If you're looking for a gentle, effective, and super simple herbal baby diaper balm, you're in the right place. This is my go-to recipe—and I’m sharing it with you because every baby bum deserves the best!
I've been making my own diaper balm for my two little ones throughout their entire diapering journey, and it's worked absolute wonders for us. Honestly, most store-bought diaper creams and balms are packed with ingredients that make me pause—sometimes I wonder if they do more harm than good. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have very few issues with diaper rash, and I truly believe that our minimalist, herbal approach has a lot to do with that.
This balm is made with only two ingredients: herbal-infused oils and beeswax. That’s it! No preservatives, no mystery chemicals, just pure, soothing goodness.
The Formula
1 part beeswax
8 parts herbal-infused oil
Yep, it’s that easy. For example, if you're using 1 oz of beeswax, you’ll use 8 oz of infused oils. Every few months I'll prep a batch using 0.9 oz of beeswax and 7.2 oz of infused oil which is just enough to fill four 2oz jars of diaper balms. This usually lasts me quite a while before I need to make more.
My Go-To Oil Base
My preferred oil for infusing is organic, unrefined, cold-pressed olive oil. It’s rich, nourishing, and gentle enough for baby’s sensitive skin. Plus, it’s easy to find and has a long history of use in herbal skincare.
Choosing the Right Beeswax
I love sourcing beeswax locally whenever I can—fresh, minimally processed beeswax from local beekeepers tends to have a sweeter aroma, a beautiful golden color, and supports small sustainable apiaries. Local wax also helps you avoid unnecessary additives that are sometimes found in commercially bleached versions.
My Favorite Herbs for Infused Oils
You can get creative here, I use a 50/50 blend of Calendula and Oregon Grape Root:
· Calendula – incredibly soothing and anti-inflammatory.
· Oregon Grape Root – helps with rashy skin and has natural antimicrobial properties.
Other great options include chamomile, plantain leaf, lavender, or even comfrey (just in small amounts). Use one herb or a mix—whatever you have on hand.
My preferred sources for organic dry herbs are Starwest Botanicals and Mountain Rose Herbs.
A Note on Essential Oils
You might be tempted to add essential oils to your balm—and while they smell wonderful, I generally don’t recommend using essential oils on infants or babies, especially with repeated use. Their skin is so delicate, and less is truly more when it comes to baby care. The herbs in this balm are powerful enough on their own without needing any extras.
How to Make It
Infuse your oils
The ratio of dry herb to oil I use is 1 oz dry herb to 7 oz of oil.
Use a slow infusion method (let the herbs sit in oil for 4–6 weeks in a sunny window) or a quicker method by gently heating the herbs and oil in a double boiler for a few hours, never letting the temperature reach above 120 F degrees. Strain out the herbs.
Melt the beeswax.
In a double boiler, melt the beeswax slowly over low heat. You’ll want to ensure your beeswax has melted completely before adding in your oil.
Add your infused oils.
Stir in your pre-made herbal oil infusion and it will take some time to melt again.
Pour into containers.
While still warm and liquid, pour your balm into clean tins or jars. Let it cool and solidify before capping. IMPORTANT: Do to not let ANY water or moisture mix into the contents of the container otherwise the product will spoil.
How to Use
Apply a thin layer to baby’s clean, dry bottom during diaper changes. Works beautifully to protect, soothe, and prevent irritation.
A Note on Overnight Diapering
For overnights, if you find that your baby needs a little extra protection to keep their bum dry, I love using the Badger Baby Diaper Balm with zinc oxide. Zinc Oxide offers a great barrier for longer stretches between changes and pairs nicely with your homemade balm during the day.
Bonus Tip
This balm also doubles as a boo-boo balm, dry skin salve, or even a nipple balm (if you’re nursing and your ingredients are baby-safe).
What I really love is knowing exactly what’s going into it—the ingredients, the intention, the time, and the love poured into something as intimate as a balm for my baby. It feels so good to create something so nourishing with my own hands. Will you give it a try? I swear, once you make it, it’s kind of addicting!