Homemade Diaper Rash Cream Recipe

Heather Dessinger

This post contains affiliate links.
Click here to read my affiliate policy.
homemade-diaper-rash-cream-bottom-balm

As I mentioned in this post on decoding diaper rash, creating a protective moisture barrier is one of the best ways to soothe an irritated tushie. Unlike its popular commercial counterpart, this homemade diaper rash cream doesn’t contain skin irritants like petrolatum, dimethicone, or mineral oil.

One quick note for cloth diapering mamas before we jump in: Although it is possible, this recipe is very difficult to get out of cloth diapers. If you want to stick with cloth diapers I recommend going with this clay-based diaper cream, tallow balm, or calendula salve along with a layer of homemade baby powder over the top after application.

If you opt for the recipe below, I recommend using eco-friendli(er) disposable diapers during the treatment process and thoroughly disinfecting the diapers to prevent possible reinfection. A link to instructions can be found in this post under dealing with yeast rashes.

Another option would be to use a liner within the diaper, like cut up old t-shirts and then washing them separately. If you want to skip the liners AND stick with cloth diapers, I recommend using straight coconut oil or tallow balm along my homemade baby powder.

Should essential oils be added?

As I shared in Safe Essential Oils For Babies And Children, I personally would not apply essential oils topically to a child under three months old, and I only consider topical application for children under two when there is a true reason.

According to Robert Tisserand, who co-authored Essential Oil Safety:

Great caution is necessary for infants. Since neonatal skin does not mature until three months of age, it is more sensitive and more permeable to essential oils. A newborn is also less equipped to deal with any adverse effect than an adult because of a lower metabolic capacity, i.e., enzymes present in lower concentrations. These cautions apply even more to premature babies, and here it would be prudent to avoid use of all essential oils.”

In the recipe below, I’ve diluted the essential oils to 0.25% – the recommended amount for children from 3-24 months. However, in some cases it may be appropriate to use the maximum amount recommended, which is 0.5% (double the number of drops). Or you can skip them completely – it’s up to you!

homemade-diaper-rash-cream-zinc-bottom-balm

Homemade Diaper Rash Cream – Soothing Bottom Balm

Ingredients

To Make

Place all ingredients in a glass bowl and whip with a hand mixer until well combined. Store in a clean glass jar.

To Use

Apply with clean hands as needed. I usually sprinkle a little homemade baby powder over the area as well.

Shelf Life

Up to 1 year if kept in a tightly sealed container, though the therapeutic benefits of the essential oils will be most effective if used within 6 months.

Want more research-backed natural remedies?

No problem, I’ve created a free ebook for you – Kitchen Apothecary: 25+ Natural Remedies Using Ingredients From Your Pantry – as a gift for signing up for my newsletter. You’ll also get updates when I post about safe essential oils for pregnant/breastfeeding mamas, exclusive gifts and coupons (I was able to give away a jar of free coconut oil to anyone who wanted it recently!), plus other goodies.

Sign up using the form below.

Related Posts

About HEATHER

Heather is a holistic health educator, herbalist, DIYer, Lyme and mold warrior. Since founding Mommypotamus.com in 2009, Heather has been taking complicated health research and making it easy to understand. She shares tested natural recipes and herbal remedies with millions of naturally minded mamas around the world. 

Leave a Comment

9 thoughts on “Homemade Diaper Rash Cream Recipe”

  1. Hi This recipe sounds fantastic. I really want to make my own cream because the one I’ve been using is pricey (and only mildly effective). My only concern is that once I buy all of the ingredients to make this, there’s a chance of it not working well for my baby, so I might be stuck with a bunch of ingredients I wouldn’t otherwise use…Any thoughts?

    Reply
  2. I love this recipe! Will you please recommend a preferred way to clean the glass bowl and mixer beaters used to make this? The zinc oxide made it really hard to clean. Thank you!

    Reply