How I Tackled My Daughter’s Baby Eczema (After Trying Everything)

Olivia Marie
Jun 12
3 min read

If you're reading this, there's a good chance you're in the trenches of baby eczema—and let me just say, I see you. I know how hard it is. I know how powerless and overwhelmed you can feel watching your sweet baby scratch, fuss, and cry with discomfort. And I know how defeating it feels when nothing seems to work.

I’ve been there.

This post is about what finally helped us after weeks of trial and error. It’s part product review, part emotional truth-telling, and part celebration—because we made it through, and now my daughter’s skin is soft, supple, and thriving!

The Early Struggle: Feeling Like I Was Failing

When the eczema first showed up—just little dry patches on her cheeks and arms—I figured it was a passing skin sensitivity. But it quickly worsened. Red, flaky spots turned into raw, inflamed breakouts. She was so uncomfortable she’d rub her face on everything she could reach.

I honestly felt like a failure so early on. I didn’t know what to do, and the more I tried, the worse it seemed to get. I spent hours on YouTube, Reddit, mom blogs, and eczema forums, trying to figure out what other parents were doing. I probably tried nearly every suggested product, bath soak, diet idea, and skin regimen under the sun.

Working With Our Doctor

I also brought it up with our pediatrician, who was really helpful. She recommended experimenting to figure out if food sensitivities were triggering flare-ups—so we started tracking everything, and eliminating one potential trigger at a time.

She also recommended Hydrocortisone 1%, a mild topical steroid. And while I’m not a huge fan of using a steroid on my baby, I’ll be honest—it worked really well when things got really bad. We used it sparingly and only when absolutely necessary, but it was a solid tool to calm things down quickly when she was in full-blown flare mode.

The Winning Combination That Changed Everything

After trying so many things, we finally landed on a combination that worked beautifully for her skin—and the results were dramatic.

Here’s what we do:

Evening bath using Mustela Stelatopia Oil CleanserThis cleanser is fragrance-free, gentle, and hydrating. It doesn’t strip the skin at all—it actually leaves it feeling soft and soothed. No foam, no irritation.
While still damp: a full-body layer of Tubby Todd All Over OintmentThis was a game changer. It’s thick, nourishing, and gives her skin a cushion of moisture and healing ingredients. It feels like a hug for her skin.
Then the pièce de résistance: RAW, UNREFINED SHEA BUTTER, it smells a little earthy—definitely not like the sweet baby creams we’re used to—but it is incredible. Shea butter seals in all the moisture from the Tubby Todd and acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory. It was the final missing piece for us.

This combo cleared the worst of her eczema in just two to three days, and any mild flare-up is usually gone by morning. If I notice any dry patches creeping in, I double down: I’ll do the Tubby Todd + raw shea butter combo after her bath at night, and again in the morning before we get dressed for the day.

Her skin has never looked better.

My Doctor’s Reaction

At our most recent appointment, her pediatrician was shocked. She couldn’t believe how clear and smooth her skin was—and asked me what we had done. I was thrilled to share the exact routine and products. It felt so good to finally have an answer after months of not knowing what to do.

Final Thoughts for Fellow Mamas

If you’re in the thick of it—losing sleep, second-guessing yourself, and watching your baby struggle—I just want to say this: you are not a failure. You are doing the best you can. Baby eczema is complicated and can take a while to get under control. But there is hope. You just have to keep showing up and experimenting until you find what works for your little one.

I hope our experience helps even one mama breathe a little easier and feel less alone on this eczema journey.

Product Recap – What Worked for Us:

Have you dealt with baby eczema too? I’d love to hear what worked for you—drop a comment below or DM me on Instagram. Let’s help each other get through the tough stuff. 💛