We all want the best for our babies, and that includes the most safe and natural products for their skin. There are some really easy and affordable ways you can DIY your child’s skincare and be confident that you know the source of every single ingredient. Here are 5 ideas for you to try today.

1. Try Coconut Oil for both baby massage and a cradle cap treatment.

There’s nothing like a relaxed baby, so a little massage with oil warmed gently in your hands straight after a bath can keep their skin nourished, while helping them wind down for bed. Loving touch is a beautiful way to connect with your baby and is a nice exercise for Dads and partners to do to strengthen their bond- especially in the early months when bub is attached to Mum for so much of the day. Coconut oil can also be applied to cradle cap to help soften it before using a very soft baby hairbrush to loosen the flakes.

2. Swap talcum powder for plain Corn Flour.

I’m sure you remember your Mum and Gran using talcum powder after a shower, and it has long been in the kit for every new mum. Although a helpful product in preventing nappy rash, there is concern about its inhalation and research is being done into its potential link to other diseases. If you would like an alternative to this product, try simple Corn Flour, which performs the same way. By drying excess moisture, it helps to prevent and minimize nappy rash. To avoid inhalation, keep a small jar and spoon near your change table for application, rather than shaking it from a traditional talcum powder dispenser.

3. Use a simple natural balm to nourish and protect.

Speaking of baby bottoms, another product that is commonly used for babies is a nappy rash cream or ointment. If you have the time and energy (we hear you if you don’t, Mumma) you can try making your own Baby Bum Balm. We have the perfect recipe on our website to protect the skin by repelling extra dampness, protecting and nourishing. See our Natural Balm Base Recipe. You could add an extra 0.1% of Chamomile oil (2 drops in 100g of Balm) to this recipe to add extra soothing benefits. This is the perfect product to use at the first sight of redness.

4. For sensitive skin, consider ditching soap.

Apart from the odd (or regular!) nappy blow out, babies don’t tend to get particularly dirty. Rather than drying out their skin with soaps, washing in warm water will usually do the trick. For irritated skin, some older babies will enjoy playing with a stocking filled with oats. It’s a little messy for the bath, but the oats nourish and soothe the skin and keeps bub entertained. You could also consider adding some Lavender essential oil in a carrier oil base to the bath, to further sooth and calm. We recommend mixing just 10 drops of Lavender in 1tbsp of carrier oil (such as Camellia, Coconut or Calendula infused oil) then adding it to the bath. Essential oil straight in the bath heats up quickly and can burn the skin.

5. Moisturise with a natural cream or lotion

If you would like to use a lotion or moisturiser on your baby, try using a natural one, but be aware that not everything natural suits every skin type. Always do a little patch test on your baby’s leg or foot first before applying a new product to the rest of their skin. If using a scented product, we suggest the safest essential oils for use on young babies are Lavender, Chamomile and Mandarin. You may like to avoid products that use other scents until your baby is a little older. We have a Natural Cream Base Recipe on our website if you would like to make your own.  This might be something fun to attempt when you’re nesting during pregnancy.

As with everything, we think “Keep It Simple, Stupid” is the best way to tackle your baby’s skincare. The less ingredients, the better. If you have any questions about DIYing, feel free to contact us. If you have questions about your child’s skin condition, please see your healthcare professional.