Turn your run-of-the-mill baby bath into a nourishing coconut oil bath! Coconut oil is not only moisturizing and healing, it can replace soap and act as a gentle cleanser. Keep reading to learn more about coconut oil baths and how to use our Coconut Oil Balm for bath + body + bum to make the most moisturizing baby bath.
Benefits of coconut oil bath vs traditional baths
Traditional shampoos and body washes clean with surfactants, which are chemicals that allow water to dissolve and wash away oil and dirt. Surfactants are also the reason for soap’s bubbly lather—which we typically associate with getting a good clean.
However, these chemicals can be harsh, stripping the skin of its natural oils and dead skin in the cleansing process. This damages the outer layer of the skin over time with habitual dryness, redness, and irritation. Frequent use weakens the skin even more and allows unwanted substances like toxins and bacteria to seep in deeper, where they can cause long-term damage.
Baby skin is even more susceptible to these effects. Their skin is five times thinner than adult skin, which makes it more vulnerable to outside substances. On top of that, baby skin can’t retain moisture as well as adults, and it doesn’t contain enough natural oils to sufficiently protect itself from pathogens. This is why pediatricians recommend only using mild soaps once a week on babies—max—because they can strip their underdeveloped skin cells.
You might be thinking: How should I clean my baby throughout the rest of the week? Here’s where the coconut oil bath comes into play—it’s a gentle cleanse with natural oils.
How do coconut oil baths work?
Coconut oil baths rely on coconut oil cleansing to dissolve skin’s impurities while still retaining the skin’s natural oil balance. This gentle clean keeps your baby’s skin strong and hydrated.
It may seem counterintuitive to fill a baby bath with coconut oil. Wouldn’t that just make their skin more oily and greasy?
The “like dissolves like” chemical principle explains how oil cleansers effectively clean. At its core, the principle states that similar substances dissolve each other. This means oil molecules are lipophilic—they attract other oil and fat molecules.
So, when you massage an oil cleanser onto your baby’s skin, the oil in the cleanser and the oil-based impurities in their skin attract each other. The cleanser then softens sebum, bacteria, dirt, and pulls it out of the pores. In place of these oil-based impurities, beneficial oil is added to their skin by the oil cleanser. The beneficial oils add an extra hydrating layer of protection to the skin’s natural barrier, so your baby doesn’t need much moisturizer after the coconut oil bath.
How to Use Bubbsi’s Coconut Oil Balm For Coconut Oil Baths
Our Coconut Oil Balm is a perfect supplement for your baby’s traditional body wash.
It’s 100% naturally-derived and vegan, primarily composed of a concentrated blend of organic coconut oil and sunflower seed oil. Together, these two powerhouse oils fortify and enhance the skin barrier. Coconut oil is antibacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-inflammatory, keeping pathogens and other unwanted substances at bay. It also contains healthy fats, which keep skin feeling snuggly and smooth. Sunflower seed oil contains similar benefits as well. It’s comprised of fatty acids, high levels of Vitamin E, and other antioxidants that enhance the development of new skin cells. Sunflower oil also bears anti-inflammatory properties that reduce skin redness.
You can use our Coconut Oil Balm, which has a creamy balm texture that melts with warmth. The best way to use it is to wet your baby in the bathtub with warm water and then massage the Coconut Oil Balm directly onto their body (rather than putting into the water). The formula actually lathers slightly with water and spreads easily onto skin, dissolving and lifting away impurities. Our Coconut Oil Balm can even remove sunscreen and makeup in seconds. Skeptical? Watch the video here.
After cleansing, the Coconut Oil Balm actually turns into a moisturizer. Skin feels clean and soft, even after drying off. Bonus: You can use it as a diaper cream, and it’s great for cradle cap!
Anything is paw-sible with this pup! Oil-cleansing? Coconut oil baths? You name it! Check out what else you can do with this multipurpose balm!
