The skin of a newborn baby should be treated with a gentle and delicate approach and if using any products it is important to find natural products with organic ingredients, minimal scent and fragrances. As a mother, it is of most importance to me to know that the products I use on my baby are pure and organic, with ingredients that gently support the natural perfection of a babies skin.
The skin barrier of a newborn baby is very thin & delicate and does not reach the first stage of maturity until age two. If you wish to use essential oils with your baby, be sure to only use a homeopathic dose and dilute with high quality organic carrier oils, as essential oils are incredibly concentrated and potent. You can start with gentle essential oils like Chamomile, Lavender, Sweet Orange, Rose Geranium and Mandarin, but we recommend to avoid any essential Oils in the first 6 months of a babies life. We prefer to create slow flower-infused oils as they are more gentle on the skin, offering the same medicinal properties with very subtle aromas.
I love our daily ritual, after a warm shower or Milky Oats bath with bub to massage her entire body, getting into her joints and creases to help with blood-circulation, nervous system and immune-function. Incorporating flowers into this ritual for me was so important, and that is how the Babe Nectar Baby Massage Oil was born; a blend of floral infused oils that are ever-gentle on bub's skin. Flowers like Chamomile & Calendula work in harmony with babies and children with their delicate aroma and soft feel on the skin. My favourite newborn friendly oils are Coconut Oil, Macadamia, Jojoba, Rosehip and Apricot Oil for their hydrating and balancing properties.
A gentle remedy for dry, red, inflamed or irritated skin is an ancient folk-herbalist ritual of adding ground oats to warm bath water and soak the skin for 10-15 minutes. Oats work to use coat our nerve synapses to hydrate, cleanse & calm the skin, once absorbed, they help to retain skin moisture. They are rich in anti-oxidants and anti-irritants to any skin redness, itching and tenderness brings a soothing effect to the skin. We developed our Milky Oats Bath Blend designed to use from newborn stage onwards, to deeply hydrate and restore the skin's moisture made using organic Whole ground Oats and Marshmallow Root imbued with loving Chamomile and Lavender Flowers to envelope your baby’s skin in a soothing and protective cocoon.
Here are my favourite plants for babies and why:
Calendula (Calendula Officinalis)
Calendula is an uplifting and joyous presence, and helps to awaken a sense of freedom within us. It stimulates collagen production and helps cell regeneration by healing wounds and soothing sunburn. It is warming and moisturising and helps rejuvenate dry skin leaving it soft, smooth and supple. The flower is also known for its anti-inflammatory, anti-viral & anti-bacterial, whilst still providing an ever-gentle and soothing effect on the skin.
Chamomile (Matricaria Chamomilla)
The flowers of chamomile are a deep exhale for the nervous system. The yin energy of chamomile soothes restlessness and inflammation and is most suited to women and children with its soft and sweet presence. Calms digestion, soothes anxiety, boosts immunity and helps to regulate hormones. It’s powerful anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties can help sooth dry, irritated, red of chapped skin.
Rosehip (Rosa Cannina)
Rosehip is the ultimate heart opener with it’s warming and strengthening energetics. This wondrous oil revitalises skin, helping to firm, smooth and repair skin damage including fine lines and scarring. It is supercharged with vitamin A and C and is high in essential fatty acids that boost collagen and elastin production for firm, plump skin. Rosehip helps to balance, rejuvenate and moisturise most skin types, including sensitive skin, while gently repairing damage through regenerating cells. It absorbs quickly and deeply, feeding the skin with vital nutrients including vitamin E to speed up the healing process of scars, reducing inflammation, and hydrating dry skin.
Wild Tasmanian Lavender (Lavandula Augustifolia)
Lavender is the queen of ritual across many ancient traditions and brings the sacred trio of love, peace and protection. It is cooling, relaxing and soothing but also has a very uplifting spirit. It helps to ease anxiety, insomnia and insomnia. It is perfectly gentle for newborns and toddlers with its calming aroma.
Oats (Avena Sativa)
Oats have trophorestorative qualities that help to boost energy and work to restore and rejuvenate the nervous system. Oats are adaptogenic in nature; warming, fortifying, calming, revitalising, and nourishing it bone-deep. Naturally occurring anti-inflammatory properties help to sooth skin irritations like eczema, rashes and itches and sweet soothing presence leaves the skin hydrated and softened. Oats can increase the production of the oxytocin hormone and also support lactation for breastfeeding mothers as it contains galactagogue.
Marshmallow Root (Althaea Officinalis)
Marshmallow is a soft and gentle as it sounds, providing moisture to the skin, it provides a soothing and protective cocoon. The roots of the plant have anti-irritant properties that help to calm and protect hypersensitive skin, and can alleviate irritation and inflammation. It also neutralises odour caused by bacteria and is our favourite must-have ingredient in sensitive skin-care products.
Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera)
Coconut oil is a deeply nourishing moisturiser. It possesses powerful anti-viral, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal, anti-oxidant properties that promote healthy skin. It is abundant in vitamins and minerals, and is particularly high in vitamin E, leaving soft, repaired, and deeply nourished skin. It has the ability to strengthen the skin and improve elasticity. Contains enriching vitamins and nutrients to heal, softening and soothe skins especially irritated skin.