Natural Solutions

[carolina]

Hi … I am looking for a reference book of sorts. My husband thinks I have gone totally hippy!! I am due to have my first in about two weeks and would really like an “encyclopedia” covering …everything! I’d also like to use natural products if I can. For instance using olive oil in baths rather than some of these commercial products you can buy. I’ve also heard chamomile tea is very effective in the treatment of nappy rash. Bicarb for cradle cap. Do any of you have any suggestions?

[ButterflyKisses]

Olive oil is also good for cradle cap

[jessi]

hahaha, hippy momma! :D Most of my mummy friends are 'hippy mommas' and ive even copped that name from a heap of my buddies too (but then, I go to alot of alternative festivals and dress completely in rainbow dyed clothes sometimes hehe :D )... I dont have a 'encyclopedia' as such but a few good natural alternatives for some of the creams and lotions we seem to need for our babies! Also, did you do yoga or hypnotherapy during your pregnancy? Its probably abit late to start now but they are great and drastically reduce the usage rate of pain relief during birth! (lol, did that last sentance make sense??)

Natural/organic skin food for babies and children... The company I know of have a website www.havenscent.com.au and you can order the products online, although Ive seen the products in some of the alternative lifestyle shops here on the Gold Coast, so Id say they'd have them all over OZ.
They have organic shampoos, conditioners, insect repellent, bath wash, scalp renewal cream, chest rub, baby massage balm and calendula balm (known for its healing properties- great for nappy rash, can be used as a barrier cream and also great for mums dry cracked nipples!)

Theres also products on the site for Men and Women, anyways- I hope that helped in some kind of way!:D

[ButterflyKisses]

here's a couple more:

BABY POWDER
2 cups cornflour
2 cups rice flour (not coarse ground rice)
1 cup orris root powder (optional - it smells good & is wonderfully soft, gentle and absorbent)
few drops vanilla essence (optional)

Combine ingredients & mix well. Keep the power in a sealed container, away from moisture. Dust on liberally


BABY BATH BAGS
Bath bags can be used instead of soap to clean baby's skin. They are relatively cheap and much milder on sensitive skin, especially on nappy rash and other irritations. If your baby is sensitive to chamomile, just use the oats.

3 chamomile tea bags
1 cup quick cooking oats
4 x 25cm squares towelling, muslin or clean pantihose, or 4 clean handkerchiefs
4 x 40cm lengths ribbon

Break open the tea bags and combine the contents with the oats in a bowl. Mix well. Pour the mixture onto the fabric squares and tie up each square tightly with a length or ribbon.

Use a new bag every day for baby's sensitive skin.


BABY'S BOTTOM LOTION
Use olive oil to clean baby's bottom instead of using water. It is much better for the skin.


NAPPY RASH OR CRADLE CAP CREAM
Test a dab of this lotion on your baby's wrist. If it leaves a rash, avoid it.

This recipe is for mild nappy rash only. Seek medical advice if your baby has severe nappy rash.

1/2 cup boiling water
10 chamomile tea bags, or 1 tablespoon chamomile essential oil
1/2 cup sorbolene cream

If using tea bags, pour the boiling water over the contents of the tea bags in a cup, and leave until cool. Strain the tea through muslin or a fine wire strainer into a bowl, add the sorbolene cream and mix well.

If using essential oil instead of chamomile tea, simply mix the oil with the sorbolene.

For nappy rash, use this cream instead of water to clean the skin when you change baby's nappy.

For cradle cap, smooth the cream very gently onto baby's head, taking particular care of the soft spot. Leave for half an hour, then wipe off gently. The cradle cap will slowly flake away during regular washing and combing.


hope you can add some of these to your collection.

have fun!!!!!!

[carolina]

This is a great start, thanks everyone. We have a great shop here in Adelaide called Nature's Craddle. I have sourced a book through them, when I get it I will let you know how useful it is etc. Also bought 2 Baby Bee-hinds and two of the shops own fleece fitted nappies to have a go.

[carolina]

This is a great start, thanks everyone. We have a great shop here in Adelaide called Nature's Craddle. I have sourced a book through them, when I get it I will let you know how useful it is etc. Also bought 2 Baby Bee-hinds and two of the shops own fleece fitted nappies to trial....they're so cute!!:smiliedance:

[aardvark]

I use chamomile tea on face washers to clean DS's bot, works a treat, and I have had no nappy rash at all since I started using it.

[rynosmum]

As for the encyclopaedia, try Baby Love by Robyn Barker. I had DH bring it into the hospital as it was better than the resources I had on hand there. It helped me with everything !

Best wishes for a wonderful birth !:thumbsup:

[elissas]

Also, try "Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives" by Deepak Chopra. It mainly covers pregnancy, but some baby stuff as well.

