Homemade Baby Balm Skin Cream Recipe

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Homemade baby balm recipe with all natural ingredients
Wellness Mama » Blog » Motherhood » Homemade Baby Balm Skin Cream Recipe

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was given literally 11 bottles of baby lotion by friends and relatives. The smell reminded me of my own childhood and I loved that it was a lotion specially formulated for baby. I figured all of the ingredients must be natural and safe since it was for babies after all… and then I actually read the ingredients.

What’s in Baby Lotion?

I wondered why things like propylene glycol, parabens, artificial fragrances, synthetic waxes, and petroleum-based oils were considered safe for children. Turns out, they aren’t considered safe for children and the products I’d been given had a hazard rating of 5-6 on the EWG website and had “moderate risk of allergies and immunotoxicity as well as reproductive and developmental toxins.

I definitely wasn’t going to put that on my baby, so I started looking for natural options. I found some great ones, but also found out that most of them were pretty expensive.

Baby Balm Skin Cream Recipe

I decided to try to make my own from all natural, food safe ingredients and this ended up being less expensive for me anyway since I had many of these ingredients on hand for my homemade lotion bars and other homemade beauty products.

Choosing Natural Ingredients

Instead of propylene glycol, parabens and synthetic ingredients, I wanted to find all-natural ingredients to put on my baby’s skin and I wanted them to even be safe enough to eat!

I decided to use:

I loved that this recipe is completely oil-based with shelf stable ingredients. Since no liquid is added, it has an indefinite shelf life and will last for months or years. It takes a few minutes to absorb in to skin and only a tiny bit is needed. I’ve had friends say that this was incredibly helpful for eczema and skin problems as well.

Baby Balm Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup cocoa butter (or 32 cocoa butter wafers)
  • 1/4 cup shea butter
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 Tablespoon castor oil
  • Essential oils of choice. I used 15 drops each of Frankincense, Myrrh, Chamomile and Rose.

Baby Balm Instructions

  1. Heat all ingredients (except essential oils) in a double boiler or in a glass jar or bowl over a small pan of boiling water.
  2. Stir carefully until melted.
  3. Remove from heat and add essential oils if using.
  4. Pour in to a glass jar for storage.
  5. Use a small amount as needed for baby’s skin (or adult skin)

What did you use on your little ones? Ever made your own? Share below!
This natural homemade baby balm combines skin nourishing cocoa butter, shea butter, olive oil and castor oil with essential oils for a baby safe lotion.

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Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

138 responses to “Homemade Baby Balm Skin Cream Recipe”

  1. Bev Avatar

    Hi, I have contact dermatitis and am currently in process of trying to figure out what my skin is reacting to. I am also wanting to begin making my own products so I know exactly what is (or isn’t) in them. I think I am reacting to essential oils. I’m wondering about leaving them out of this recipe but not sure if I will be removing many of the healing soothing proper in the balm if I do? Any advice please? Thanks.

  2. A.S. Avatar

    I made this and it works great as a balm! However it did not help with my baby’s excema as I hoped.

  3. Sujata Avatar

    Hi Katie, how much is 1/4 cup as the size of the cups vary? Can you please give other measurement for cup. Thanks.

    1. Katie Wells Avatar

      In the US, a cup is an understood unit of measure but it is roughly the same as 34 grams or 1.2-2 ounces depending on the substance.

  4. Nicole Avatar

    Can you substitute Castor oil for apricot or grapeseed or hemp oil?

  5. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    Just wondering whether this is suitable for newborns? Thanks 🙂

  6. Lucinda Avatar

    Hi Katie,
    Do I understand correctly that you use 60 drops total of essential oils? I thought for babies only a very small amount was best.. I’m just making it now, and put in 22 drops total, and I’m worried that even that is too much! I used chamomile and rose geranium, because I didn’t have any of the ones you listed.
    I just want to double check, as this is for a very precious baby grandaughter.
    Thank you so much!

  7. Kelsey Avatar

    Is it okay to use your lotion bar recipe on babies as well? I’ve been making lotion bars with Shea butter, cocoa butter, beeswax, and coconut oil.

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