Is this the season of babies or what? Everywhere I look, business-like storks seem to be going around, making some very important deliveries to the homes of happy couples (and indeed some very happily single moms too).
From the moment a baby enters your home and your life, everything turns on its head. It’s astounding how much joy one extremely leaky creature can generate in even the most jaded of hearts. Suddenly, it seems like everything’s about the baby, and you couldn’t be more happy to let it stay that way. The first smile, the first coo, every time you play peek-a-boo – all priceless moments you wouldn’t trade for anything in the world.
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But, raising a child has its dark moments too. As any parent would agree, there is nothing worse than when your baby gets sick or is in pain. And using chemicals and toxins on one so young seems nothing short of a crime. In such a scenario, home remedies are a parent’s best bet. And what better product to get you on this path than castor oil
Contents
What Is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is obtained from the seeds of the castor plant (Ricinus communis). Once native to India, it is now found in tropical regions across the world. It has a very high concentration of the monounsaturated fatty acid, ricinoleic acid (above 90%), which makes it a very potent analgesic (pain relieving), anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial agent. The high content of fatty acids present in this oil make its absorption by the skin easy, thus making topical application simple. Besides, as it is a natural product, allergies to castor oil are rare, if any, and it has little to no side effects on babies or adults. It is also a cost-effective and easily available natural product, making it a wonder remedy that should definitely find a spot in your all-purpose kitchen cabinet.
Benefits Of Using Castor Oil For Babies
There can be nothing more heart warming than a baby that’s happy and in the pink of health. To aid you in finding a natural product that can work similar results on your baby, we have compiled here a list of 7 effective ways on how to use castor oil for babies.
1. In Treating Colic
Your baby is said to be suffering from colic if he or she cries for more than three hours, at least three times a week, for three weeks. Quite the tongue twister, yeah? No one knows exactly why colic occurs – the possible causes range from lactose intolerance and allergies to a digestive system that is still developing. But one thing is for sure – your baby’s in pain, and you need to get into action soon.
Naturopathic doctors have long suggested the use of castor oil to help relieve the pain and distress caused by colic. As an analgesic (one that relieves pain), castor oil’s laxative properties also aid your baby in getting rid of the discomfort caused by a gassy tummy.
To treat your baby’s colic using castor oil
You Will Need
- A bottle of hexane-free, 100% organic castor oil
How To Do This
- Warm a few drops of castor oil in a microwave or over the stove. If you are microwaving, remember to use a glass dish.
- Test the temperature of the oil by dropping some on your forearm/wrist. Ensure that the oil is warm and not hot (in order to not scald your baby’s skin).
- Once you’ve got the oil to a suitable temperature, take some in your hand. Rub your palms against each other, so the oil spreads evenly.
- Beginning at a point below the ribcage, gently massage your baby using your fingers in a circular motion.
- Gradually make your way from the base of the ribcage to the navel.
- Massage using warm oil twice a day for 10-15 minutes, or whenever the baby cries due to colic.
- Do this before the baby has been fed/is not on a full tummy.
2. For Healthy Skin
A baby’s skin is extremely sensitive and susceptible to stress. Pollutants in the air, friction, harsh chemicals, itchy clothes – one, some or many may affect your baby’s skin. Sometimes, a baby’s skin may be naturally dry and irritated too. As such, babies are seen to have dry patches on their skin that require constant moisturization. Due to the aforementioned presence of fatty acids, castor oil has the ability to penetrate deep into the skin. Using castor oil for baby skin makes it easy for absorption, leaving it feeling moist and hydrated for long hours. Additionally, allergies to castor oil, even amongst babies, are rare as it is a natural product, thus making it an excellent natural moisturizer for dry skin.
Diaper rashes, eczema, and baby acne are other skin conditions that babies commonly suffer from. Castor oil’s anti-inflammatory properties go a long way in reducing the redness, swelling, and irritation caused by these conditions. In fact, if your baby suffers from baby acne, warts or blemishes, you’ll find that the directly applying castor oil to the affected areas topically for a few weeks will help fade/remove them for good.
