If you looked at my bathroom countertops, you’d see them littered with natural skincare products. While there are plenty of healthy, natural products on the market now, I still like making my own sometimes. And when my kids were babies, I made almost all of their baby care products.
Even if you’re not ready to jump on the DIY deodorant and toothpaste bandwagon just yet, you might want to try your hand at making baby care recipes. It’s an easy way to make sure that they’re using simple, natural ingredients that are gentler on sensitive skin.
Their little skin absorbs what we put on it, and opting for homemade products can be an easy solution. These are the recipes I used on my own kids when they were little. I also give them to friends when they have babies.
Natural Diaper Rash Cream- Cloth Diaper Safe!
I started cloth diapering with my third child and I’m so glad I switched! Not only is it much cheaper, but it’s more natural and much easier than I expected. I had heard too many horror stories about the old-school cloth diapers from older relatives. Thanks to cloth diapers and better nutrition, my babies very rarely had diaper rash.
However, on the rare occasion baby poops during the night and doesn’t wake up until morning or gets a rash while in the car seat on a trip, it can be a little tougher with cloth diapers.
Some conventional diaper creams can’t be used with cloth diapers. And some ingredients will even void any warranty on the cloth diapers. Anything with petroleum jelly or cod liver oil can coat the diaper and prevent it from absorbing properly. After much research (and trial and error), I finally created a diaper cream that’s cloth diaper safe and works as well as the medicated versions. For extra soothing care, infuse the coconut oil with calendula and chamomile flowers first!
Get the recipe for natural diaper rash cream here
Baby Oil Baby Care Recipe
Regular baby oil is petroleum based and most are packed with artificial fragrances! You can always use plain coconut oil, but making an infused oil adds extra soothing ingredients and speeds skin healing. Calendula and chamomile are both calming to irritated skin and have anti-microbial, anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and soothing properties.
Here’s my favorite herbal infused baby oil recipe:
Natural Baby Oil
A simple baby oil recipe infused with natural herbs.
Yield: 8 ounces
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Put the herbs in a glass jar and pour the oil over them. Put the lid on the jar and keep in a cool, dark place, shaking daily for 4-8 weeks.
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A faster way is to use the stovetop infusion method instead. Add the oil and herbs to the top of a double boiler over medium-low heat. Heat gently for 1-3 hours, refilling the water in the bottom pot as needed.
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Strain the herbs out with cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer.
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Use like you would regular baby oil.
This recipe is very soothing and great for any irritated skin, including eczema!
Soothing Baby Powder
Up until recently, most baby powder was contaminated with asbestos (known to cause cancer). While brands now opt for cornstarch over talc, they still include other ingredients that aren’t great for babies. The iconic baby scent found in conventional baby skincare products is thanks to artificial (and toxic) fragrances.
Thankfully, there are now plenty of fantastic options when it comes to natural baby powder! You can find natural baby powder like this organic one from Eraorganics and Little Twig Baby Powder. If you prefer to make your own, it’s simple and cheap to do so. You can even customize it with herbs for added benefits.
Get the recipe for homemade baby powder here
Homemade Baby Wipes
Eighteen years ago, when my oldest was born (has it really been that long??) I started to make my own baby wipes. Like most DIY recipes, it was cheaper and healthier than buying diaper wipes at the store. As any mom knows, between wiping little tushies, hands, and faces, it’s easy to go through lots of wipes!
And I was already washing cloth diapers a few times a week, so it was no problem to throw the cloth wipes in with the diapers. You can also use the diaper wipe formula solution with paper towels to make disposable wipes. Not only are the cloth ones more natural and environmentally friendly, but they’re cheaper too!
Get the recipe for natural baby wipes here
Super Smooth Baby Lotion and Lotion Bars
I’ve used my basic homemade lotion recipe on all of my kids and it’s gentle enough for baby skin. It uses soothing ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin E for baby-soft skin. For really little ones, skip the essential oils and infuse the oils with herbs like calendula instead!
I also recently discovered homemade lotion bars are an even better option. They help protect baby’s delicate skin but still allow it to breathe. You can infuse the oil with lavender, chamomile, or calendula if you want, but the basic lotion bars work excellent on their own. I especially like using it for babies with sensitive skin or eczema. They’re even easier to make, last longer, and are fun for kids to use too.
Get the recipe for luxurious lotion here or my lotion bar recipe here. Or try this baby balm recipe.
Baby Shampoo or Wash
Babies don’t actually need soaps or shampoos for the most part. It’s best not to wash off the naturally protective oils in their skin. However, if you’re dealing with a major diaper blowout or another mess, then soap can be really helpful!
If you do need a lathery soap to feel like baby is clean, I’d suggest Dr. Bronner’s sensitive skin soap. You can use it for both soap and shampoo. When my babies were little I just used a damp, wet cloth to wipe off messes most of the time. I’d follow it up with coconut oil or baby oil (above) when needed, which wasn’t often. If you want to take it a step further and make your own castile soap foaming baby wash, then try the recipe below!
Get the recipe for gentle foaming baby wash here
Natural Teething/Pain Relief
I don’t use children’s Tylenol or Motrin with my kids and I didn’t when they were teething either. Instead, I opted for more natural ways to help soothe teething pain. You can find lots of natural solutions for surviving teething in this post.
Chamomile tincture is by far my most used tincture with babies and kids. I use it mostly externally on babies to soothe colic or teething and internally for older kids who have trouble sleeping or who have a headache or stomachache.
Get the recipe for chamomile tincture here for teething and pain relief.
Baby Vapor Rub
Having little ones with stuffy noses is no fun for them or their parents. Most vapor rubs on the market aren’t safe for little ones because they have menthol, which can cause babies to stop breathing. There are baby-safe versions, but many contain petroleum-based ingredients, also something I try to avoid.
You can easily make your own vapor rub with baby-friendly essential oils. This helps move stuck mucus in the lungs and open up the airways for clearer breathing. Find my recipe for homemade vapor rub, plus natural store-bought options if you don’t feel like making it, at the link below.
Get the recipe for natural vapor rub here
Final Thoughts on Natural Baby Care Recipes
Even though my little ones aren’t quite so little anymore, I still enjoy making homemade baby care recipes for friends. It can be an easy and inexpensive way to care for their delicate skin!
What are some of your favorite baby care products to use? Leave a comment and let us know!
