Baking Soda for Babies – Benefits and Ways to Use

Baking soda is one ingredient in your kitchen that is a great home remedy for a lot of your baby’s skin problems. We are still not aware of the various benefits and uses of baking soda. let’s look at a few below.

Ways to Use Baking Soda for Babies

There are several ways to use baking soda for your baby, including:

1.  Bathing

Baking soda is of a great use in the bath to relieve itchiness or skin problems faced by adults and as well as babies . Add a few tablespoons of baking soda to your baby’s bath to relieve a nasty diaper rash. You can add a cup to your own bath to get smoother skin. Baking soda for baby acne is also beneficial.

2. Cleaning Feeding Bottles

To remove formula buildup from your baby’s bottle, soak it along with the rings and nipples overnight in a baking soda solution made by adding 4 tablespoons to 1 quart of warm water. Wash with hot water and soap the next day, dry and use.

3. Washing Clothes

If your home gets hard water, add a ½ cup of baking soda to one laundry load in your washing machine. This will make your clothes soft and  smell fresh. Baking soda also helps to coax out tough stains.

4. Airing Diaper Pails

Sprinkle a good amount of baking soda in your diaper pails, whether you use disposable or cloth diapers. The soda helps negate the odour till the time you dispose or clean the diapers. It also helps coat the diapers with baking soda till they go in for a wash.

5. Refresh Stuffed Toys

Sprinkle some baking soda on stuffed toys to remove any odour. keep it  for 15 minutes and then vacuum or brush the soda off.

6. Clean Toys

Mix 1 quart of warm water with 4 tablespoons of baking soda. Dip a cloth into this solution and wipe your baby’s toys to clean them. Rinse the toys with warm water later. This will remove any odour or dust from them.

7. Keep Ammonia Burns at Bay

Sometimes a baby gets ammonia burns, thanks to overnight diapers! . Sprinkling baking soda in your baby’s diaper before your baby goes to sleep at night can greatly reduce burns and the ammonia smell in the morning.

8. No more Cradle Cap

Baking soda can act as a mild exfoliating agent. Mix some baking soda and baby oil to make a paste and rub some on your baby’s scalp. This will brush away flakes of cradle cap.

9. Remove Crayon from the Walls

If your baby has scribbled all over the wall with a crayon, just rub the wall with wet sponge ,with baking soda on it and you can remove the crayon stains without taking off the paint.

10. Clean Baby’s Face after Eating

Sprinkle baking soda on a moist cloth and use it to gently rub the baby’s face, mouth, and hands after feeding the baby. This will remove any food odour and will keep your baby fresh throughout the day. Baking soda for baby’s gas problems is also helpful.

What are the Benefits of Using Baking Soda in your Baby’s Bath?

Many parents might not realize what benefits adding 2 or 3 tablespoons of baking soda to your baby’s bath can bring about. Here are 7 important benefits of a baking soda bath for toddlers:

1. Reduces Diaper Rash

Diaper rash is a condition many babies face and it can be painful and irritating for them. A baking soda bath for baby diaper rash is a well-known home remedy to relieve itchiness. Bathe for child three times a day for ten minutes in a warm bath with baking soda added , gives him  relief.

2. Reduces Itchy and Dry Skin

Baking soda is known to relieve itchy skin due to its property to remove oil, dirt and sweat which may be the cause of itchiness to your baby’s soft skin. You can mix baking soda with few drops of essential oil and add it to your baby’s bath for an added calming effect.

3. Helps Eczema

A baking soda bath for baby eczema can help manage and reduce the symptoms. It can make your baby’s skin soft along with cleansing it gently. It will also remove the irritation experienced from eczema.

4. Helps Treat Constipation

Constipation is a common condition faced by babies, which causes them to develop problems in passing hard stool . Adding baking soda to their baths can greatly relieve the pain symptoms, by making them relax and help them pass softer stools. Baking soda for babies with reflux is also helpful to reduce the acidity problems.

5. Takes Away Bad Odour and Balances pH Levels

If your baby has been sitting with an overnight wet diaper for long, it’s bound to smell and make your baby  uncomfortable. Add a little baking soda to your baby’s bath to dissipate the bad smells. The reason for this is that since baking soda is alkaline in nature, it will neutralise any bad smell from the diaper and refresh your baby.

6. Helps for Better Sleep

Sleep will come better to your baby is she is comfortable and clean. Bathe your baby in warm water with baking soda before putting her to bed, and she will sleep soundly throughout the night.

7. Reduces Bacteria and Detoxes Skin

Baking soda has antibacterial and antifungal properties as it is alkaline in nature. You don’t need scrubbing or harsh soaps to clean your baby’s skin. Especially if it is very sensitive and soft,just add a few tablespoons of baking soda to your baby’s bath to gently cleanse the skin.

Although baking soda has many, many benefits, it is not recommended to use for long periods of time. You may be tempted to use it often if your baby has skin problems, but it is better to restrict its use. Make sure to always bathe your baby in a highly diluted bath containing baking soda. Consult with the paediatrician once, before starting off with baking soda baths. Never use baking soda if your baby is  younger than 6 months, as the skin would still not be strong enough to withstand baking soda.

Also Read:

Newborn Baby Care Myths
Tips to Diapering Your Baby at Night
Baby’s Rolling Eye Movements
How to Prevent Baby Diaper Leaks