 Part of living a green lifestyle is using renewable, non-toxic materials in our daily lives. Babies have sensitive systems that benefit from this as well. Here are a few herbs to try when you begin a natural, herbal baby care regimen.
• Chamomile flowers: for tranquility and calmness. The flowers are usually good for salves, baths, room spritzers, lotions and oils, tinctures and soaps.
• Aloe: soothing and cooling. The leaves are good for salves and liquid powders.
• Lavender flowers: typically used to clam and soothe. The flowers are good for salves, soap, baths, shampoos, lotions and oils.
• Rose flowers and petals: soothing and revitalizing as well as cleansing. The flowers are great for baths, massage oils and tinctures.
For bath time, it is easy to use herbs in baby shampoos. Use a pure, mild shampoo to help clean the hair and scalp. Try one with natural, organic ingredients. To mix herbs into soap, simply add a tablespoon or two of an herbal tea to a pure liquid soap made from vegetable base.
If you are dealing with cradle cap, herbs can be used to aid in this too. Cradle cap is a nuisance, but it won't hurt your baby. You can help by rubbing a small amount of herbal baby oil onto your baby's scalp to make the flakes go away. Leave the oil on your baby's scalp for about 15 minutes. After this, gently comb out the loose flakes using a soft brush. Wash the area well with an herbal baby shampoo and rinse gently under warm water.
General skin care is another easy way to use herbs effectively. If you find an area that looks red or irritated, a balm can be very comforting. To make a simple balm, combine an herbal oil infusion with beeswax. There are formulas for balms that can be made at home or you can buy one that uses rich, natural plant oils, such as the ones by Burt's Bees or Badger Balm.
Another after-bath herbal remedy can be accomplished by using lavender and elder flower in baby powder. Use cornstarch or arrowroot instead of talcum because it is safer for a baby's lungs. Simply grind the herbs and mix into the powder. Give it a few days for the herbal oils to mix in. After this, you will have a wonderful powder to keep your baby dry.
Use a natural vegetable oil that's infused with soothing herbs to massage your baby, to ease flaky skin or to moisturize an area of skin that seems particularly dry. All you have to do is make a warm infusion of the oil and herbs, cool, strain carefully and place in a clean jar. This is great for maintain baby's soft, smooth skin. You can store it in a cool place for up to a few weeks.
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