You Will Need
- A bottle of hexane-free, 100% organic castor oil
How To Do This
A full body massage can be given before or after a warm bath (depending on your preference). Avoid using castor oil on the hands and feet if your baby has a tendency to suck on them.
- Warm a few drops of castor oil in a microwave or over the stove. If you are microwaving, remember to use a glass dish.
- Test the temperature of the oil by dropping some on your forearm/wrist. Ensure that the oil is warm and not hot (in order to not scald your baby’s skin).
- Once you’ve got the oil to a suitable temperature, take some in your hand. Rub your palms against each other, so the oil spreads evenly.
- Lay your baby on the bed or the changing table. Ensure that the room is sufficiently warm so as to not let your baby get cold. Use soft old sheets/towels underneath as the oil may leave stains.
- Starting from the head, make your way down to the feet and then the back. Alternately, you may also start from the feet and work your way up. Remember to massage towards the heart (wrist to arm/feet to thighs) if you are going for a stimulating massage. For a relaxing massage, massage away from the heart (arm to wrist/ thighs to feet).
- Use a combination of gentle strokes, circular motions, lifting of the skin, and ‘walking’ movements with the fingers to give your baby a nice relaxing massage.
- Do this for 10-15 minutes twice a week, depending on your schedule.
- Remember to never use castor oil near the eyes, lips, anus or genitals.
- In case of baby acne, blemishes or warts, apply a small amount of castor oil directly to the affected area for a few weeks.
3. Castor Oil for Baby Hair Growth
Nothing beats castor oil when it comes to aiding hair growth and thickening. Due to its deep absorption and viscosity, castor oil penetrates deep into the roots of each hair strand and nourishes it from within, thus making dry, brittle hair soft and shiny again. The rate of hair growth is seen to increase too.
Cradle cap: Young infants between the ages of 0-6 months are likely to suffer from a condition called cradle cap. Also known as ‘infantile seborrheic dermatitis’, it is a condition wherein the baby’s scalp has brown or yellow scaly/crusty patches or dry, flaky skin that resembles dandruff. Though a common condition, the cause for this still remains unknown. An overproduction of sebum by the baby’s oil glands due to hormonal imbalances, or yeast infection in the sebum are thought to be probable causes. However, nothing remains verified, and the cause is still under investigation.
To treat your baby’s cradle cap using castor oil, or even for everyday hair massages –
You Will Need
- A bottle of hexane-free, 100% organic castor oil
How To Do This
- Warm a few drops of castor oil in a microwave or over the stove. If you are microwaving, remember to use a glass dish.
- Test the temperature of the oil by dropping some on your forearm/wrist. Ensure that the oil is warm and not hot (in order to not scald your baby’s skin).
- Once you’ve got the oil to a suitable temperature, take some in your hand. Rub the palms against each other, so the oil spreads evenly.
- For a regular hair massage, work the castor oil into your baby’s scalp and hair using gentle circular motions. Do this half an hour before giving your baby a bath. If your pediatrician agrees, you could leave the oil on overnight too.
- For babies suffering from cradle cap – Massage your baby’s scalp with warm castor oil. Leave it on for 15-30 minutes. Use a soft brush or a fine-toothed comb to gently comb out the flakes. Remember not to be too harsh on the scalp or tug on the hair as your baby’s scalp is still developing. Once done, wash the oil off using a mild baby shampoo.
- In case of cradle cap, leaving castor oil on overnight might not be a wise idea as it may cause the pores to clog more. Always remember to wash it off as soon as possible.
4. Treats Constipation
It surprises many first-time parents that a baby who’s still on a milk diet may suffer from such issues too. But a nascent and still developing digestive and excretory systems mean that your baby could have a tough time flushing out the waste from its body. The result? Long hours of irritation and pain that makes them cry and gives you sleepless nights.
Have you thought of considering castor oil for babies constipation relief? Yes, castor oil is most popular across households as a laxative that can help relieve constipation and bloating. It induces proper bowel movements and flushes out toxins that have accumulated in the system. This same castor oil can help your baby deal with a gassy, constipated bladder too. But, castor oil can be unsafe for consumption by babies, and hence, a massage would be a safer option.
