There’s nothing more immaculate than baby skin, and for new parents, figuring out how to take care of it properly can be overwhelming. Confronted with shelves upon shelves of baby-care products, how do you know which choice will be safe, effective, and good for your baby’s skin?
One way to know for sure is to make the products yourself! It’s a great way to ensure you’re only using the best for your little one, with the added benefit of being eco-friendly, too.
Here are five simple DIY baby skincare recipes for your little one.
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1. Perfect Moisturizer
Ditch those plastic pump-bottles and long lotion ingredient lists, all you need to keep your little one’s skin baby soft is some pure unrefined coconut oil. The small molecular structure of this natural oil allows it to be easily absorbed, and if baby ends up sucking their fist (or their toes!) later on, you don’t have to worry about what else they’re ingesting.
2. Diaper Cream
I’m kind of cheating on this one because the best substitute for store-bought diaper cream I’ve found is also just pure coconut oil – it worked so well for me that I had to include it! It works like a charm to soothe and prevent diaper rash, and is cloth-diaper safe, too. Keep in mind that many diaper rashes are caused by harsh chemicals present in disposable diapers and wipes- avoiding these will give you a head start on side-stepping a painful tush.
3. Homemade Wipe Solution
If you are using cloth diapers, it makes sense to use cloth wipes too. These reusable cotton, flannel, or bamboo squares are great for cleaning up messes and when paired with a moisturizing wipe solution they work just as well – if not better – than store-bought.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water (I like to boil it and cool it before using, to make sure it’s sterile)
- 1 tsp olive or other cooking oil
- 1 tsp pure aloe vera
- 1 tsp Dr. Bronner’s Castile soap
Shake well and place into a squeeze bottle or pump bottle on your change table. Before changing your baby, moisten a few wipes and you’re good to go! Launder as you would cloth diapers.
4. Baby Powder
Some people consider that familiar baby powder smell to be the scent of purity itself, but talc (a common ingredient in some brands) can pose serious health risks to your babe. Wellness Mama offers up a great recipe for homemade baby powder.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup arrowroot powder
- 1 tsp chamomile or calendula flowers, powdered in the blender or food processor, or a few drops of chamomile essential oil
Powder the chamomile or calendula (if using). Mix with the arrowroot powder and store in a shaker for easy use.
5. Baby Wash
Easy Living Mom serves up this easy baby wash recipe, a great eco-friendly homemade alternative to harsh detergent-based cleansers. It a perfectly green method of getting baby squeaky clean.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup liquid baby mild Castile soap (I like Dr. Bronner’s)
- ¾ cup distilled water
- 8 drops essential oils (optional)
- 2 capsules vitamin E
Mix and use as you would normal baby wash. This can also do double duty as a great hand soap for all those diaper changes. It gets your hands clean and the vitamin E helps protect your skin from becoming too dry with repeated washings.
Feature image courtesy of Jefferson Kasan Hidayat. Originally published on April 10, 2015, this article was updated in July 2023.