There’s nothing cuter or sweeter smelling than a baby fresh out of the bath! Unfortunately, those sweet-smelling conventional baby washes can strip away natural protective oils, and many contain undesirable ingredients (especially the mot popular brands).
Thankfully there are some great natural baby wash brands, but they can be expensive.
This foaming baby wash is less expensive than store bought, easy to make, completely nontoxic, and (I think) smells just as sweet as any conventional baby brand.
When Baby Wash May Be Necessary
Dirt is great for the immune system, especially for kids and babies, so I don’t give my little ones a bath every day. When I do I often use just a microfiber cloth. But sometimes I need to call in the big guns, especially with the babies. Diaper blowouts, upset tummies, or peas smashed into their hair … you know the drill!
When it is necessary to bathe, help keep baby’s skin microbiome healthy by using gentle products and maybe only washing those areas that really need it. (Yes, it’s really ok to skip the rest!)
A Note on Essential Oil Safety with Babies
Certain essential oils are safe to use on babies that are 3 months or older. While adults typically use a 1-5% dilution for skincare, a general .25% dilution is recommended for this young age.
Ultimately it depends on the essential oil and what it’s being used for, but for simplicity and safety, the recipes below are using the .25% recommendation.
If this foaming baby wash is going to be used on an infant younger than 3 months, omit the essential oils and use just the hydrosols used instead. Hydrosols are basically just aromatic water made from flowers and herbs and don’t have the same potent effects as essential oils.
Best Hydrosols for Baby Wash
Here are some favorite options to use, both for natural fragrance and calming benefits:
- Roman Chamomile hydrosol – Eases stress and promotes restful sleep, calming, balancing to the nervous system and uplifting.
- Neroli (orange blossom) hydrosol – Nerve tonic, calming and uplifting.
- Lavender hydrosol – Calming and soothing to the mind and body, very hydrating.
- Rose hydrosol – Humectant, balances the emotions, calming and uplifting.
It may seem strange to think that babies could be stressed, but it’s not unusual for them to feel the effects of overstimulation. Bath time is a great opportunity to give them a gentle break from play (or in our house, rambunctious siblings!).
Any of these hydrosols can be interchanged in the recipes below. This will change the effects and the benefits, but any will work.
Baby Wash Recipes
Variation #1: Gentle Foaming Baby Wash
- 3/4 cup unscented castile soap
- 10 drops grapefruit essential oil
- 10 drops sweet orange essential oil
- About 1 cup bergamot, or neroli hydrosol
- 1 TBSP glycerin
- 14 oz foaming soap dispenser
Variation #2: Calming Bedtime Baby Wash
- 3/4 cup unscented castile soap
- 10 drops lavender essential oil
- 10 drops clary sage essential oil
- About 1 cup rose, lavender, chamomile, or neroli hydrosol
- 1 TBSP glycerin
- 14 oz foaming soap dispenser
Directions
- In the soap dispenser combine the glycerin, castile soap, and essential oils (if using). Swirl the contents around until thoroughly mixed.
- Add the hydrosol until the mixture is 1-2 inches from the top. Cap and shake gently to combine.
What are your favorite natural baby products? Will you try one of these baby wash recipes?
Hi Katie,
Love the recipes.
How long would you expect the formulas to stay fresh and usable in a container?
Thanks,
Hannah.
Are these recipes tear free?
How long will it last since there is no preservative used?
About a week.
If you use the hydrosol (which last about a year) then it should last awhile. If you use distilled water though it would only last a few weeks.
Can the baby washes be used on newborn if diluted down to .25% of what you have listed? Am I understanding that correctly? Just want to be certain! Thanks!
Yes.
Hydrosol is quite pricey per batch of wash, any suggestions for a substitute? Possibly distilled water and less hydrosol? Thanks in advance!
What brands would you recommend if I don’t want to make my own?
Can you use this as shampoo?
Thank you for the recipe ?
You can! Just watch their eyes like always 🙂
I find this quite pricey to make, considering that the bottles of the floral waters are 4 oz. and you need 8 oz making the cost, for the waters alone, anywhere from $20-28+ per each foaming soap dispenser, in order to make the soap. Anything wrong with plain distilled water (and no essential oils if there is a sensitivity) in place of the floral waters?
I saw hydrosol after some ingredients. What is hydrosol? My babies are grown, so I only have grandchildren. Love your blog. Thank you.
Does anyone know of a brand of liquid Castile soap that doesn’t contain coconut oil? I’m allergic to coconut oil. It took me forever to find a bar soap without coconut oil! Still searching for a liquid version. Any help is appreciated! Thanks!
I use MamaSuds Castile Soap. NO additives!!! Love it!
Thank you so much!
Why glycerin? Is that for consistency or…? I’ve never used glycerin before 🙂 appreciate any info
I am also wondering about glycerin’s purpose and if it’s needed? And how toxic/safe it is? On ewg, it seems unsure.
Do you have any suggestions for people with hard water? I’ve used castile soap in the past and had filmy results read: horrible effects on hair!), which after a little research, seemed to be answered by the fact that it reacts to the minerals in hard water. We’re not in a position to get a softener right now, and it seems the use of one is debated in the health community. TIA
Shouldn’t essential oils be put in glass dispensers? The dispenser you linked to is plastic. Although with a two year old (like I have) glass isn’t exactly practical. What are your thoughts?
Since the oils are so diluted, it won’t damage the plastic.
I second the question above about leaving the hydrosol out. I like to be completely free if fragrance, including natural ones. Can I sub water for the hydrosol?
I presume it is not “tear free”?
Right, you’ll want to keep it away from the eyes.
I’ve been using plain castille soap, which works pretty well, but I could see the advantage of a foaming wash to make the lather carry farther. I sometimes feel like it is easy to use too much when the suds are few. Thanks for sharing! Could the hydrosol be subbed out for water instead? I just topped off the budget at Mountain Rose last week!
Same questions, can I use distilled/boiled water instead of hydrosols?
What is the shelf life like? I want to make this ahead of time, but I’m not due until the end of February.
You should be able to make it a few weeks before your due date and it will last for about a month after 🙂