This simple all-natural baby wash recipe is made for babies with sensitive skin, but great for all skin types. Free of synthetic ingredients this foaming body wash is perfect for both your baby’s hair and body.
Baby’s skin is very delicate and soft; therefore, using a gentle bath wash is very important. You can buy natural options, but I found that making my own is cheaper and it is simple to make.
With a few ingredients, you can whip up this baby wash in just a couple of minutes. We have been using this for our children for over a year, and it works well on their skin and their hair.
HOW TO MAKE ALL-NATURAL BABY WASH
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Add all the ingredients to the foaming soap container and top off with water.
Shake before each use to combine the ingredients.
This do-it-yourself baby wash is very foaming, and a little goes a long way. I like to get about a quarter-sized amount on the palm of my hand and lather it up before rubbing it onto the youngster’s body and hair. Keeping out of eyes, rinse thoroughly. This is suitable for both kids and babies but keep away from the eyes. This is not tear-proof.
A LITTLE ON THE INGREDIENTS
CASTILE SOAP
Castile soap is a very concentrated, vegetable-based soap. It is typically made out of olive oil or coconut oil. It has natural antibacterial properties that can help kill infections on the skin, and it is known to help with skin imperfections, like acne.
Castile soap is a gentle soap that can be used on sensitive skin, and it is very good for the face. You can buy scented or unscented castile soap, I prefer unscented, so I can scent it how I want with my essential oils.
GLYCERIN
Glycerin is a vegetable-based, odorless, clear liquid. It will add thickness to the baby wash that will allow it to lather up better. Glycerin is a natural moisturizer and will allow your baby’s skin to stay smooth and soft.
FRACTIONATED COCONUT OIL
Fractionated coconut oil (FCO) is a very light oil that has many benefits for the body. FCO is different from regular coconut oil because it stays liquid. It prevents oxidation, making it effective for extending the shelf life of natural products.
You can also use sweet almond oil, avocado oil, jojoba oil, or olive oil in this recipe. Using a carrier oil will add extra moisture to the baby wash.
ESSENTIAL OILS
Essential oils not only add scent but they also add therapeutic benefits. Several essential oils, like lavender, are great for the skin and can help with skin imperfections.
I shared a few different blends of essential oils you can use below, but I mainly stick to lavender and Roman chamomile for their calming and soothing effects on the baby.
If you prefer to make your baby wash unscented, you can omit the essential oils.
CHEAP- The main ingredient of this soap is water because castile soap is so concentrated. I like to buy a 32-ounce bottle of castile soap and keep it under my sink for all my hand soaps, body wash, and other DIY products. It will last me for such a long time because I use such a small amount. Making your own baby wash is much more cost-effective than buying a natural option at the store.
SAFE- Knowing what goes on my baby’s skin is very important to me, so making my own baby wash makes it easy for me to know what is in it. You can customize this soap to make it the best for your baby’s skin.
SIMPLE- I will admit that bar soap making sounds very daunting to me (I am sure I’ll do it eventually), but making a liquid foam soap is so simple. It is as easy as pouring a few ingredients into a bottle and shaking it up.
WHERE TO BUY ALL NATURAL BABY SOAP
Have I convinced you to make your own soap yet? Are you simply not a DIYer and would just rather buy your baby wash? Here are a few great options that I had used in the past before I decided to make my own.
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such magnificent info being shared freely out there.
I make my kids a body wash with just the liquid Castile and water in a foaming pump, but I’m going to add the glycerin and FCO and give it a try! Sounds great!
And the pictures of your little babe in tub are so stinkin’ precious I can’t stand it! 🙈💕
Some people say castile soap isn’t tear free, but I will say that I have been using this on all my kids for a few years and none of them ever had complained about it burning their eyes.
Hi I tried this on my kids but it seems to dry the there skin. There skin feels dry and ashy any suggestions what I can add. I added almond oil instead of coconut oil and only did lavender essential oil? Thanks
Hi, just a question about tweaking the recipe some. The washcloth feels thick and slimy when using this, just wondering if it is the vegetable glycerin or the oil (I used jojoba instead of coconut)? I was about to alter the recipe and use less glycerin but I decided to ask the creator instead…I’m sure you’ve tried multiple combos. Thanks!!
Hi, Thank you for the detailed yet clear description. I would love to try it out once my Castile soap arrive.
One question: would it be alright to use citrus based essential oil such as Orange,Lemon or Grapefruit since they are photosensitive and may cause the skin to burn when expose to sunlight? I’m living in Malaysia where it is summer all year long.
