DIY Baby Lotion Recipes for Soft, Nourished Skin

In the quest for the purest and safest products for your baby, many parents are turning to the kitchen instead of the cosmetics aisle. Making your own baby lotion is a deeply rewarding way to ensure you know exactly what is going on your baby’s delicate skin. It empowers you to control every single ingredient, avoiding potential irritants, synthetic chemicals, and preservatives that are common in store-bought products. With a few simple, high-quality ingredients, you can create a custom lotion that is perfectly suited to your baby’s needs, providing a truly nourishing and protective touch. This guide provides an overview of the benefits of DIY baby lotion, essential ingredients, and a few easy-to-follow recipes for different skin types.

Why Choose to DIY Your Baby Lotion?

The reasons for making your own baby lotion extend beyond simple frugality.

Ingredient Control: This is the primary benefit. You can hand-select every oil, butter, and botanical extract, ensuring they are organic, cold-pressed, or responsibly sourced. This is especially important for babies with allergies or highly sensitive skin.
Avoidance of Harsh Chemicals: Store-bought lotions, even those labeled “natural,” can contain a host of chemicals you might want to avoid, such as synthetic fragrances, parabens, and dyes.¹ When you DIY, you eliminate this risk entirely.
Freshness and Potency: Homemade lotions are made in small batches and used fresh, meaning the beneficial properties of the ingredients are at their peak.
Customization: You can tailor your lotion to your baby’s specific skin concerns.² Is their skin very dry? Add more shea butter. Do they have a mild rash? Incorporate calendula oil. This level of customization is impossible with commercial products.

Essential Building Blocks for Your Lotion

Before you start, it’s important to understand the basic components of a good homemade lotion. All lotions are essentially an emulsion of oil and water, held together by an emulsifier. However, for a simpler, preservative-free baby lotion, we often focus on oil-based balms and butters. These are richer and don’t require the addition of water, which is what necessitates a preservative.

Here are some of the best ingredients for DIY baby lotion:

Carrier Oils: These form the base of your lotion. They are rich in fatty acids and vitamins that moisturize and protect the skin.
- Coconut Oil: A popular choice for its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.³ It’s excellent for moisturizing and is a solid at room temperature, which helps with consistency. However, be aware that some babies may have a sensitivity to it.
- Sweet Almond Oil: A very gentle, light oil that is rich in Vitamin E. It’s great for all skin types and is highly nourishing.⁴
- Jojoba Oil: This oil closely mimics the skin’s natural sebum, making it highly absorbable and non-greasy.⁵ It’s a wonderful choice for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
- Calendula-Infused Oil: To make this, you simply infuse dried calendula flowers into a carrier oil.⁶ Calendula is renowned for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, making it perfect for calming redness and irritation.⁷
Butters: These provide the thick, creamy consistency and deeply moisturize the skin.
- Shea Butter: A fantastic emollient that is rich in vitamins and fatty acids.⁸ It’s deeply moisturizing and forms a protective barrier on the skin.
- Cocoa Butter: Known for its rich, chocolatey scent and powerful moisturizing abilities. It’s a bit thicker than shea butter and great for soothing very dry, chapped skin.
Waxes (for consistency and protection):
- Beeswax: A natural wax that helps to thicken the lotion and create a breathable, protective barrier on the skin.⁹ You’ll only need a small amount.
- Candelilla Wax: A vegan alternative to beeswax that works similarly to provide consistency and a protective layer.¹⁰
Add-ins (Optional but beneficial):
- Vitamin E Oil: A natural antioxidant that helps prolong the shelf life of your oils and is excellent for skin health.¹¹
- Arrowroot Powder: A tiny bit can be added to reduce the greasy feel of the finished product.¹²

Important Note: When using essential oils, it’s best to avoid them entirely for newborns and infants under three months old. For older babies, use them with extreme caution, at a very low dilution (0.5% or less) and only after consulting with a pediatrician or certified aromatherapist. Stick to gentle oils like Roman Chamomile or Lavender.

Recipe 1: Simple Three-Ingredient Soothing Balm

This is a perfect beginner’s recipe. It’s a balm rather than a liquid lotion, which is safer as it doesn’t require a preservative. It’s deeply moisturizing and great for everyday use.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup Organic Shea Butter
1/4 cup Organic Coconut Oil¹³
2 tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil¹⁴

Instructions:

In a double boiler (or a heat-safe bowl placed over a pot of simmering water), gently melt the shea butter and coconut oil.
Once melted, remove the bowl from the heat and stir in the sweet almond oil.
Place the mixture in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes, or until it has started to solidify around the edges but is still soft in the center.
Using a hand mixer or a stand mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the mixture for 5-10 minutes. The mixture will lighten in color and become fluffy and creamy, similar to a store-bought lotion.
Transfer the whipped lotion into a clean, air-tight glass jar. Store in a cool, dark place. This will last for several months.

Recipe 2: Protective & Healing Diaper Cream/Lotion

This recipe is thicker and more protective, ideal for use on a baby’s bottom or on dry, irritated patches of skin.