Natural Remedies for Common Tiny Human Ailments
This is my very first post on Steemit!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, nor am I licensed to give medical advice. These are just some things I've found helpful, but be sure to run anything you have questions on by your medical provider.
I have always been wary of products and medications riddled with nasty and unnecessary chemicals, but after having my first child I became even more mindful of the things I choose to use in, on, and around my tiny human. I am an avid label-reader, and I was unpleasantly surprised when I found that products marketed towards babies were just as horrible and dangerous as everything else. Which I guess isn't actually surprising, but definitely disappointing. That being said, I have done a ton of personal research into more “natural” approaches to common ailments and issues as they've come up with my little guy.
Finding a comprehensive list like this would have saved me so much time and energy, so I decided to put this together in hopes of helping out some fellow parents and their tiny humans. Enjoy!
Diaper Rash:
-Bentonite Clay This is great for absorbing moisture. You can buy this by the pound online, and it comes in dry powder form. Mixing it with water will form the actual clay. I use it both in powder form, and as a clay.
Use: Dry powder form, placed on diaper rash after diaper change.
-Coconut Oil Make sure it is Organic Coconut Oil – nothing else. You can find this just about anywhere.
Use: Apply a thin layer to the rash after a diaper change. I alternate between the bentonite clay and coconut oil.
Acne/Rashes/Bites:
-Bentonite Clay
Use:
1) Dry powder form placed on irritated skin to absorb moisture.
2) Mix with water to form a clay, then place on pimple/blemish/rash and let it dry. Remove with warm wash cloth after it has dried.
-Baking Soda Great for itchy bites!
Use: Mix with water to form a paste, then place it on the bite and let it dry.
-Coconut Oil This stuff is good for everything. I use it as a moisturizer in place of lotion. Just apply liberally anywhere and everywhere, as much as you please.
Nose/Breathing Issues:
-Humidifier This is absolutely essential for babies living in dry climates! It's worth the investment, and it doesn't need to be fancy.
-Saline Nose Spray Also essential for babies living in dry climates like the Arizona desert. Make sure there aren't any added chemicals in the saline spray you choose. It should only be water & sodium chloride. My personal choice: Little Remedies Sterile Saline Mist for babies – like $8 at most drugstores.
-Nose Sucker The standard bulb nasal aspirators to be useless and they're a breeding ground for bacteria. Instead, a friend recommended this thing called a Nose Frida and it's definitely an essential every day item for us. It's under $15 and worth the investment! My son actually gets super stoked every time we use it on him.
Ear Aches:
-Breast Milk Hands down the most easy & natural way to treat ear aches!
Use: Put a few drops into baby's ear while laying down, and let sit for a couple minutes. Switch sides, and make sure to let the ears drain out completely. Repeat as needed.
Tear Duct/ Eye Issues:
-Breast Milk Some babies don't have fully functioning tear ducts when they're born, and it can cause their eyes to get crusty and goopy. Breast milk works wonders for this!
Use: Put a few drops into babies eyes (it doesn't usually burn or bother them), then wipe away with a warm wash cloth. You can do this as often as needed.
-Chamomile Tea This is gentle & calming and great for crusty eyes. Like everything else, I recommend always trying to buy the organic version.
Use: Brew the chamomile tea according to the directions (with filtered or distilled water) and let cool until is just barely warm. Soak a cotton ball or a washcloth in the tea, then gently dab your baby's eyes with it. Repeat as needed.
Safe/Green Cleaning:
-Distilled White Vinegar The list of uses for plain White Vinegar is endless. It's one of the only cleaning products I use in my house, and it does everything!
I'll just list a couple of uses here:
-Cleaning literally any surface, counters/floors/windows
-1 cup added into the washer machine for laundry: reduces static cling, whitens/brightens, gets rid of mildew, acts as a fabric softener
-Vinegar is one of the only things that gets rid of animal odors, specifically any type of animal urine. Plus, it's safe to use on carpets, couches, clothing, literally anything.
-Vinegar + baking soda makes cleaning toilets a breeze! Just pour a cup or so into the toilet, sprinkle baking soda into the toilet until you see it start to foam, then let it sit for like 5 minutes. Then wipe/brush, and flush!
-Splash some vinegar into your dishwasher along with your (hopefully natural) dish detergent, and run it on your favorite cycle. Vinegar is a cleaning boost and gets rid of most stains on dishes.
Photo cred: JVDarkroom.com
Thanks for taking the time to read this & I hope you found this helpful!