Anyone make your own baby soap/balm?

[griciai]

I've tried unsuccessfully to find a good resource on how to make baby care products at home. I should clarify that I've looked online mostly (and our small library is very limited in this regard), so it's hard to really judge the book other than based on reviews and/or the amazon "look inside this book" table of contents.

I've ordered some terrific baby soap, baby wipes solution, baby balm from WAHM mamas for my two kiddos - both have very sensitive skin and are prone to rash/eczema. Lovely, but it is getting expensive...

We are currently expecting babe #3 in the spring, and I will finally become a SAHM (yea! :D ). I'd love to try my hand at making my own stuff, but I can't seem to find a good book.

ETA: I have found quite a bit on the internet, but since there's a lot of misinformation out there, and this is for baby and child skin...I'd rather have an edited, published, reviewed resource, IFYKWIM...

HELP?!

Thanks, Mamas!
:)

Edited by griciai - 12/23/10 at 10:52am

[edensong]

Here are a few ideas for you.

EOs for Baby

·  From birth to 2 months: Chamomile (both German and Roman), Lavender, Yarrow and Dill are safe essential oils.
·  From 2 months to 6 months old: Adding to those already listed, you can also include Coriander, Neroli and Mandarin essential oils.

·  From 6 - 12 months old: Gradually add Grapefruit, Tea Tree and Calendula essential oils.

Dilute all essential oils used on babies and never use Spearmint or Clary Sage.

General - Roman Chamomile, Geranium, Lavender  

Colic - Dill in almond oil applied to stomach & back.

Carrier Oils for Baby

Natural oils supply the skin with vitamins and natural emollients, making the skin feel smooth. Jojoba oil quickly penetrates the skin layer because of the similar components it has like the natural sebum in the human skin. This oil is very light and doesn’t leave an oily residue. Jojoba oil can be used to condition the hair, scalp and skin and will never feel oily.

Sunflower seed oil is another natural oil well used for treating the skin. These oil supplies the skin with essential fatty acids and vitamins A, D, and E. The light to medium texture oil deeply moisturizes the skin and hair.

Both oils are naturally nourishing for baby skin. The similarity of these two oils with human sebum gives a natural balance to a baby’s skin.

Keep it simple.  You'll be amazed at how well just oils and a few EOs work.

Quick and Easy Rash-Healing Baby Powder

Combine 2 tablespoons arrowroot and 1 tablespoon zinc oxide powder. If you don't have zinc oxide, arrowroot alone works perfectly well.

Another Diaper Rash Powder Option:

50% Arrowroot Powder
25% Kaolin Clay
25% Rice Powder (or just use more arrowroot)

For 3 cups total - 6 drops each of lavender and chamomile essential oil

If you are partial to Salves try:

1 part beeswax with 2 to 8 parts oil (the more oil the softer) (add antioxidant like vitamin E), plus a few drops EOs (no more than 1/2% of total formula)

[griciai]

Awesome! :D

Thank you so much - that's very, very helpful!

Is there a source to go to for general safety for age related information?

Thank you again!
PGR

[edensong]

It's from years of research studying as a formulator.  For your own peace of mind, I'd suggest reading The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy by Valerie Wormwood and Aromatherapy and Massage for Mother and Baby by Allison England.

Keep in mind that less is better.  Should your baby have any reaction -- which can also occur with commercial products -- it's much easier figuring out the trigger when only using one or two oils, as opposed to the oodles of ingredients generally found in commercial products.

[griciai]

I'll check out the books you suggested - thank you!
:)