The 6 Essential Oils Every New Mom Must Have

I don't use conventional medications for myself on a regular basis, so I knew that once I had children I would try my best to treat their ailments naturally--before resorting to any over-the-counter or prescription meds. What I've discovered for myself is that there is literally an essential oil to treat just about anything! So here's a list of the few essential oils I found most helpful in navigating my first year of motherhood.

Eucalyptus oil

Clears stuffy little noses like nobody’s business. I place a couple of drops on Bean’s Wubba Nub just before I put him to bed and he sleeps like a…baby. You can also place a few drops in a humidifier to help baby breath easier as well.

Tea tree oil

This oil helps heal little boo boos. It’s a great natural antiseptic and antifungal that helps to reduce infection and provide treatment for minor scrapes, burns, rashes, dandruff and a ton of other stuff. I also use several drops mixed with water as a baby-safe all-purpose cleaner. Comes in handy with Pepper too-- as a few drops to her bed helps ward off fleas. (Please note, however, that you should not use this on babies younger than 6 months.)

Coconut oil

 In our house, coconut oil is like the holy grail of oils. Its natural antibacterial and moisturizing properties make it a perfect cloth diaper safe diaper cream, body rub and hair oil. I also used this as a natural treatment for the lovely case of Hand Foot and Mouth disease that Bean contracted from daycare. Coconut oil baths and nightly rubdowns dried that rash up and saved my nugget from scarring.

Basil oil

If you’ve ever endured the nightmare of an ear infection then you will be happy to have Basil oil in your natural healing arsenal. Bean recently experienced one for himself. He was feverish, cranky and in obvious discomfort so I soaked a cotton ball with a few drops of basil oil mixed with a carrier oil and wiped the solution in and around his ear a few times a day (be sure to avoid entering the ear canal). Amazing isn't even a good enough word for the results!

Jojoba or Sweet Almond oil

Makes for great carrier oils when mixed with more potent oils for treating and moisturizing baby's delicate skin.  Just mix a few drops of lavender or chamomile oil with your carrier oil and apply to baby’s skin just after a bath—gently massaging the skin (avoiding the face). Baby will be relaxed and ready for bed in no time.

Lavender or Chamomile oil

These oils are great for relaxing baby before bed or for calming skin irritations when mixed with another oil or butter. Just add a drop or two to baby’s bath water or humidifier to help calm and soothe him to sleep. I mix lavender oil with Shea butter to make a soothing and effective eczema salve for Bean's super sensitive skin.

xo, august & pepper