is in an active eczema flare with broken skin, high-pH laundry water (from too much borax or washing soda) can be irritating — not because it’s toxic, but because it disrupts the natural acid mantle the skin needs to rebuild.
What to try instead:
Reduce borax/washing soda to ¼–⅓ the amount, or skip it entirely during flares
Try just Attitude (or a similar detergent) alone with an extra rinse cycle
Test using only borax OR washing soda, not both, to see which is better tolerated
🧺 Could I use only borax and washing soda?
You could — and many traditional GAPS- or WAPF-aligned households do. It's similar to ancestral laundry routines before synthetic detergents existed.
However, washing soda is highly alkaline, and borax, while effective, can sometimes leave a film if not rinsed well — especially in homes without soft water.
If you go this route:
Use very small amounts — less than 1 tablespoon per load
Always do an extra rinse
Consider adding a splash of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to restore acidity
Bottom line:
Your detergent system may be clean — but water chemistry, residue, and skin pH sensitivity still matter
If eczema flares after laundry day or contact with “clean” clothes, it’s worth experimenting
Simplify, test variables one at a time, and rinse, rinse, rinse
What your baby’s skin needs is less to react to. You’re not aiming for perfect laundry — you’re aiming for neutral, breathable, and unburdened fabric against their healing skin.
🧻 Dryer Sheets & Fabric Softeners: The Invisible Film That Traps Irritation
What’s going on:
These products contain phthalates, and more synthetic fragrances — all of which are left behind on clothing. They are inhaled, absorbed, and trapped in clothing fibers.
How this affects eczema-prone kids:
These compounds are known immune system irritants. They interfere with hormonal signaling, activate mast cells (which release histamine), and may cause low-grade inflammation — which in a child with eczema, pushes them closer to the threshold of visible flare.
Why it matters for your child:
Even if your child has a “strong constitution,” these chemicals add to their body burden — the total load of substances their detox systems are trying to process. For eczema kids, who often already struggle with methylation, histamine clearance, or gut permeability, this invisible exposure can tip the scales toward chronic flaring.
👕 Clothing Fibers: Breathable Protection vs. Microplastic Traps
What’s going on:
Natural fibers (like cotton, bamboo, and wool) allow for airflow, moisture regulation, and skin temperature stability. They move with your child and support the skin barrier by not trapping sweat or heat.
Synthetic fibers (like polyester, fleece, spandex blends) trap heat, hold in moisture, and create microenvironments that promote yeast and bacteria overgrowth — especially in elbow folds, behind knees, and neck rolls.
Ancestral logic:
Babies for millennia were wrapped in wool, linen, or cotton. There were no microfibers. Their skin could breathe — and their microbiome stayed balanced through contact with natural, non-clingy material.
Choose:
Organic cotton onesies and bedding
Merino wool layers in winter (temperature-regulating, antimicrobial)
Avoid fleece, polyester blends, tight elastics in flared areas
🛁 Bath Water & Chlorine: The Sterilizing Agent That Disrupts Microbiome
What’s going on:
Municipal tap water is treated with chlorine and chloramines — substances designed to kill microbes. But when your child soaks in it daily, it’s not just cleaning — it’s sterilizing. It’s wiping out beneficial skin bacteria, degrading lipids in the skin, and leaving behind a residue that continues to irritate after the bath.
Why this matters for eczema:
The skin microbiome is the first line of defense against environmental allergens and pathogens. If chlorine wipes out that protective layer, it’s like removing the soldiers from the front line of the immune system — leaving the barrier unprotected.
What to do:
Use a bath filter or boil/let water sit for 30 mins before use to off-gas chlorine
Rinse with filtered water post-bath
Add sea salt, baking soda, or mineral-rich solutions to support healing
🛁 Eczema-Safe Bath Recipe
In a GAPS or WAPF-informed approach, skin isn’t treated as a surface — it’s supported as a detox organ. That means we don’t just moisturize after a flare. We help the body offload the burden that’s irritating the skin in the first place.
When a child has eczema, their detox organs (liver, kidneys, skin, lymph) are likely overwhelmed. Baths are a gentle, time-tested way to support drainage, calm inflammation, and nourish the skin barrier without topical products that can sting.
🧼 Eczema-Safe Baking Soda Bath (for babies & toddlers)
What it does:
Neutralizes pH to reduce stinging and burning during flares
Softens water (especially if your tap water has chlorine or fluoride)
Calms itch and supports the acid mantle of the skin
May help reduce yeast/fungal activity in skin folds
Helps detox the skin through mild alkalinity
Ingredients:
1–2 tablespoons of aluminum-free baking soda (start with 1 Tbsp for babies under 1)
Optional: 1–2 tablespoons Magnesium or Dead Sea salt (if skin is not open or cracked)
Optional: 1 tablespoon tallow, ghee, or jojoba oil to add nourishing fat to the water
Instructions:
Fill a small baby tub or sink with warm water (not hot — warm enough for comfort).
Dissolve baking soda thoroughly before placing your child in the water.
Soak for 10–15 minutes.
Do not use soap or body wash during the bath.
After the bath, gently pat dry and seal in moisture with tallow balm, ghee, or another pure fat.
No need to rinse — unless you're adding salts or other ingredients.
🌼 Can I Use Brewed Chamomile Tea in an Eczema Bath?
Yes — and here’s why it works:
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita) is one of the most trusted herbs for babies and children. It has a long-standing history in traditional herbalism for treating skin irritation, nervous system dysregulation, and inflammation.
