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
This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Get my full disclosure HERE.
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.
I have been glued to your page and can’t get enough of all your content I’ve made a few products now and I’m so pleased with them. Tonight baby wanted bubbles so with a bit of patients from my little one we mixed up a baby wash in just a few minutes beforehand So far so good I couldn’t be happier thank you very much for sharing so many recipes and I’m sure I’ll be back to your page again tonight for some more inspiration.
Glad I came across this as I am starting to make our health products. I use TrashPanda while at the store and it keeps throwing a red flag when it comes to glycerin saying it “could” cause digestive issues, headaches, bloating, gas, etc. is it pretty ok to just leave that out?
I have notice many of soaps I have purchased really dry out my baby’s skin especially for hand washing. Will adding avocado oli to this help maybe or will that make it less like to foam up?
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.
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, 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 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
Chantelle says
I have been glued to your page and can’t get enough of all your content I’ve made a few products now and I’m so pleased with them. Tonight baby wanted bubbles so with a bit of patients from my little one we mixed up a baby wash in just a few minutes beforehand So far so good I couldn’t be happier thank you very much for sharing so many recipes and I’m sure I’ll be back to your page again tonight for some more inspiration.
Laura says
I am so glad to hear!
Nancy M. says
Glad I came across this as I am starting to make our health products. I use TrashPanda while at the store and it keeps throwing a red flag when it comes to glycerin saying it “could” cause digestive issues, headaches, bloating, gas, etc. is it pretty ok to just leave that out?
Laura says
It will change the texture, but will still work!
Olivia says
I have notice many of soaps I have purchased really dry out my baby’s skin especially for hand washing. Will adding avocado oli to this help maybe or will that make it less like to foam up?
Laura says
Yes, you can add about a teaspoon of carrier oil to help with dryness.
Casey says
Hi I’m about to try this out. I have castille soap that already has essential oils in it. Is it OK to use? It’s equate brand lavender. Thanks 🙂
Laura says
I think it would be fine. Just leave out the extra EOs in the recipe.
Pohling Tan says
Hi, what’s the shelf life for this baby 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.
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
Patty says
What is the shelf life of this soap?