You Will Need
- A bottle of hexane-free, 100% organic castor oil.
How To Do This
- Warm a few drops of castor oil in a microwave or over the stove. If you are microwaving, remember to use a glass dish.
- Test the temperature of the oil by dropping some on your forearm/wrist. Ensure that the oil is warm and not hot (in order to not scald your baby’s skin).
- Once you’ve got the oil to a suitable temperature, take some oil in your hand. Rub the palms against each other, so the oil spreads evenly.
- Start by massaging the abdomen in gentle concentric motions. Start at the base of the ribcage and make your way down to the navel. Remember to go clockwise in order to follow the body’s natural digestive motion.
- Next, take some oil and start with massaging the baby’s knees and thighs. Bring both legs closer and gently push them up towards the abdomen. Continue for 5-7 minutes.
- Lay the baby on its stomach and gently roll its bum cheeks in a clockwise motion.
- Do the entire massage for 10-15 minutes twice a week, or whenever your baby is irritable and cranky due to constipation.
- Remember to not get any castor oil near your baby’s anus, genitals, eyes or lips.
5. Strengthens The Immune System
Apart from its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties, castor oil also aids in strengthening the immune system and circulation. Research has found that castor oil helps support the immune system by increasing the count of the white blood cells (disease fighting cells of the body) and T-11 cells (a special kind of white blood cells). These cells help the body in fighting infections caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and cancers and allergies. Regular massages with castor oil also help improve the blood and lymph circulation. The blood helps transport oxygen to and collect waste from various parts of the body while the lymph carries the disease-fighting cells of the body across the body.
You Will Need
- A bottle of hexane-free, 100% organic castor oil
How To Do This
A full body massage can be given before or after a warm bath (depending on your preference). Avoid using castor oil on the hands and feet if your baby has a tendency to suck on them.
- Warm a few drops of castor oil in a microwave or over the stove. If you are microwaving, remember to use a glass dish.
- Test the temperature of the oil by dropping some on your forearm/wrist. Ensure that the oil is warm and not hot (in order to not scald your baby’s skin).
- Once you’ve got the oil to a suitable temperature, take some oil in your hand. Rub your palms against each other, so the oil spreads evenly.
- Lay your baby on the bed or the changing table. Ensure that the room is sufficiently warm so as to not let your baby get cold. Use soft old sheets/towels underneath as the oil may leave stains.
- Starting from the head, make your way down to the feet and then the back. Alternately, you may also start from the feet and work your way up. Remember to massage towards the heart (wrist to arm/feet to thighs) if you are going for a stimulating massage. For a relaxing massage, massage away from the heart (arm to wrist/thighs to feet).
- Use a combination of gentle strokes, circular motions, lifting of the skin, and ‘walking’ movements with the fingers to give your baby a nice relaxing massage.
- Do this for 10-15 minutes twice a week, depending on your schedule.
- Remember to never use castor oil near the eyes, lips, anus or genitals.
6. Treats Acid Reflux
If your infant
- arches her back while feeding
- vomits or spits up her food in a way that makes her scream or cry
- refuses to eat/is irritable during feed time
- is unable to sleep through the night
- is not gaining weight
chances are she’s suffering from infant reflux or acid reflux in infants.
Acid reflux in infants is a fairly common problem. Reports suggest that nearly every baby has suffered from infant reflux at least once in their lives. Acid reflux occurs when food from the stomach backs up into the esophagus (the food pipe). This occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), a ring of muscles that guards the entry into the stomach, loosens and allows food to go back the way it came (ideally, food should only be passed on forward and not travel back). In babies, this sphincter is particularly weak, making infant reflux a regular occurrence. If not treated in time, it may develop into Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), which, as the name suggests, is not good news.
Castor oil has been found to be an excellent natural remedy to help deal with acid reflux in both infants and adults. Its analgesic properties help relieve the pain caused by acid reflux and help the baby sleep long without breaks.
To treat your baby’s infant reflux –
You Will Need
- A bottle of hexane-free, 100% organic castor oil
- A piece of cloth- wool/cotton/flannel
- Plastic wrap
- Old sheets
- A comforter
How To Do This
- Warm some castor oil in a microwave or over the stove. If you are microwaving it, remember to use a glass dish.