When brewed into a tea and added to a bath, chamomile:
Soothes irritated, red, inflamed skin
Acts as a mild antihistamine due to its flavonoids like apigenin
Helps regulate mast cell response (important for histamine-driven eczema)
Offers mild antimicrobial and antifungal support for the skin microbiome
Supports nervous system regulation — helping a restless, itchy baby sleep better
Gently calms gut-skin axis stress, which plays into eczema
Is incredibly well-tolerated — even for infants and toddlers with highly sensitive skin
🫖 How to Make a Chamomile Tea for Bathing
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon dried organic chamomile flowers
(or 1–2 high-quality chamomile tea bags if that's what you have)1 cup boiling filtered water
Instructions:
Pour boiling water over chamomile and cover while steeping (this keeps the low amounts of essential oils in the tea).
Steep for 15–20 minutes minimum, longer is fine (up to overnight for a stronger infusion).
Strain well.
Add the strained, cooled tea directly into your child’s bath — ideally at the same time as baking soda, ghee, or salts if using.
🌿 GAPS + Ancestral Perspective:
Using herbs as water infusions is entirely in line with the GAPS approach to external detox. You’re not introducing synthetic compounds — you’re using nature’s gentle messengers to communicate safety to the skin and immune system.
Ancestrally, herbal bathing was a common postpartum and child-soothing practice — whether in nettle, oat straw, chamomile, or rose. It provides topical nourishment, lymphatic stimulation, and nervous system calm without burdening the gut or detox organs.
🧡 A Few Tips:
Always strain well so little bits don’t stick to skin (which can cause itching or frustration)
Never add essential oils directly to bathwater (they float on top and may irritate inflamed skin)
This bath is especially helpful before bedtime, during active flares, or post-vaccine or illness recovery
📝 Tips:
Do this 2–4 times per week during eczema flares.
Avoid if skin is cracked and bleeding — opt for plain filtered water soaks instead.
Observe closely: some kids are more sensitive to salts than others. Adjust as needed.
If flare-ups worsen after bathing, try rinsing with filtered or distilled water afterward to remove chlorine residue from city water.
🌿 More Herbal Baths: Old Medicine for Modern Babies
Herbal baths are one of the gentlest, most effective external remedies in a GAPS-informed approach. These aren’t fancy spa rituals — they’re immune support, microbiome nourishment, and nervous system medicine in one.
🌿 Calendula Bath
Use dried calendula petals or an infusion bag
Anti-inflammatory, antifungal, gently antimicrobial
Ideal for raw or oozy patches
🌾 Oat Straw or Marshmallow Root Bath
Mucilaginous (slimy!) herbs that coat and protect broken skin
Great for barrier repair and soothing skin post-scratch
🧂 Baking Soda + Tallow Bath
1 Tbsp baking soda
1 tsp melted tallow or ghee stirred into bathwater
Rebalances pH, softens water, nourishes skin
🌾 What About Colloidal Oatmeal Baths?
Colloidal oatmeal can be incredibly soothing for itchy, inflamed, and dry skin. It works by creating a gentle barrier on the skin’s surface, locking in moisture, reducing transdermal water loss, and calming down nerve endings in the skin. It's also rich in beta-glucans, which support the skin’s own repair and immune modulation.
From a physiological view:
It contains anti-inflammatory compounds (avenanthramides) that reduce histamine signaling
It forms a mucilaginous (gel-like) coating that soothes nerve fibers in itchy, broken skin
It supports short-term barrier repair in acute flares
🛁 How to Use Colloidal Oatmeal in the Bath
Choose certified gluten-free, organic colloidal oatmeal (NOT regular oats — these won’t dissolve or work the same)
Add 1–2 tablespoons to a small infant tub, or ¼ cup to a full-size toddler bath
Stir until water turns milky and slippery — that’s the oat gel doing its job
Soak for 10–15 minutes
Pat dry gently — no scrubbing
When to Use Oatmeal Baths:
✔️ Helpful during acute flares
✔️ Great for babies whose skin burns from salt or baking soda
✔️ Especially soothing in dry winter months
✔️ Use temporarily while repairing gut function and lowering histamine load internally
❌ Avoid if your baby has a known grain allergy
❌ Skip during fungal overgrowth (oat baths can feed yeast on the skin in some cases)
🧴 Skip These Common Topical Triggers
Essential oils in baby balms — too concentrated for broken or inflamed skin
Tea tree, lavender, citrus oils — known skin sensitizers
Petroleum-based ointments — block detox and suffocate the skin
Use instead:
Grass-fed tallow balm
Jojoba oil, ghee, or apricot kernel oil
Apply immediately after bathing to lock in moisture
🚫 Essential Oils in Skincare: Too Strong for a Compromised Barrier
What’s going on:
Essential oils — even “baby-safe” ones — contain dozens of plant chemicals that are antimicrobial, astringent, and drying. On inflamed or cracked skin, these penetrate quickly and may trigger mast cell release, increase histamine, and burn or sting.
Why this matters in toddlers:
Their skin is thin. Their detox systems (especially liver and kidneys) are still developing. Their body sees these EO compounds as foreign chemicals — and if their immune system is already activated (via gut inflammation or allergies), EOs can worsen things.
What to do instead:
Use tallow, jojoba, ghee, or apricot kernel oil alone
Avoid scented balms or “calming” baby oils unless handmade from single, food-based ingredients
Your child’s skin is not passive. It’s an active immune organ — in constant conversation with the gut, brain, and lymphatic system. If it’s flaring, it’s not just “dry.” It’s reacting. Communicating. Asking for less friction. Less inflammation. More nourishment.
Switching clothing, detergent, baths, and body care isn’t just a lifestyle choice. It’s an immune intervention. It’s a way of saying:
✨ “I see what your body is trying to tell me — and I’m going to listen.” ✨
Stay tuned to more posts in the series!