We’ve used some pretty good diaper rash creams/butters/salves over the years.  But they all have one negative thing in common: simply by their design, they require that you “tug at” the baby’s tender skin to apply them when they’re needed.  I wanted something soothing & healing that I could apply to an irritated or raw baby bottom and not have to rub it in or spread it on.  The most logical solution was a spray.  This is what I came up with.

Diaper Rash Spray — DIY

DIY Diaper Rash Spray

Rachel Ramey

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Course Personal Care

Ingredients

  

• 2 Tbsp. aloe juice
• 5 drops lavender essential oil
• 1 drop tea tree essential oil opt. Or use 1 more drop of lavender EO
• 1/8 tsp. jojoba oil

Instructions

 

• Combine and shake well to blend.
• Shake well immediately before use.

Notes

This recipe uses aloe juice, not aloe gel. It's a liquid, so don't try to substitute or you might gunk up your spritzer. 🙂

Now, I should probably warn you, lest someone should freak out, that my little guy acts like this is not comfortable the moment it hits his bottom.  It only seems to bother him for that first split second, though, when it makes contact.  (That is, it seems to startle him/be cool.)

About the Ingredients

Nature’s Way Aloe Vera Leaf JuiceNOW Solutions Jojoba OilPlant Therapy Tea Tree Essential OilPlant Therapy Organic Lavender Essential Oil

The essential oils in this recipe make a just-under 1% dilution.  If you’re uncomfortable with that (have an itty-bitty baby, or whatever), just halve it.  (2 drops lavender and 1 drop tea tree, if you still want to use both)

Also, you can eliminate the tea tree oil if you prefer and just replace it with more lavender.  The tea tree oil is good for fungus, like if you’re dealing with a yeast-based rash.  But personally, I’m not crazy about the smell of tea tree.  And the very youngest babies may be better off with lavender alone.

Jojoba oil is very similar in feel to the body’s natural oils.  It’s used here primarily to ensure that the essential oils dilute well.

This spray can also be used on cuts, scrapes, and bruises, and it’s a good blend because the essential oils used here are oils that are okay for little tiny people.  (Some essential oils shouldn’t really be used on babies and toddlers.)

Do keep in mind, though, that it’s liquid and does not contain preservatives, so it’s not going to last forever.

Safety Notes

This is intentionally kept at a low dilution, and the essential oils were carefully selected.  However, babies still have tiny bodies, thinner skin, and less-developed metabolisms than older folks, and essential oils should be used sparingly with them.  So I would recommend against this for tiny newborns (under about 3 mos.), and I recommend using it only for occasional diaper rash, not at every diaper change.

You know the drill.  I’m a mom, not a doctor.  The FDA doesn’t approve anything on this site – like the comments in this post – and even if they did, I wouldn’t consider that meaningful.  Use this for informational/educational purposes and take responsibility for your own health and your children’s.

Updated Nov. 3, 2020.  Originally posted Aug. 27, 2014.