particularly hard, you can alternate water-only baths with foam or herbal baths. And use a mild
cleanser to wash soiled cloth diapers.
Green Product Guide: Baby Washes
California Baby Calming Shampoo&Bodywash is a no-nonsense, pure, and unscented all-
purpose body wash and a shampoo that can also double as a facial cleanser for moms. Formulated
with aloe vera, sugar-derived surfactants, and softening vitamin E and glycerin, this cleanser is very
concentrated, so a little squirt goes a long way. Unlike many products by California Baby, this
cleanser contains no paraben preservatives, so feel safe using it on your little green darling.
Weleda Baby Calendula Shampoo & BodyWash is a gentle, moisturizing, all-purpose body
wash and shampoo with emollient sesame and sweet almond oils and soothing calendula extract.
Rinses off clean and doesn’t seem to irritate the baby’s eyes.
Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Hemp Pure-Castile Soap (Baby Mild) is probably the most
economical organic product available on the market. Just a dash of soap in warm water makes sudsy
yet nonirritating bubbles, and you can also use it for baby laundry and to soak cloth diapers.
Unscented, vegan, and organic—a truly ingenious product!
Green Product Guide: BabyWashes
You can quickly create a baby herbal bath blend or bath oil using just a few basic ingredients.
Please note that any essential oil may pose the threat of irritation to your baby’s skin. Always perform
a patch test if you are concerned about allergic reactions, especially if you have a family history of
skin allergies. Dilute a drop of the essential oil in two tablespoons of virgin olive oil and apply a dot
on the back of your baby’s arm (the oil won’t end up in her mouth). Leave the oil on overnight and
check for any signs of redness in the morning. If no reaction occurs, the oil is likely to be well-
tolerated. If you see any kind of redness, do not use the oil on your baby. You may use the scented
batch of oil to massage your skin, though!Always use half the amount of essential oil that you would
use in an adult product.
Although many baby products are formulated with lavender, I prefer to err on the side of caution
with this aromatic herb. Suspected endocrine-disrupting abilities of lavender are currently being
researched. However, lavender has been used in traditional medicine for centuries, and its ability to
promote sleep is well-proven. Remember, it’s easy to go overboard with lavender. When used in
excessive amounts, this fragrant flower can stimulate instead of promote sleep.
Skin-Clearing Herbal Bath
4 cups of purified water
½ cup dried birch leaves