04.16.08
Natural Babycare Products You Can Create
Natural Baby
The skin is the largest organ of our body - a barrier between us
and the “outside”, and our first line of defense against
pollution, chemicals, and the germs and dirt of everyday life.
Our skin is also a delicate filtering system, allowing
substances to enter our bodies and even our bloodstream (as an
example, think of the many medications that are adminstered
transdermally, or through the skin), and helps us eliminate
toxins from our systems. Babies and children have delicate,
sensitive skin, newly exposed to the harshness of everyday life,
so it’s especially important to consider what products we use on
them. Babies and children also love to put their hands (and
feet!) in their mouths, so remember that any moisturizers,
powders or lotions may be ingested by your child. It’s important
to make sure that the lotions, soaps, creams and powders that we
use on children are as natural and healthy as possible.
Many babies and children have dry skin, and most baby lotions,
salves, and oils contain high percentages of mineral oil or
other petroleum products. Unfortunately, mineral oil does not
absorb well into the skin, and in fact clogs pores and makes it
difficult our skin to eliminate toxins. Mineral oil is also a
non-renewable resource; it is a byproduct of the distillation of
gasoline from crude oil. Given these facts, it’s preferable to
use natural vegetable oils as the base ingredient in natural
lotions, salves, and moisturizing oils.
Many baby products also contain colorants, fillers, and
fragrances that unfortunately do little except irritate
sensitive, delicate skin. Synthetic fragrances can also
exacerbate baby eczema, acne, and diaper rash. Unscented,
all-natural products are the safest things to use on our
children.
One way to ensure the purity, freshness and quality of the
products we use on our children is to make them ourselves.
Making your own all-natural powders, salves, and bath products
is a wonderful way to care for your children. The recipes given
below are simple and use common, yet effective all-natural
ingredients to create exquisite formulas that pamper and soothe
your baby.
Moistuizing Milk Bath Milk is a soothing, moisturizing, yet
non-greasy bath additive that gently soothes and cleanses your
child’s skin. If your child is allergic to cow’s milk, powdered
goats milk makes a wonderful substitute in this recipe.
1 cup dried milk 1/2 cup cornstarch 2-3 drops lavender or
chamomile essential oils (optional)
Combine all ingredients and stir. Chamomile and lavender
essential oils are soothing, calming, and relaxing - a warm
lavender aromatherapy bath does wonders for a fussy baby or
toddler! (Please use essential oils only on babies 6 months or
older). To use: sprinkle a small amount in a warm bath. This
makes a wonderful gift, especially when presented in a pretty
recycled shaker jar or bottle.
Baby’s Bum Powder This talc-free powder utilizes the power of
nature’s finest herbs and to gently soothe and heal irritated
skin.
1 cup arrowroot powder 1 tbsp. dried ground chamomile 1 tbsp.
dried ground lavender
Combine all ingredients well - an easy method is to place all
ingredients in a plastic sandwich bag, seal it shut, and combine
the ingredients by kneading the bag with your hands. Pour the
powder into a recycled shaker jar or powder tin. Use as needed
on the diaper area. Arrowroot powder can be found at health food
stores - it gently helps soothe and dry damp areas, while the
powdered lavender and chamomile are soothing, healing, and help
prevent bacterial growth.
(Helpful hint: grind chamomile and lavender into a fine powder
using a clean coffee grinder, food processor, or blender).
Better Baby Oil Vegetable oils are far more nourishing,
soothing, and moisturizing than mineral oils. This makes an
excellent after-bath or anytime moisturizer, and also works well
to gently loosen and heal cradle cap or eczema. The benefits of
infant massage are many and well-documented; this oil also makes
a wonderfully soothing natural massage oil.
1 cup grapeseed, almond, sunflower or olive oil 2-3 capsules
vitamin E
Cut open or pierce the vitamin E capsules, and squeeze the
vitamin E oil into the base oil. Stir or shake the oils until
they are combined. Place in a recycled squeeze bottle and use as
needed in the bath, as a lotion, or massage oil. Vitamin E is a
natural antioxidant and has many healing properties. It’s an
excellent moisturizer, wound healer, and is extremely soothing
to dry, chapped, or irritated skin.
Herbal Baby Balm The healing powers of the herbs in this salve
are safe and gentle, yet powerfully effective. The healing
powers of the herbs are transferred to the oils, and then
beeswax is added to make a creamy balm. Beeswax naturally helps
seal moisture into the skin, while still allowing it to
‘breathe”.
2 cups oil (olive, sunflower, grapeseed or almond) 1/3 cup dried
comfrey 1/3 cup dried chamomile 6 capsules vitamin E 2 ounces
(approximately 2 tablespoons) beeswax
Combine the herbs and oil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Place on
the lowest possible heat - the oil should be warm, but not hot
enough to “fry” the herbs! Let the oils and herbs infuse for at
least three hours. Let the oil cool, then strain out and compost
the herbs. Gently re-warm the oil, and add the beeswax. Cut or
pierce the vitamin E capsules and squeeze the oil into the
beeswax/oil mixture. Stir together until the beeswax is
completely melted, and then remove from heat. Pour the salve
into clean jars or tins. This gentle salve can be used to help
relieve diaper rash, to heal any cuts or scrapes, or act as a
moisturizer or lotion for very dry skin.
Hopefully you will enjoy creating your own natural baby
products. There are many excellent natural baby products on the
market, also. Unscented, handmade soaps (especially castile or
goat’s milk soaps) can often be found at your local farmer’s
markets or natural foods stores. These are also excellent for
the care of your baby. Please read labels and look for
all-natural products free from petroleum products, mineral oils,
synthetic colors, and synthetic fragrances. You and your child
will both be happier and healthier!
