When I was pregnant with my first child, my friends and relatives literally gave me 11 bottles of milk. The smell reminded me of my childhood. I like that it is specially designed for babies, so of course, the ingredients should be natural and safe. Is it good?
… and then I read those things.
What’s in Baby Lotion?
Things like petroleum, perfume, and propylene glycol are not things I want on my baby’s skin. I also looked for natural baby balm options and found a few nice ones. There are other options available now if you’re not in DIY mode.
This Everyday Baby Balm from Motherlove or this one from Badger has pure ingredients and works well. I still prefer to make my own baby balm because I can easily prepare it and it is cheaper.
Choosing Natural Ingredients For Baby Balm
I decided to make my own from junk food. I even have many of the ingredients for homemade lotions and other beauty products.
This baby balm recipe uses:
- Cocoa butter – Rich in antioxidants and skin moisturizing acid tail. It leaves a barrier on the skin to help prevent moisture and keep things like urine from irritating the delicate skin.
- Shea butter – A source of vitamin A and other nutrients, shea butter deeply nourishes and protects the skin.
- Olive oil– Attracts moisture to the skin and repairs damaged skin. It is also a source of plant-derived squalene, the lip of our skin cells that lubricates and protects the skin.
- Castor Oil– Rich in ricinoleic acid and skin protection.
- Essential oils – You can use any essential oil blended well, but I use frankincense, chamomile, and rose.
Important note on essential oil safety in babies
I love essential oils and use them daily for cleaning, aromatherapy, skin care, and more. They are highly concentrated although not every essential oil is good or suitable for every purpose.
Frankincense, lavender, chamomile, and rose are gentle choices that are considered safe for babies 3 months and older. Essential oils should always be diluted for babies and generally should not make up more than .25% of a recipe. For this recipe that translates to about 7 drops of essential oil Total.
This oil is applied to the grass
If you have a baby under 3 months or prefer to skip the essential oils, then herbal baby balm is a good choice. Here is a detailed guide on how to make herbal infused oil.
Many herbs will work in baby balm, but here are some of my favorites. They have skin softening and healing properties and are good for babies (preventing any allergies).
Here’s how to make my favorite homemade baby balm!
Homemade Baby Balm Recipe
This moisturizing baby water helps protect the skin’s delicate skin with natural ingredients.
Increase: 5 ounces
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Heat everything (except the essential oils) in a double boiler or in a glass pot or bowl over a small pot of boiling water.
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Stir well until dissolved.
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Remove from heat and add essential oil if using.
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Pour into a glass jar and let cool in the refrigerator for several hours or until firm.
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Store at room temperature and use a small amount as needed for baby skin (or adult skin).
Use extra virgin olive oil as a dressing if desired. Check out this article for an idea of what to use.
Safe and secure life
Since this baby balm is oil-based, it has a longer shelf life than baby creams and water-based products. It will last 1-2 years when stored away from light and heat.
The baby balm takes a few minutes to penetrate the skin and you only need to use a small amount. I’ve had friends say it helps a lot with eczema and skin problems.
What do you use for your little ones? Have you done yours? Share below!
