Baby Flower Multi-Purpose Oil
When it comes to using herbal remedies in our home, I always want to make sure that what I am using on my boys is safe for their tender skin. Flowers like lavender, chamomile, and calendula are gentle and have many healing benefits for the skin, making them safe to use on children. In fact, it was in Beatrix Potter’s classic tale of Peter Rabbit that Peter’s mother gives him a cup of chamomile tea to calm him after his run-in with Mr. McGregor. It’s one of the few teas that it safe for infants to have and is often recommended for colic.
Making baby flower oil is simple: just mix together a 1:1 ratio of dried flowers to oil and allow it to rest for several weeks as the beneficial properties of the flowers infuse into the carrier oil. For this recipe, I used olive oil and castor oil because it was what I had on hand. In truth, you can use any carrier oil to make this including fractionated coconut oil, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, etc.
How do these flowers help infants and small children specifically? Lavender is a well known stress reliever but it has also shown to help babies sleep better at night, ease colic, help skin rashes, ease fever, break up congestion, and to boost your child’s mood. Chamomile helps with colic and fussiness in much the same way. It can also help with constipation and relieve pain. Calendula, however, might just be my favorite! It is naturally antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal, making it perfect for diaper rash and abrasions. This is also helpful for dry skin and eczema!
ingredients & recipe:
MAKES 1 PINT OF OIL:
1/3 cup dried lavender flowers
1/3 cup dried chamomile flowers
1/3 cup dried calendula flowers
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup castor oil
DIRECTIONS:
Fill a pint jar with all of the ingredients. Seal the jar with an airtight lid.
Shake the jar gently and store someplace dark and relatively temperature regulated, such as a closed pantry.
Shake the jar at least once a day for six weeks. After six weeks, use the oil to your liking. You may use it before this, but it will not have all of the healing properties infused yet.
If you would like a faster infusion, you can cook the oil in a double boiler on the stove for 30 minutes, or place the oil out in the bright sun for about a week. This will burn some of the constituents, but it is still healthful!
To use: You can turn this oil into a healing salve or use for their skin after a bath. It is both healing and gentle enough to use on the skin of you little one! It can be used to treat scraps on the skin such as from their little nails or on diaper rash as well.
I like to turn this oil into a thick salve for my boys with beeswax and other carrier oils. You can add a few drops of essential oil as well, but I usually leave this out as a personal preference. I love using it for milder rashes and fingernail scrapes. It heals the skin so beautifully!
Disclaimer: I am not a healthcare professional. I am just an enthusiastic herbal hobbyist. If you are wanting to use any of these recipes for healing and have questions, please contact your healthcare provider.
xoxo Kayla