I have never had any issues with products that rinse back off. It is more of an issue when essential oils stay on the skin in sunlight. I have a whole blog post about photosensitive essential oils that may be helpful.
hi – i am very interested in making this body wash – but – you have a list of blends here but no drop guide per essential oil – i have tried looking for this info but cant find it anywhere – there is the guide for the roller bottles – do i use that as my guide??? – how do i work this out when there are 3 essential oils and for new born it says 1 – 2 drops – but in the body wash there is a total of 8 drops – i am getting confused
thanks
For the blends, you can use any combination you want that equals up to the 8 drops. I usually put equal amounts of each one. For a newborn, you will want to dilute it further and use fewer drops of essential oils. If you want to use more than 1 or 2 scents you can do the “toothpick drop” to get more scents without doing a full drop. The toothpick drop is sticking a toothpick in the essential oil bottle and then swirl that into your body wash.
foloren torium says
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research on this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I’m very glad to see such magnificent info being shared freely out there.
lauraascher says
Thanks so much!
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lauraascher says
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Hope says
I make my kids a body wash with just the liquid Castile and water in a foaming pump, but I’m going to add the glycerin and FCO and give it a try! Sounds great!
And the pictures of your little babe in tub are so stinkin’ precious I can’t stand it! 🙈💕
lauraascher says
Thanks so much!
Hilton Yanetta says
you have a great blog here! do you want to make some invite content on my blog?
lauraascher says
For collaborations email me at laura@ouroilyhouse.com Thanks!
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lauraascher says
Thank you!
Ana says
Can I use this body wash for the entire family?
lauraascher says
Yes! We all use it. 😉
Bethany says
is this tear free? if not, is there a way to make it tear free?
Laura says
Some people say castile soap isn’t tear free, but I will say that I have been using this on all my kids for a few years and none of them ever had complained about it burning their eyes.
Elva says
I’m 40 and Castile Soap burns my eyes.
Laura says
This soap is not tear free.
pic hakan says
Welcome thank you
gote hakan says
Welcome thank you
Jean says
What size container do you use? I have a 32 ounce foaming pump container and I am wondering if I need to double the recipe.
Thank you,
Laura says
I am using a 12-ounce bottle.
gabile sohbet says
Welcome thank you
geveze.org says
Welcome thank you
Candace says
Do you have to use a foaming pump?
Laura says
If you don’t it will be very runny. The foaming pump is best! I have the ones I love and use linked. I get them on amazon!
Patty says
What is the shelf life of this soap?
Nancy says
Hi I tried this on my kids but it seems to dry the there skin. There skin feels dry and ashy any suggestions what I can add. I added almond oil instead of coconut oil and only did lavender essential oil? Thanks
Laura says
How often are you bathing them? Sometimes overwashing can cause dry skin. You can also try my whipped body butter for when they get out of the tub.
Gigi says
What’s the shelf life for this soap
And how do you make it last longer than 12months
Laura says
You can add an antioxidant like vitamin E antioxidant or rosemary antioxidant to help extend the shelf life of the product if desired.
Jennifer says
Hi, just a question about tweaking the recipe some. The washcloth feels thick and slimy when using this, just wondering if it is the vegetable glycerin or the oil (I used jojoba instead of coconut)? I was about to alter the recipe and use less glycerin but I decided to ask the creator instead…I’m sure you’ve tried multiple combos. Thanks!!
Laura says
Yes, I would suggest using less vegetable glycerin.
Wen Huey, Ng says
Hi, Thank you for the detailed yet clear description. I would love to try it out once my Castile soap arrive.
One question: would it be alright to use citrus based essential oil such as Orange,Lemon or Grapefruit since they are photosensitive and may cause the skin to burn when expose to sunlight? I’m living in Malaysia where it is summer all year long.
Thanks ahead!
Wen Huey
Laura says
I have never had any issues with products that rinse back off. It is more of an issue when essential oils stay on the skin in sunlight. I have a whole blog post about photosensitive essential oils that may be helpful.
Kristine says
This is fantastic! I have been using this on my baby and my toddler for months now. Thank you!
Laura says
Yay I am so glad!
Amber says
I have been using this for myself on my body, face and my sweet baby, trying to get my husband to ditch his chemical filled soap. Thanks!
Rachana Patel says
Was wondering if adding water in the dispenser would require a preservative..
Laura says
You can add an antioxidant like vitamin E antioxidant or rosemary antioxidant to help extend the shelf life of the product if desired.
Liz says
hi – i am very interested in making this body wash – but – you have a list of blends here but no drop guide per essential oil – i have tried looking for this info but cant find it anywhere – there is the guide for the roller bottles – do i use that as my guide??? – how do i work this out when there are 3 essential oils and for new born it says 1 – 2 drops – but in the body wash there is a total of 8 drops – i am getting confused
thanks
Laura says
For the blends, you can use any combination you want that equals up to the 8 drops. I usually put equal amounts of each one. For a newborn, you will want to dilute it further and use fewer drops of essential oils. If you want to use more than 1 or 2 scents you can do the “toothpick drop” to get more scents without doing a full drop. The toothpick drop is sticking a toothpick in the essential oil bottle and then swirl that into your body wash.
Kaylene says
Where can I find castle soap, glycerin & fractionated coconut oil
Laura says
Everything that I use is linked in the blog post.