Baby coconut
It didn’t take us very long to learn that Liv has very sensitive skin.
I had this scented World Market hand soap, and after washing my hands with it, I picked up her tiny little body from the bassinet to snuggle her. Within a few minutes, tiny red bumps appeared where I had been holding her. Before I went into freakout mode and called the pediatrician, I quickly remembered the soap I’d used and how fragranced it was. I used a wet washcloth where the bumps were, and they quickly went away.
Since then, I’ve been pretty careful about what we use on her skin, making sure it’s not fragranced heavily. We’re pretty big fans of the California Baby collection -the unscented bath stuff is fantastic and Aveeno eczema line, because it’s so gentle. I mentioned it to the pediatrician, who noticed that she had some eczema when she was a newborn, and she mentioned to avoid products with alcohol in them, since they can be so drying.
Another favorite baby product: coconut oil.
I’m not sure if you’ve heard about all of the interesting uses for breast milk (one of my friends is convinced that it cues everything, from cradle cap to an eye infection), but since that was a little scarce over here, our go-to everything product has been coconut oil.
Favorite uses:
-As a body lotion. She says “ahhhhhh!” when I give her a baby massage -it’s the cutest thing ever- and after using coconut oil, she smells like a tropical baby coconut. I love it.
-For drool rash. When she’s teething badly, she’ll wake up from her naps with a little rash from drooling in her sleep. Coconut oil makes it go away quickly.
-Cradle cap. It was one of the few things that helped her cradle cap when she was a newborn. Now that we’re in the dry, winter months, I’m going to start using it on her head again, since it’s looked a little dry.
-Diaper rash. We have a jar by the diapers for when I lose the tubes of diaper cream. We have 4 tubes now (all California Baby, all pretty expensive for what they are) and do you think I can find any of them? No. But a Coscto jar of coconut oil is much harder to misplace.
We’ve tried a few other natural products on Liv, but coconut oil, by far has been the most-used.
What are your favorite baby bath and health products?
Any amazing uses for coconut oil?
I like using it as a face moisturizer and lip gloss 🙂
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I just noticed our grocery store started carrying this! $9 a jar! ahh… My daughter has some craddle cap and goopy eyes going on. So I guess I may need to try this!!!!! My other daughter can’t use soap because she has the eczema so badly on her arms, so I guess this may be worth the $9 investment if it helps with that!!!!
its AMAZING for cooking too. i dont use olive oil anymore (which you really shouldn’t use to cook with anyway…) coconut oil has more uses than water it seems like! if you’re a tofu fan, frying tofu in coconut oil is real real good. TOTALLY worth the $. if you have trader joes, they sell it for six.
I use coconut oil all the time as a moisturizer, especially on my hands and parts of my face- I have even gotten my husband to use it and he now is a freak about it! We live here in dry Abq so we slather it on-and pretend we are somewhere tropical! : )
Good idea! Coconut, whether in ‘roons or beauty products is always in winner in my book!
That’s so cute that Oliv likes baby massages! Its so cute when babies are learned to be soothed by that because then when they get a little older and say, they wake up with a bad dream, you can just go in and rub their little back to relax them. Reminds me of the psychology and importance of touch and affection between parent and child. So important in creating a happy, and securely attached little one. She’s lucky to have a mama like you!
LOVE coconut oil.
I use it as a makeup remover (and then moisturiser!) I just wet a cotton pad (or facecloth) and the put on a bit and my makeup disapears! Then I wash my face and reapply as a moisturiser – best stuff out there, and I had a few small “smile winkles” around my eyes, and they are virtually gone!
I’m 7 months preggo right now, and I also use it as a cream on my belly and have every intention of using it for everything once the little man makes is appearance!
Great post!
Our dog walker left an article the other day that said coconut oil on top of dog food helps with itching. Our pup has been pretty itchy lately, so I think it’s worth a try!
ohhh, I have been using Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. I will try the coconut oil. thanks
I use it daily as a makeup remover/cleanser. I dampen my skin, rub a little coconut oil everywhere and then wipe it off with a wash cloth. It removes everything so easily without chemicals. For a while, I was carrying a jar from room to room and using it for everything. I found that I don’t like it as a scalp deep-moisturizing treatment, though.