[reAllytee]

Also remember your Brauers range they are a great healthy natural alternative to medicines & creams !
I love their nappy rash cream it uses calendula & tea tree as part of its properties to help little bums with nappy rash ! It worked its wonder on bubs in a matter of hours ! :thumbsup:

[Funkychicken]

Hi Carolina,

Keep an eye on the new http://www.ozebaby.com.au/index.php
I am about to list my babies and children's range of 100 % pure, natural skin care products. Hopefully I will have it up and running within a few weeks.

Sorry, I had to do this. My first 'plug' online for my product range.:D

[BabyJoy]

Hi! I also recommend Baby Love by Robin Barker... since Laura was born I've spent many nights pouring through it for answers to even the smallest concern, from green poo to sticky eye to settling techniques to nappy rash... etc, etc.
If you are into aromatherapy, the BEST EVER book (kind of it's own encyclopedia) is The Fragrant Pharmacy by Valerie Ann Worwood... it has a large section on babies and children with natural remedies for heaps of common ailments as well as some recipes for nice lotions (for example, baby massage lotion). If you'd like some recipes, I'd be happy to post them on bubhub for you. It is much cheaper to make them up yourself than buy them already made up from companies such as Aromababy.

[kacey]

Ooh, yes, Babyjoy! I've been watching this thread with interest, and would be keen to know some recipes to brew up. I'm sure others would like you to post some too.

Thanks everyone for the good ideas!

[BabyJoy]

No problem! :thumbsup:

For newborn babies only these essential oils are recommended... others can be harmful. (Other oils I have mentioned further on are okay once baby is two months old.)
* Chamomile Roman
* Chamomile German
* Lavender
* Yarrow
* Dill

To treat various ailments use either a diffuser in the baby's room (essential oil must be diluted in water not used on its own), or just a bowl of steaming water on the floor with one drop of the essential oil.

For Nappy Rash, try one drop of lavender and one drop of chamomile german in warm water, and use to wash baby's bum with cotton wool. You can also add a drop of essential oil to one dessertspoon of barrier cream (mix well).

For Cradle Cap, dilute one drop of eucalyptus lemon oil and one drop of geranium oil in two tablespoons of almond oil (mix well).

Baby massage oil formula: one drop chamomile roman, one drop of lavender and one drop of geranium, diluted in 30ml of sweet almond oil. My daughter Laura LOVES this blend and it makes her feel so soft afterwards!

For Colic, rub baby's tummy and back with massage oil made of one drop of dill essential oil diluted in 15ml of sweet almond oil.

Here are four other massage formulas for fretful babies:
* 3 drops of Chamomile Roman and 4 drops of Lavender
* 4 drops of chamomile roman and 3 drops of geranium
* 7 drops of tangerine oil and 2 drops of chamomile roman
* 7 drops of mandarin oil and 2 drops of chamomile roman
All of the above should be diluted in 30ml of sweet almond oil.

For coughs and colds: Mix together 10 drops each of eucalyptus oil, tea tree oil and lavender oil. Then place three drops of this blend in a diffuser or hot steam bowl of water in baby's room. You can also place two drops on a piece of cotton wool and place it under the edge of the pillow. I put one drop of lavender oil on cotton wool and place it at the end of Laura's bassinet under the sheet to help her sleep better.
The above mixture can also be used in a massage oil using three drops of the blend and 12ml of vegetable oil... massage over bub's back and chest. It is recommended that the above blend not be used for more than one week... obviously if your child is still sick, take them to the doctor!

And here's one I used throughout my pregnancy for stretch marks... worked like a charm as I haven't got one mark! In 45ml of sweet almond oil, mix in 7 drops of lavender oil and 6 drops of tangerine oil... it smells lovely too!
This massage oil I used during labour which smells fabulous and feels really nice: In 30ml of vegetable oil or almond oil, mix in 8 drops of lavender, 8 drops of rose, 8 drops of geranium and 8 drops of chamomile roman. It's also good as a pregnancy pick-up back rub!
For morning sickness place a bowl of boiling water by your bed with 4-6 drops of spearmint oil added to it. Or put one drop on your pillow instead.

*** Please note that almond oil should not be used on a baby if you think they may have a peanut allergy or are susceptible to a nut allergy. Also, don't worry too much about whether you use chamomile roman or german. The german one has a green colour to it, which may show up on your skin, but I've found that because it's used in small quantities you don't see it at all, it just changes the colour of the oil blend.

That should keep you busy... I've got heaps of others, just PM me if you're looking for something specific! :D

[BabyJoy]

I forgot to say that the oil blends you make up are best kept in coloured glass bottles. If you've only got clear glass, then keep them in the fridge otherwise they can go rancid. Remember also that a little bit goes a long way!