Your baby’s skin is his or her largest organ and with all the newness of being in the world, it’s no wonder her exposure to it can show up in the form of eczema, rashes, and even pimples (the latter being primarily hormones). Synthetic oils and petroleum-based products like mineral oil and Vaseline are immediately absorbed through the pores of the skin – such products can give a young liver a workout detoxifying. Some resources say that petroleum-based skin products can even hamper your baby’s ability to take in proper nutrients for growth! The good news is that gentle, all-natural oils can be used (alone or with plant and herb infusions) to help treat a variety of infant skin issues and needs.
Massaging a baby from bitty fingers to piggy toes using your own plant-nurtured creations is relaxing and rewarding for both parent and child. Not to mention, knowing you made it from scratch can save money and build self-sufficiency skills. Of course, you can always use some of your creations on yourself too.
Adding a few drops of essential oils, like lavender or chamomile, is mostly personal preference but essential oils have their own healing benefits as well. Tea tree oil, for instance, is helpful with sebaceous cradle cap, but is a very strong, drying oil. Most aromatherapists recommend using only a drop or two of essential oils mixed in your all-natural oil or salve because of their potency.
The following is a list of flowers, herbs, and natural oils that are generally safe and beneficial to baby skin. (Individuals can have specific allergies so always try on a small patch of baby’s skin first and wait 24 hours to be certain there are no adverse reactions.)
OILS of Choice
• Grapeseed Oil – light and absorbent, useful for skin that is easily blemished.• Olive Oil – healing, soothing lubrication close to the body’s own oils.• Almond Oil – sweet smelling, light and gentle.• Apricot Kernal Oil – odorless, emollient and moisturizing.• Coconut Oil – very emollient and gentle.
Flowers and Herbs for Baby Skin
• Calendula (Calendula officinalis) – This herb’s blossoms are antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-fungal. Just by picking the sunny flower heads you can feel the sticky, natural salve the flower infuses. Calendula is gentle and the blossoms can be used dried or used fresh in bath bags for baby washes. It is especially helpful for treating eczema, diaper rash, and cradle cap.• Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis and Matricaria recutita) – Chamomile is calming and soothing inside and out. It is often used in bath oils, massage oils, and to treat diaper rash and cradle cap. The flowers also have anti-inflammatory benefits and are good for achy muscles – a must-have oil for busy young bodies just learning to walk on their own.• Lavender (Lavandula spp.) – Relaxing and uplifting, lavender is beneficial in a salve for treating insect bites and burns on young skin.• Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) – Tall, soft and wild, this fuzzy leaved weed has emollient properties, but its stalk of tight yellow flowers, infused in olive oil, are most renowned for their usefulness in healing ear infections.
CALENDULA OIL (COLD INFUSION)
• 12 ounces of good quality almond or olive oil• 2-4 cups of chopped calendula blossoms (*if fresh, they need to be wilted just slightly for a couple days on a screen or rack because their high moisture content can cause the oil to mold). You can use just two cups of blossoms if totally dry.
Fill a clean, 1-quart Mason jar full of blossoms. Pour oil so the blossoms are entirely covered by oil. You may need to use a wooden spoon to coat all blossoms and remove air bubbles. Allow to sit in a sunny window for 2-4 weeks. Strain into a jug or bowl with a cheesecloth loosely secured by a rubber band around the lip of the bowl. Squeeze out all the oil you can. Wonderful for cradle cap: apply liberally and allow to set in, comb gently to loosen crust and shampoo out.
NATURAL BABY OIL
Based on Rosemary Gladstar’s “Favorite Baby Oil,” an all-purpose oil that is great for after bath and baby massage.
• 1 ounce chamomile flowers• ½ ounce comfrey leaf• ½ ounce roses or lavender• 1 pint apricot, coconut, or almond oil
Mix herbs with oil, entirely covering all herb material. When settled, add enough oil to cover an inch over top of herbs. Place in a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid for two weeks in a warm, sunny spot.(To make a stronger infusion, heat the finished oil mixture in a double boiler for one to two hours. Strain through cheesecloth and bottle.)
BE BETTER EAR OIL
• 1 cup olive oil• 1/2 cup mullein flowers• 1 crushed clove garlic (antiviral and antibacterial) – optional
Gently heat mullein flowers (and garlic if using) in olive oil, allowing to simmer lightly for 45 minutes. Cool to lukewarm. Strain through a tight sieve or cheesecloth into a clean bottle. Soak a cotton ball in room temperature oil and gently place inside the ear. A warm water bottle placed beneath the ear canal can also be comforting.
SalvesOnce you’ve crafted an all-natural oil you are just one baby step away from making your own balm or salve. Salves combine infused herbal oils with beeswax for added skin healing properties and ease of application. They are, of course, less drippy, easier to package, and very soothing. The general rule of thumb is for each cup of herbal oil, add ¼ cup of grated beeswax. Hardness consistency can be checked by placing a spoonful of the mixture in the freezer for a couple minutes – if it’s too hard add more oil, if too thin, add more beeswax. Salves can be stored in a dry cupboard for long periods of time.
HERB HAVEN CALENDULA SALVE (small batch recipe)
• 2 T herb infused oil• 1 T Vitamin E oil (usually purchased in capsules and used as a preservative)• 1 T lanolin (optional, just be sure it is anhydrous or pure)• ¼ oz grated beeswax
Gently melt all ingredients together in a double boiler. Check the consistency of the salve by placing a few drops in a glass of ice water. The oil mixture should bead up firmly but still squish easily between your thumb and index finger. Add slightly more beeswax if it’s too soft, or a little more oil if too hard. Pour into a 2 ounce wide mouthed jar or even a lovely seashell. Useful for eczema, diaper rash, cradle cap, rough skin, and minor scrapes.
You can make other salves from herb infused oils like St. John’ Wort, plantain, comfrey and violets. To learn more, check out the new book by Herb Haven called Our Voices; Our Wisdom; An Herb Haven Year available at Writers&Books at 740 University Avenue in Rochester, by contacting www.seekingcommonground.org, or calling Herb Haven at 394-7910. All proceeds from the sale of the book help to support programs at Herb Haven, a nonprofit educational outreach for women and children at risk on the path to self-sufficiency.
Angela Cannon-Crothers is a contributing writer to Rochester Area & Genesee Valley Parent Magazine. She is an an educator at Herb Haven in Crystal Beach as well as a writer and author. You can visit her website at angelacannoncrothers.webs.com
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