Do you warm it a bit before using? Mine is hard as a rock when I buy it. That’s normal right? I’d love to use it as moisturizer but never know how to.
It is solid at room temperature, but warms in your hands so it is easy to spread. Or you can leave it in the bathroom and the steam from the shower can also warm it a little to make it easier to use.
I have always been curious to use it as a moisturizer, is it pretty thick for a facial moisturizer?
I LOVE Coconut oil. I use it for cooking, moisterizing AND every now and then I’ll put a very small bit in a smoothie or juice, because it helps break apart kidney stones (which I have).
I’ve dealt with eczema all my life (I’m 24), and it was very severe as a child. My best remedies are to avoid sitting moisture (like drool or even water post-bath) and MOISTURIZE. I’m a big fan of aquaphor or Vaseline. They’re not as natural, but ointments really help to hold in moisture overnight. And pay close attention to skin folds and high chafing areas (like elbow creases and inner thighs). Also, be careful of the laundry detergent and dryer sheets you use because they can trigger breakouts.
We buy coconut oil by the gallons…literally. We use it for ALL our cooking. Whenever we need oil, we reach for the coconut oil. I love it so much for cooking, that I thought I’d like it for our little one…it was the first thing I tried for her diaper rash (her poop is highly acidic, and she had a burn-like rash), but it didn’t work. We went and bought Triple Paste, and that cleared it right up immediately. Also, it didn’t help with her cradle cap either — poor girl still has really dry flaky scalp, and we’ve tried all manner of things but nothing clears it up. Glad it worked for Olivia! I do love the smell of a coconut baby 🙂
I suffered from terrible eczema for years as a child and the BEST lotion I ever used, recommended by pediatrician and dermatologist, was Eucerin. It’s definitely not as all natural as coconut oil but during the winter months when my skin was scaly dry as a kid it was the best. It’s also probably too heavy for the average person though
I make my own soaps and lotions because of really bad contact dermatitis (basically anything rubbing on my skin will give me an ouchy rash–elastic, lace, leather, metal, plastic, the button and buckle on my pants, etc). I can’t wear any jewelry and was on awful, steroid containing creams for a long time, but they didn’t work well, left my clothes stained and greasy, and eventually my doctor told me they would “thin my skin.” What? Now I make my own balm with Unrefined shea butter, lavender essential oil, and tea tree oil. Clears it up in a few days and doesn’t ruin my clothing. I slap unrefined shea butter on everything, I like it better than coconut oil even 🙂
I used to work in an allergist office, and she swore by a line of products called Vanicream. They definitely aren’t all natural, but are wonderful for people (and kids) with extremely sensitive skin. The thing I love the most about it is the range of products (ointment, lotion, and light lotion, depending on what you need, as well as SUNSCREEN, shaving cream, and even haircare, which I feel like are really difficult to find formulas for sensitive skin). My skin is normally not that picky, but I have a really difficult time using sunscreen on my face, even the ones made “for faces,” without feeling like my skin is burning. The Vanicream one is great. Just in case you need ideas for other products when coconut oil won’t do the trick!
I swear by vanicream! I have really sensitive dry skin and vanicream works wonders.
Try Wen Kids for very gentle hair care – expensive but worth it. Best pricing I’ve found so far is at QVC (especially when it’s their daily special thing). Hair is AMAZING (as with other Wen I’ve tried) and no color fade at all – even brought out natural highlights I’d never seen before.
I’ve been using jojoba oil for moisturizer and lip balm lately, I read somewhere that it is the closest to skins natural oil so it is super easily absorbed and won’t clog pores (unfortunately coconut oil even makes me break out). My skin is both super dry and super acne prone due to pcos so I have to be extra careful about what I put on my skin but I haven’t had any problems with the jojoba oil so far!
We use the Dr. Bronners soap for body wash and on our faces, and the baby version on our daughter. I have always gotten little patches of eczema during the winter months but since switching from traditional body washes haven’t had any since!