- Test the temperature of the oil by dropping some on your forearm/wrist. Ensure that the oil is warm and not hot (so that you don’t scald your baby’s skin).
- Dip the cloth in the warm castor oil. Wring it to remove excess oil.
- Place the cloth on your baby’s belly. Lay the baby on old towels or sheets as the castor oil has a tendency to stain.
- Bind the cloth to your baby’s belly using plastic wrap. Don’t let the binding be too tight lest the baby become uncomfortable. Don’t let it be too loose either, or the baby may pull the wrap towards her face or get entangled in it. Secure firmly with space for a finger between the wrap and the castor oil soaked cloth.
- Cover the wrap with a soft blanket or your baby’s comforter (avoid getting castor oil on them as the stains are extremely difficult to remove). This is known as a castor oil pack.
- Leave the pack on for half an hour. Bathe the baby in warm water after.
7. Helps Beat The Cold
Babies are extremely sensitive to changes in the weather, which is why a congested chest, runny nose, cold, and cough are an everyday struggle for many parents. Worse still is the chance of your baby catching pneumonia if not treated right away. To circumvent these issues, consider giving your baby a castor oil massage to do away with these problems, and better still, to never have them return again!
You Will Need
- A bottle of hexane-free, 100% organic castor oil
How To Do This
- Warm a few drops of castor oil in a microwave or over the stove. If microwaving, remember to use a glass dish.
- Test the temperature of the oil by dropping some on your forearm/wrist. Ensure that the oil is warm and not hot (in order to not scald your baby’s skin).
- Once you’ve got it to a suitable temperature, take some oil in your hand. Rub the palms against each other, so the oil spreads evenly.
- Lay your baby on the bed or the changing table. Ensure that the room is sufficiently warm so as to not let your baby get cold. Use soft old sheets/towels underneath as the oil may leave stains.
- Start by placing a single hand on the baby’s chest and spreading the oil over it using circular, clockwise motions. Continue for 2-3 minutes.
- Next, place both hands on the baby’s chest and trace circular patterns on it with the right hand going clockwise and the left hand anti-clockwise. Continue for 2-3 minutes.
- Once done, walk your fingers across the baby’s chest from the sides to the middle, and then down and out. This helps in loosening the mucus. Continue for 2-3 minutes.
- Lastly, place your palms on the baby’s shoulder blades and bring them downward gently, stroking with gentle but firm pressure. Continue for 2-3 minutes.
- You may also use the remnant of the oil on your palms to lightly massage the baby’s face (use gentle, circular motions). Place the forefingers of both hands on either side of the nose and lightly stroke down to loosen the mucus. Take care to not get any in the eyes or inside the nose.
- Do this massage for 10-15 minutes whenever you feel a cold coming on, and especially during the winters.
Why Giving Your Baby Oral Doses Of Castor Oil Should Be Avoided
Most parents are apprehensive about using castor oil on their child, and with good reason. As it is a strong laxative, the internal consumption of castor oil may adversely affect your baby’s delicate and still-developing internal organs. In many parts of the Indian subcontinent, newborn infants are regularly given doses of castor oil in the first 2-3 weeks of their birth to remove the meconium (green colored stool from the intestine). This, however, is a dangerous practice as there have been reports of the babies developing severe jaundice and paralytic ileus (intestinal blockage without the presence of any physical obstruction due to damage to the muscles and nerves). Thus, giving oral dosages of castor oil to your baby is not advised.
A Word To The Wise
Always consult a pediatrician before using any home remedy on your baby, castor oil included. This is because your baby’s skin is very sensitive at this point, even for a lot of gentle products you wouldn’t think twice before using. Therefore, utmost caution must be taken.
There’s no denying the adage ‘a healthy baby is a happy baby’. Pollutants, allergens, toxins, etc. may be bad, but you, Mommy, are badass. Bid those irritants a permanent farewell and gift yourself the joy of your baby’s laughter by bringing home a bottle of castor oil today!
So there you have it – your personal compendium on why to use castor oil for babies, what are its benefits and how to use it.
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