Bedtime Baby Lotion

Homemade baby sleep rub is just the thing you need for your nighttime routine. Made with soothing ingredients and calming essential oils, this sleep rub is perfect for a healthy night’s sleep.

Is bedtime a struggle in your home? This homemade bedtime baby lotion can help. It is simple to make and the perfect lotion to rub on your child before bed to promote a good night’s sleep.

Having a bedtime routine can be very helpful for children and even adults. Bedtime routines don’t have to be extravagant, just some sort of daily normality so they know what to expect. Children thrive on schedules!

Sleep can be one of the most difficult parts of parenting. I always say if I had one superpower, it would be to make my baby fall asleep with a snap. Seriously, why do all children fight sleep?

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BEDTIME ROUTINE TIPS

Kids require a lot of sleep and when they don’t get it, we all pay! Or at least that is the way it goes around here. How can you make the baby sleep?

You can put your child to bed, but you can’t make them sleep. Winding down and doing calming activities before bed can help. I know if we have activities in the evening and rush from one event to another, the kids don’t drift off to sleep near as fast.

I know a lot of moms make bathtime as part of the nighttime routine. That has never been the case for me. It is time-consuming, especially when you have multiple kids, and bathing kids every night can dry out the skin. I like to keep it simple and bathtime is far from simple around here!

WHAT WORKS FOR US:

We are very consistent when it comes to bedtime. We have been doing the same thing every single night for years and the kids know what we expect from them and they know what they can expect from us.

• Brush teeth, put on jammies, and get a drink (We always do potty and drinks before going into the room for bed so no one needs to come out for anything.)
• Bedtime story
• Apply calming essential oils (You can use a roller bottle or make a sleep rub.)
• Everyone goes to their beds
• Mom and dad sing one song to each kid, give them a kiss, and remind them it is time to sleep. (Kids need lots of reminders!)
• Turn on diffusers with lavender essential oil
• Lights out

Now, of course, things come up, and sometimes bedtime is later than other times. We typically start the bedtime routine around 6:30 and have the kids in bed at 7. During the summer it is about an hour later. We have always been strict about bedtime and it has worked. Our kids all sleep really well at night and I am so thankful!

ESSENTIAL OILS FOR SLEEP

Essential oils can be very helpful for sleep. Several oils have very calming scents that can help to turn the brain off. When I lay down to go to sleep, my brain starts going a million different directions reflecting on the day, what I need to get done tomorrow, worry, guilt, the list goes on. This can happen to kids too!

Having essential oils to help calm the body and brain down is a crucial part of the bedtime routine. If any of my kids are ever having a hard time falling asleep, they will ask for oils.

Most people know about lavender oil for sleep, but there are even more that can help! Here are a few of my favorite essential oils to use in the diffuser at nighttime and to add to my homemade sleep rub:

• Lavender
• Roman Chamomile
• Vetiver
• Sandalwood
• Cedarwood
• Frankincense

All of these essential oils are great for promoting relaxation and makes drifting off to sleep easier.

BEDTIME BABY LOTION RECIPE

I love making my own lotions and washes for my kids. Kids have sensitive skin and it can be helpful to have products that are made with all-natural ingredients. This homemade sleep rub is a very simple lotion with calming essential oils.

The lotion makes it easy to apply on little kids and it moisturizes their skin at the same time.

MATERIALS YOU WILL NEED

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• 1/4 cup shea butter (You can use cocoa butter or mango butter instead.)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 20 drops of essential oils (Choose a single oil or a blend of oils from the list above.)
• Double boiler
• Hand mixer
• Mason jar for storage

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE SLEEP RUB

1. Add shea butter and coconut oil to a double boiler. Place on stove over medium heat until ingredients are melted.
2. Remove from heat and allow the ingredients to cool slightly.
3. Add in essential oils and stir.
4. Place the bowl in the refrigerator until the lotion sets up. You don’t want it to be solid, just firm. You should be able to press your thumb into the mixture and it holds the print of your thumb.
5. Whip with a hand mixer until it is light, fluffy and firm peaks start to form.
6. Store in a glass mason jar with an airtight lid.

BABY SLEEP RUB

If making this rub for a baby under the age of 3, use half the amount of essential oils to dilute it further. My favorite blend of essential oils to use for babies is frankincense, lavender, and Roman chamomile. These oils are very gentle on the skin, making them perfect for sensitive baby skin.

HOW TO USE HOMEMADE BEDTIME BABY LOTION

Apply a dime-size amount of the sleep lotion to the bottom of your feet and down the back of the spine. Massage it in and put on socks and a shirt.

It is best to apply right before going to bed. You can also add essential oils for calming and relaxation to the diffuser. Choose an oil or two from the list above to diffuse at nighttime. The extra aroma from the diffuser can help children and adults sleep more soundly at night.

Homemade Baby Sleep Rub

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Prep Time 5 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Materials

• 1/4 cup shea butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 5 drops roman chamomile essential oil

Instructions

1. Add shea butter and coconut oil to a double boiler. Place on stove over medium heat until ingredients are melted.
2. Remove from heat and allow the ingredients to cool slightly.
3. Add in essential oils and stir.
4. Place the bowl in the refrigerator until the lotion sets up. You don't want it to be solid, just firm. You should be able to press your thumb into the mixture and it holds the print of your thumb.
5. Whip with a hand mixer until it is light and fluffy and firm peaks start to form.
6. Store in a glass mason jar with an airtight lid.