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Nature's Gift Guide to Aromatic Baby Care

Your baby deserves the best. Would you prefer to use commercial, chemically laden baby care products, or nature's own pure and natural essential oils and pure carrier oils, powders, etc?

Much of the information on this page is based on the writings of Colleen K. Dodt, Maggie Tisserand, and Valerie Worwood.

Baby's Aromatic Bath

First of all, newborn babies seldom get dirty. (This will definitely change in the future, but for now, how much mud and dirt do they come in contact with?)

For most 'wash downs' I believe the best thing you can do to keep your little darling clean and fresh is to use pure hydrosols, the steam distilled water soluble extracts of healing and aromatic plants.

For my granddaughter, I suggested Rose Geranium, Roman Chamomile hydrosol or Rose Hydrosol. My daughter-in-law moistens a baby washcloth with one or the other and wipes little Kaitlinn's face clean.

If the new mother does decide to that a "soap and water" bath is appropriate, I will either use our liquid Happy Baby Soap, or a pure handmade Castile. There are many hand crafted soap makers online who take pride in their pure, natural products. Please be careful to buy only a pure castile soap. If it is scented, specify that only pure Lavender essential oil be used in it.

The alternative to buying a special bar of soap for baby is to buy some Liquid Castile. Dilute it with an equal amount of either Lavender Hydrosol or Rose Hydrosol. Voila! a gentle, pure liquid baby soap.

Diaper Changes

For her tiny bottom, more hydrosols, followed by a soothing dab of all natural "non-Vaseline" Happy Baby Balm. Fractionated Coconut Oil, infused with healing Calendula petals, with about 5 drops of Lavender and one drop of German Chamomile to help guard against inflammation. Heat together one cup of the Calendula infused oil and one scant ounce of grated Beeswax. When the Beeswax is totally melted, remove from heat and beat until cool. You may add an ounce of Shea Butter for extra emollience. (A spoonful of Vit. E is a healing addition, and will help preserve the balm.) As the balm cools, add the essential oils and beat until the balm is creamy.

Baby Wipes

One option to commercial, chemical laden baby wipes is easily made at home. Take a roll of Bounty towels, and cut the roll in half, to yield two half sized rolls. Remove the center cardboard tube, and place the dry paper towel roll in an empty plastic container. (The most convenient are empty commercial wipes containers.) Saturate the roll of dry paper towels with a blend of four parts hydrosol of your choice, and one part witch hazel extract. These are wonderfully convenient for cleaning up after a messy diaper.

More Wipes

Another alternative are the large, round cotton pads available in beauty supply stores. Moisten with your favorite hydrosol and use to freshen any part of baby's skin. The hydrosol will leave baby clean, refreshed and relaxed, and can help calm mother's frazzled nerves as well.

Aromatic Baby Oil

Most commercial baby oils are petroleum by products. When our babies need massaging, or need baby oil for any reason, we use Fractionated Coconut Oil, with 4 drops of Lavender essential oil and one drop of English Chamomile per ounce of carrier.

This is a wonderfully soothing blend for the days that baby just can't settle down. Babies love massages, from the toes, massage her tiny feet, gently up her legs, gently, clockwise around her tummy, and then, laying her on her tummy (preferably across your lap) gentle strokes up her back. The soothing oils, and the touch of your gentle hands should have her peacefully sleeping in no time.

Aromatic Baby Powder

For baby powder, you can easily make your own, out of a blend of cornstarch, arrowroot powder, and white cosmetic clay. You may either add a few drops of Lavender essential oil, or some finely pulverized dried lavender buds or dried rose petals. If you choose to use the essential oils, sprinkle the few drops it will take over the mixture of 'powders' and blend in with your finger tips, then sift well.

If your baby has a red, angry diaper rash, it could very well be a yeast rash. If so, please don't use the cornstarch or arrowroot, they can feed the yeast. A powder made of white cosmetic clay, with a few drops of Lavender essential oil blended in should sooth the sore bottom and help heal the rash.

Sniffles and Sneezes

The only essential oils that I will use (highly diluted) on a baby's skin are Lavender, German Chamomile, and Roman Chamomile. However, when baby has a stuffy nose, the gentle Eucalyptus Smithii can be diffused in his or her room or added to the humidifier. Please don't expose the baby to any neat essential oils, and please don't massage your baby with a eucalyptus blend. Eucalyptus, too close to the nose, can trigger a cough or choking response. Keep it diluted, and diffuse it in baby's room, indirectly.

When there are colds or viruses in the family, adding some Eucalyptus Smithii to water that you clean with, or diffusing it throughout the whole house can help prevent the spread of germs.

Earaches

Occasionally baby's get earaches. To ease the pain, massage the area around her jaw and beneath her ear with a blend of 2 drops of Lavender and 2 drops of Roman Chamomile or English Chamomile added to two teaspoons of carrier oil.

Hope some of this info proves helpful!

Teething

Jeanne Rose suggests spritzing Roman Chamomile Hydrosol into the mouth when the baby is feeling pain from teething.

To read about oils recommended during childbirth, please see our Aromatic Child Birth page.