Breast Milk Baby Bath Recipe

From the time my son was born he has had little red dots on his skin. At the time, I assumed it was from the bilirubin lights he was under during his treatment. His skin was certainly more irritated during that time, and I’m sure the lights were a contributing factor. However, it’s now four months later he still has trace amounts. It’s nothing concerning, just a touch of eczema, but I still want to bring his skin a little relief. I have a bottle of breastmilk I brought home from the hospital that I can’t use for feeding, so I thought today would be the perfect time for a little milk bath for baby Viggo!

Breast milk baths are a nutrient-dense remedy for your babies skin. They’re especially beneficial for newborns who are more on the sensitive side, or have baby eczema. Breast milk is also used for treating cradle cap flakes, diaper rash, and even sore tatas! It has incredible anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe and restore.

Breast Milk Benefits for Skin

Antibacterial: The lauric acid found in breast milk helps reduce inflammation and promotes healing.

Moisturizing: The natural fats and palmitic acid in breast milk help lock in and seal moisture in your babies skin.

Natural & Budget-Friendly: Breast milk is an all natural alternative to most consumer products. It’s also very budget-friendly for those living small.

For example, you may not know that instead of buying constipation relief medicine for your baby, you can simply boil down prunes. Prune juice is the main ingredient in most infant consumer products. It’s the same concept with breast milk… why buy infant eczema relief products if you can produce your own at home?

Preparing the Milk Bath for Baby

The best way to prepare a milk bath is to use milk that is near expiration, or has been thawed and not used. Using milk that’s freshly pumped or not near expiration is perfectly fine, too! Whatever you decide, just ensure you don’t use milk that smells spoiled.

How much milk should I use?

I don’t find any amount to be more beneficial than any other. You can add as little as 1 ounce of breast milk to make a bath optimal for skin absorption, and adding more doesn’t necessarily add to it’s benefit. I usually go with around 5 to 8 ounces.

The key is to add enough to see the milk clouding the water.

If you are bathing baby in a large tub, you may want to add more. If you’re bathing baby in a sink, you may want to add less. The amount per water ratio is completely up to you.

How to Make a Baby Milk Bath

Necessities:

5 – 8 ounces of breastmilk

Optional additives: warm honey, oatmeal, lavender, or hibiscus

*If you are going to use additives, be sure to always check a small patch on skin first to rule out any potential allergies. The safest option is always using straight breast milk and water. This is meant for topical use only.*

Instructions:

1. Fill the tub or sink with luke-warm water.

2. Pour in the breast milk or milk of choice.

3. Mix the water with your hands until cloudy.

4. Let your baby soak and bathe for about 10 minutes.

5. Pat them dry while still leaving them damp.
You want the milk to continue benefiting them after the bath is done.

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with leftover breast milk, nourishing your babies skin is an excellent way to put it to use! How do you utilize your leftover breast milk?