Just wanted to throw in my experiences as someone who has very sensitive skin and is allergic to basically anything scented – I can only use Dove bodywash for sensitive skin and if you are looking for a detergent that doesn’t cause breakouts or reactions, I’ve used Arm & Hammer for almost my entire life as it seems to be the only thing I can handle (I get very itchy if my clothes are washed in a scented laundry detergent or use scented body washes). I would also be careful about using the coconut oil for diaper rash. That “area” of the body is especially sensitive and many products can cause yeast infections – even in babies. Products containing sugar are particularly problematic. I don’t know for sure but since coconut oil comes from a fruit, I would imagine there is some fructose in it. I’m cringing just thinking about!
thank you for the tips! from what i’ve read, coconut oil helps fight yeast- the ped said it was totally safe to use
Something to try for cradle cap: During bath time, when you shampoo her, gently scrub her head with a baby brush. Then rinse. Our ped gave us that tip before our son was born. We’ve been doing it since birth and we haven’t had a problem so far.
We’ve also had a little problem with dry skin the last month or so due to the cold. We’ve started putting extra lotion on him a few times a day and his skin is baby soft again!
I mix a little coconut oil and some corn meal and make a face scrub that works wonders. I do it before bed twice a week and even after rinsing it off, the coconut oil stays on and moisturizes all night long so my face looks so good in the morning.
My son is mixed so after I wash his hair I always put coconut oil on it and also between washes so it doesn’t get too dry. And since we live up north and he has eczema and super sensitive skin, I put it on him every morning and night and it works perfectly! Love that stuff
So far I’ve only used coconut oil to cook with, but I have heard of all the other uses it has as well. Maybe it would be helpful for my oldest daughter’s psoriasis? Anyone use it for that before and if so, what was your experience?
I have wanted to use coconut oil as a moisturizer for a long time now but I have this fear that it will get all over my clothes and other things and not come out in the wash. Is this the case?
Sarah, I’m in the same boat. I bought a jar of coconut oil on Amazon but haven’t cracked it open yet. I’m really worried I’ll ruin clothing if I use the oil all over as a moisturizer. And also, it’s hard as a rock. I’m kind of baffled at what to do with my jar! But I have super dry skin, exzema, etc, so I need to try it.
Any tips, anyone?
The key is to put the coconut oil on your skin when it is still a bit wet/damp. If you do that it will not be greasy at all when it dries, and if you can keep your towel or a robe on until then, you will not ruin any clothes. I usually put my jar of coconut oil in a bowl of warm tap water when I get in the shower. By the time I get it has begun to liquify and I can pour out what I need into my hand. But you can also scoop out just a little and after you rub your hands together a few times it begins to melt.
Thanks so much for the tips, Jennifer! Really appreciated (-:
I am an evening shower-er, so I can totally try the take-my-time method of waiting around for the oil to absorb into my skin before getting dressed.
I’ll give it a shot! I’m excited to see how much it might help my awful winter skin.
Thanks again!
I’ve been eyeing that giant Costco jar but I’ve had a small jar for years and I’m just not sure what I’d do with it. Being Italian, I cook with olive oil exclusively. I do like the taste of coconut oil but there are those who say tropical oils are bad fats. I try to rub it on my feet at night but I just feel like I’m getting food oil everywhere. Maybe I’ll try it by the shower. I love the smell.
I used coconut oil on my entire body when I was looking for an organic moisturizer during pregnancy. I loved it so much I’m hooked now! When its hard I use my thumb nail to scoop out a bit then rub it between my hands and it spreads fine. I did find it a bit greasy in summertime when I was often sweating the minute I got out of the shower – but I’ve since learned the correct amount to use for my body. It could’ve just been luck but I escaped pregnancy without a single stretch mark. Gooo coconut oil! Although mine is WF 365 brand and there is no smell (I wish there was!)
that’s awesome!
i escaped pregnancy without a single stretch mark, too. it was a few weeks after the birth when the creepers decided to show up :/
I know this is an older post but i wanted to say that breast milk has an infinite amount of uses! I have used ut for eye infection, diaper rash, a sun burn ( on myself), craddle cap… the list goes on! My friend even used it to treat her babys ear infection so she didnt have to use antibiotics! I use coconut oil too, but breast milk is awesome! I will be sad when i stop nursing! Oh and the commisary has coconut oil for $4.49 a jar!