If there was a medal for the most diaper changes in a day, my daughter Zoe would have won it three times over. As a newborn, she went through about 15 diapers a day.
She has a very efficient digestive system and I’m not complaining about that, but after 15 wipes her skin started to show signs of irritation. Before it got worse, I applied a natural butt paste my husband purchased from Amazon. I applied it liberally to her tushie area for a couple of weeks and it worked okay. I started looking for other options though once I found out how costly it was and how many we would likely be going through in her first year.
In my search for alternatives, I experimented with making my own using essential oils that heal the skin. I had success with the recipe I’m sharing in this post. In fact, it worked better than the expensive diaper cream (butt paste) we purchased. I saw results by the next day and I’ll share this short story about how well it worked.
I was out of town for four days and my daughter was home with my husband and mom. They used the store bought diaper cream instead of the diaper balm I made. They didn’t know or understand how I used my oils and homemade products so they stuck with the brand name one thinking it was a safe bet. When I got back, my baby’s butt was pink with red bumps. I immediately switched over to the balm and by the next day it was significantly better. By the second day it was gone. I’ve been using it daily ever since.
I take a preventative approach to keeping her skin from irritation. Along with applying the diaper balm, I also:
- Used unscented baby wipes.
- Rinse her with water during big messes.
- Changed poopy diapers right away.
- Pat dried the area before putting a new diaper on.
My natural diaper balm was a fraction of the cost to the store bought brand.
Ingredients in my Natural Diaper Balm
Shea butter is an ivory white fatty substance that is extracted from the African shea tree and is native to the West Africa region. It is used in cosmetics for its moisturizing and healing properties to the skin. Its thick, lush and creamy texture deeply moisturize and hydrate the skin, reduce inflammation and soothes redness. It is a natural emollient rich in vitamins A and E.
Organic Refined Coconut oil It is another excellent moisturizer for the skin. Its thinner consistency allows it to be easily absorbed by the skin unlike heavier oils that sit on the surface and leave skin feeling greasy.
Lavender is soothing to the skin and aids in reducing redness, itchiness and puffiness.
Melaleuca’s disinfecting properties protects us from environmental threats. Doterra’s oil are highly potent so you don’t need much. This blend is used in a diluted amount making it safe for babies and children under 3 years old.
Natural Diaper Balm Recipe
Ingredients
- ¼ cup organic shea butter
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
- 4 drops lavender
- 4 drops melaleuca
Directions
- In a double boiler, melt coconut oil and shea butter.
- Remove from heat and add vitamin E and essential oils.
- Place in glass container and cool in the refrigerator until solid.
- Once the mixture is hardened, label, date and store in cool dry place and use.
