Homemade cream for nappy rash

My children have never used ‘shop-bought’ cosmetics. Their skin was perfect, so I didn't put anything on it, and we use olive oil soap for washing. I only made an exception when they had nappy rash. Every mother has her own tried and tested nappy cream; we used Sudocrem. It was in a pack I got at the hospital, I succumbed to direct marketing pressure and it stayed in our medicine cabinet. I applied it once, and the nappy rash was gone. It was only recently that I began to wonder whether Sudocrem was really the best solution for such young skin and whether it could be replaced with something safer. Of course it can!

First, a few words about the ingredients I use to make the cream

Shea butter – this is the basic ingredient of the cream, as it contains vitamins A and E. It is very gentle on the skin and has a natural SPF 6 filter. In addition, it helps protect the skin from drying out as it contains five essential fatty acids. It is important to choose butter that is not too hard, otherwise it will be difficult to mix with other ingredients.

Coconut oil – I use it for everything (cosmetics, baking, frying). In the cream, I utilise its antibacterial and antifungal properties. You can use it on its own on chafed skin, but it will be more effective when combined with other ingredients. I have tried several brands of coconut oil and they are all good.

Beeswax – this ingredient creates a delicate protective barrier and prevents moisture loss, helping to keep the skin hydrated for longer. If you don't have any at home yet, it's best to buy beeswax in granules.

Cod liver oil, or tran – you probably already have this in your fridge. It contains fat-soluble vitamins that will be absorbed through your baby's skin. This ingredient is not essential, but it is helpful. Omit it if you want to store the finished nappy cream for more than 3 months outside the fridge, as cod liver oil will go rancid.

DHA (Omega 3) – another great source of vitamins for healing skin. I squeeze a few capsules into the cream.

Zinc oxide – an ingredient added to almost all nappy rash creams. It does not dissolve in water and covers the skin with a film. When mixed with other ingredients, it prevents the skin from absorbing moisture (e.g. from urine). It is non-toxic and non-allergenic.

Bentonite clay – this is a fine powder that is velvety to the touch. It occurs naturally in volcanic rocks. Bentonite clay has unique properties due to its ability to create an ‘electrical charge’ when hydrated. Leaving aside all the chemistry, it absorbs toxins and cleanses very well, which means that in the case of nappy rash, it will draw out the substances that caused it from the skin.

And that's it Now for the recipe.

Ingredients:

• 60ml shea butter
• 60ml coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon beeswax granules
• 2 tablespoons fish oil
• 2 omega 3 capsules
• 2 tablespoons of zinc oxide
• 1 tablespoon of bentonite clay
• optional: a few drops of chamomile essential oil

How to make a natural cream for nappy rash

1. It is best to use an old pot, as it will be difficult to clean after using beeswax and zinc oxide.
2. Melt the coconut oil, shea butter and beeswax in a water bath.
3. Remove from the heat and add cod liver oil, omega 3, zinc oxide, clay and essential oil.
4. Keep stirring while the cream cools down. Use something you won't mind getting dirty. In the meantime, pour the cream into the container you want to store it in and stir a few more times until it has cooled completely.
5. Store in a tightly closed container in a dark, dry place. Use within 3 months.

Cream and reusable nappies

You are probably wondering whether the cream can be used with reusable nappies. Unfortunately, not on a daily basis. The cream is oil-based, which will grease the microfibre and make it difficult for moisture to penetrate the insert. However, occasional use of the cream is perfectly possible. If the insert is greasy after such treatment, simply wash it with a mild dishwashing liquid and then wash it. I admit that I never bothered to do this and just threw the nappy into the wash. Sometimes, after taking it out of the washing machine, you could still see white stains on it, but another wash was usually enough to get rid of them.

Note – you can use the cream as much as you like if you also use disposable nappy liners!

Good luck, eco mums!