They say that breast milk is like liquid gold because it is packed full of nutrients to help your baby grow, but what if I told you that breastmilk was good for their skin also? Milk baths have so many benefits that you want to take advantage of for your baby. So we are sharing just how to give a milk bath and all the benefits that come along with them.
What is a Baby Milk Bath?
A baby milk bath is just a normal bath with added breast breastmilk.
When adding breastmilk to your baby’s bathwater it helps treat any skin issues because breast milk has properties that help protect and heal both the inside and outside of your baby.
Milk baths have been known to help with eczema, cradle cap, minor cuts and more.
How to give a Milk Bath For Your Baby
Giving a milk bath is easy to do.
- To begin you will want to use between 7 and 10 ounces of breastmilk. If you are using frozen breastmilk be sure to pull it out of the freezer ahead of time, so it has time to thaw. You can also use fresh breastmilk; this is really up to you.
- Fill the bathtub with water like you normally would.
- Then start adding breastmilk to the tub. You want to add enough to make the water milky.
- Some say that you should only let your baby stay in the tub for around 10 minutes when giving a milk bath, but I let them soak as long as they would like.
- Once done, dry your baby’s skin really well and add your favorite lotion.
If you would love to give a milk bath, but feel like you don’t produce enough milk, check out these tips on how to increase your milk supply!
Should you rinse your baby after a milk bath?
There is no need to rinse your baby after you have given them a milk bath. Take a hooded baby towel and pat them dry and use a moisturizing cream.
When should I stop giving my baby milk baths?
There is no age that you need to stop giving your baby’s milk baths. I have given older kids milk baths to help with things like
- Itchy skin from bug bites.
- Eczema or really dry skin.
- Diaper rash (Let me tell you this is the ultimate treatment for this!)
- Stubborn Cradle Cap
- Minor cuts
Baby Milk Bath Benefits
You may be thinking why a milk bath? Breast milk is full of nutrients and antibodies which is why a baby milk bath has so many great benefits for your baby. Baby milk bath benefits include:
Moisturizes your baby’s skin
The fatty acids in your breast milk work as a barrier on your baby’s skin and help seal in the moisture and helps prevent dryness from happening. When your baby has dry skin they become irritable and itchy. This is why taking a breast milk bath is beneficial for your baby with dry skin.
Heals and Protects Skin
Do cuts and scratches appear on your newborn body and aren’t even sure how they got there?
Their fingernails are pretty sharp and it is hard to keep up with filing them to help keep the cuts down.
When you bathe your baby in a milk bath you are helping all those minor cuts heal faster. This is because breast milk contains antibodies that have a strong ganti-infective property.
Soothe Skin Caused by a Diaper Rash or Eczema
Breast milk has been known to help cure diaper rashes and any eczema your baby may be experiencing.
Eczema can be super itchy and even painful. That is why using bath milk to help soothe eczema is a great option for treating your baby’s eczema or even a diaper rash.
Breast milk is more effective and a safe alternative to topical ointments. Milk baths are the perfect home remedy for diaper rash and eczema.
Prevents Pump and Dump
If you are one that makes an abundance of breastmilk a benefit of giving your baby a milk bath is a way to help use your milk for the good of your baby instead of having to dump it and be a waste.
Helps Get Rid of Cradle Cap
Did you know that a milk bath is the perfect way to treat cradle cap? To treat cradle cap you will want to follow these simple steps.
- Take a small cup of the milk bath and let it run all over the top of your baby’s head.
- You can also use your hand to dump some water on the top of their head as well.
- Let the water sit on top of their head and soak in.
Letting the milk bath soak into the top of their heads allow the breast milk properties to soothe and treat the cradle cap.
Once they are out of the bath and patted dry with a towel you can use a small tooth comb or soft bristle brush and gentle comb or brush their hair getting rid of any of the cradle cap that will come off. Just be gentle with the brushing; it can cause bleeding if you scrub too hard.
If the cradle cap is still present, repeat this process each time you give your baby a cradle cap bath. Be patient and keep using milk baths to help get rid of cradle cap.
How often should I give my baby a milk bath?
If you are asking yourself how often you should give your baby a milk bath, it really depends on their skin needs.
If your baby has little to no skin issues then giving your baby a milk bath once or twice a week should be enough to help lock the moisture and health benefits in.
However, if your baby has eczema and frequent diaper rashes then you will want to give milk baths more often.
There is harm in giving your baby multiple milk baths a week.
Can you use expired Breast Milk in a milk bath for a baby?
Yes, you can use expired breast milk for milk baths.
You will want to conduct a smell test first prior to using to ensure that it does not smell bad or sour.
If it passes that test you can use the breastmilk that has been frozen or stored in the fridge that is passed the expiration date.
Breastmilk no matter ingested or bathed in has some amazing benefits. Be sure to try a milk bath if your baby has cradle cap, a diaper rash or even eczema or if you just want them to have amazingly soft skin.
Share in the comments ways you have used breastmilk besides for feeding your baby.