Bleach in Baby’s Bath?????

Actually, its very common for many types of skin ailments, including (extremely) stubborn diaper rash.

I have heard of it. Also, think about public water. It contains chlorine. It's no different that that. I honestly don't think you have anything to worry about.

Do you have any idea how much bleach is in a pool! Enough to keep bacteria from growing! Far more than what the Dr. is suggesting you put in the baby's bath. I would try what the Dr suggested and see if it works. Afer all, the reason that you took him to the Dr. was to get the Dr.s advice and opinion. Good Luck!
This in addition to my last response:
Growing up we were not very well to do. We had a lined pool that we used bleach in regularly because we couldn't afford the chlorine tablets. We were just as happy and healthy as anyone else.
We also put bleach in our childrens pool in the summer because it prevents algae from growing in the pool, and then we just dump it every other day!

Well I want to kind of straighten up some advice I saw on this post, first bleach and chlorine are two different things for all those pool related posts and you don't always grow out of folliculitis, I've had it since I started growing hair on my body as a baby and I'm now 26 years old. Since it covers my whole body, except my head and one other place, I grew up being made fun of. Even after seeing a dermatologist he didn't know what it was, he had never seen it like this before, and perscribed several different rx lotions over the years. Nothing worked. Just this year I pointed it out to my family doctor and she told me what it was. She suggested I use an acne wash on my whole body regularly and it will actually clear out the bumps and help them heal and my hair will be able to grow properly. I just started using the wash about a week ago so I can't tell you just yet how it works, but thought maybe it could be an alternative for you to the bleach if you are not comfortable with it. I would mainly be concerned with the baby drinking the water and drying out his skin, especially with winter coming. I trust our doctor completely she has never steered me wrong, if she told me to do the bleach with my son I would do it, but if your not comfortable with it then don't do it. Or just fill the tub, add the bleach and see how it smells and feels to you. Trust your gut instincts!

Hi E.B.

Use Lavendar Oil in the bath water. A few drops of Lavendar Oil by Young Living they are therapeutic and pure.

Hope this helps. D.

Something as simple as vinegar is anti-bacterial. If you would use that in the bath water, that would be a safe alternative to bleach and wouldn't be harmful to your baby.
Martha

Agree with Melissa 150%

ACTUALLY, there was a study released just this year showing that Clorox bleach (1/2 cup) in a bath was an excellent treatment for eczema. Here's a link to an article about the study: http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/eczema/...

That level of bleach is similar to the amount of chlorine found in a swimming pool. It doesn't even need to be rinsed off and it does an excellent job of killing just about any type of bacterium. Remember, bleach is what they use in hospitals for disinfection--it's the only thing that kills MRSA!

Mamas, we are not all doctors. Please do not disregard your pediatricians' advice willy-nilly, but ask them for their reasons if something sounds strange.

I second Lavender Oil and would add that Tea Tree Oil is antimicrobial. However, I think the dermatologist should be the first step!

NNNNOOOOO!!!!!!!! Both of my kids (3 1/2 and 22 mos) have sensitive skin and get folliculitis occassionsally - which is really just an inflamation (sometimes infection) of the hair follicles on their skin. It can range from minor (a few bumps) to covering their entire body. Obviously with their sensitive skin we can not do the bleach thing but regardless - NNNOOO!!!!!! Not only will that create other problems from completely drying out his skin to "burning" him" if it gets in his eyes or if he swallows any of the bath water . . . I know it's tough to look at (and have other people look at and "wonder" ;) ) but it WILL go away on it's own. If you want to expediate the process just get an antibacterial soap (we use Dial for sensitve skin with aloe) and run it under the faucet when you run the tub to make "bubbles" and a a sort of bubble bath and then wash your son with that soap as well for a few days.
Hope this helps.
T. C.

I would take him to a dermatologist. Doesn't have to be a pediatric derm, or you can call a dermatologist and ask. Have you tried Neosporin or Bacitracin?

***ADDED*** check this out for some views from the NO BLEACH side of the debate:

http://ecochildsplay.com/2009/05/13/bleach-prescribed-to-...

Don't do it! That is the worst advice I have ever heard from a doctor! Your baby could die from the fumes alone.

You have gotten FANTASTIC advice from these other posters!

Good for you for not blindly following this doctor's advice!

Marisa, of course we are not doctors, but doctors are not fool proof. Thankfully, we can get better treatments than toxic bleach on our babies skin.

At that low a concentration, it probably isn't harmful, after all there is chlorine in most tap water already. But if your mama flags are going up, don't do it. Try some of the other ideas posted here, or check with a dermatologist.
I have used tea tree oil before will good results on skin problems. However it can be irritating full strength in large amounts.

I think you should go to a dermatologist because pediatricians are not real good at diagnosing skin disorders. My son had problems when he was little and it took about a year and a dermatologist visit to find out what was wrong (immediately). Good luck.

Hi EB, In theory if your Dr tells you to put a tiny bit of bleach....but then again WOW! I've never heard of such a thing nor would I ever. Here's something you might want to try, my Dr. told me to try it when my youngest had a really weird "weepy" rash that was spreading through contact. Using regular, normal tea bags (about 4-5 or 2 iced tea sized) make a bath of luke-warm tea and let him play/soak in it a couple of times a day for about a week. There is a natural acid in tea that really seems to work on rashes! Ever since that first time that is what we do first before we even think about calling a dr about a rash...and it has worked every time. My Dr. told me it is an old home remedy...and I tell everyone about it. No, our tub never stained from the tea, I used colored bath towels with no problems, no don't use any soap or rinse off the tea, just pat him dry and dress him. You should notice a change in a day or two...Hope this helps! Best wishes.

I second the suggestion to go to a dermatologist. He or she would be better equipped to give you solid advice about skin conditions.

Hi EB, In theory if your Dr tells you to put a tiny bit of bleach....but then again WOW! I've never heard of such a thing nor would I ever. Here's something you might want to try, my Dr. told me to try it when my youngest had a really weird "weepy" rash that was spreading through contact. Using regular, normal tea bags (about 4-5 or 2 iced tea sized) make a bath of luke-warm tea and let him play/soak in it a couple of times a day for about a week. There is a natural acid in tea that really seems to work on rashes! Ever since that first time that is what we do first before we even think about calling a dr about a rash...and it has worked every time. My Dr. told me it is an old home remedy...and I tell everyone about it. No, our tub never stained from the tea, I used colored bath towels with no problems, no don't use any soap or rinse off the tea, just pat him dry and dress him. You should notice a change in a day or two...Hope this helps! Best wishes.

I have never heard of that. I would even think that the fumes of Clorox could hurt the child. I think that maybe its eczema. My son has sensitive skin and his skin would dry out if he was in really warm bath water.

GROSS! That would worry me too!

If it were me, I'd be visiting my local health food store & getting their suggestion. You could likely try tea tree oil first (since that's a natural anti-bacterial).

I hope you find a less drastic/caustic solution & I really hope that your son feels better soon. :-(

I agree with Elizabeth F. You should not take medical advice from anyone unless they are a physician! Get a second opinion or see a pediatric dermatologist.

I don't have any experience with Folliculitis, but I know when my son had fire ant bites all over (lived in TX at the time) the doctor said to put a dab of bleach on each bite.