Guest Post by Sara of Your Thriving Family
We have dealt with a lot eczema with my oldest daughter. To keep it in check, and to help all the cuts and scrapes little kids get I turned to some more natural ways to do bath time. I have bought most every commercial eczema solution available. And after six years of this, I now use good old epsom salt, castille soap and a few essential oils.
I recently started buying our salts at the feed store, it is the cheapest I have found and it is safe to feed to animals, looks the same as the small bags at the store as well. I use the baby mild unscented Dr. Bronner’s soap. Just a small squirt in the tub will do ya!
To that I add 3 drops each of lavender oil and melaleuca oil. Occasionally I will add a few drops of jojoba, almond or rose hip oil as well – depending on how inflamed the children’s skin is. If it is really bad, I rub some coconut oil into the problem areas before getting them into the bathtub.
A note on the essential oils to use . . . since this is being used topically be sure to use a quality oil. The cheaper, often less pure, oils can burn skin which defeats putting them in the bath in the first place. Personally I have chosen to use this brand for anything I am putting on or in our bodies. The others I use for cleaning and for bug spray.
Then, I let them play and soak away! The longer they play, the better for their skin! And the more I get done 🙂
I have also eliminated any bath toys that retain water. Ones that cannot totally dry out can house many kinds of bacteria and irritate skin, or even make your little ones sick if they decide it is fun to squirt it in their mouths!
We use homemade soap now, as well and what I lovingly call Owie Balm after our bath, along with normal lotion. Our next step is to start making our own shampoo.
This routine doesn’t heal the eczema but it keeps it under control. There are always underlying reasons for irritations. It may be something as simple as the commercial products you are using, whether it be soap, lotion or laundry detergent. If you have eliminated all these it may be dietary.
For my daughter we found the solution to be our laundry detergent. We’ve been using a eco-friendly brand for more than 4 years and things have completely cleared up. Though she is still sensitive to lots of things, as is our youngest, it is best to get on top of those as soon as you see them!
What sorts of things do you add to your bath water?
Sara is a mama to three precious gifts and wife to a man who lovingly calls her “his nutter.” She started pushing her family into real food a few months after she started blogging. They will forever be on the road to real food and natural health.
Balancing art and logic in her daily life and work, God’s balance of creation and healing is quite clear to her. She loves creating, experimenting, and learning. Whether it be food, health or crafting. She is navigating her family through healthy frugality – trying to THRIVE, not merely survive this life. She shares this journey at Your Thriving Family. You can also connect with her on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook.
My son loves his bath time. He is a fish! I do get a lot done when he’s in there playing. I use dried organic herbs to soften the water and his skin. I may try adding the oils instead next time!