An oatmeal bath is like a bubble bath — without the bubbles and with oatmeal instead! The oatmeal you use for baths has the same starting point as the kind you eat: oat grains that have been ground or crushed into a fine powder.
You can use any kind of oatmeal for an oatmeal bath, including instant or quick cooking (though you’ll want to avoid the packets with added flavors).
A special kind of oatmeal that’s usually used for skin and bathing is called colloidal oatmeal. It’s more finely ground into a soft powder that allows it to coat and protect the skin.
Colloidal oatmeal is different from the kind you eat because it’s designed to dissolve in fluids.
It’s added to lots of skin care products, like moisturizers, bath soaps, shampoos, and shaving creams. You can also get convenient packets of colloidal oatmeal to add to your baby’s bathwater.