Breast milk offers incredible advantages for both you and your baby. In recent times, mothers who breastfeed have started producing breast milk lotion using their excess milk.
Can I turn breast milk into lotion? Yes, you can turn breast milk into lotion using beeswax, shea butter, or coconut oil. Breast milk lotion helps soothes baby’s sensitive skin, treating issues such as eczema, diaper rash, scrapes, and minor skin irritations. It can also be a way to relieve stretch marks in postpartum mothers.
Read on to explore the benefits of breast milk lotion and how to create your own at home.
What Is Breast Milk Lotion?
Breast milk lotion is a moisturizing product made from breast milk, a thickening agent like beeswax or shea butter, and a fresh-smelling essential oil.
Breast milk alone contains healthy fats, proteins, vitamins, and carbohydrates to nourish your baby and provide a healthy foundation for life.
By applying breast milk lotion onto the skin, you can provide relief to minor skin irritations your baby may have.
Breast milk lotion is safe for the whole family to use as a moisturizer. Adding other ingredients like grapeseed oil, beeswax, coconut oil, or shea butter makes your skin healthier.
What Is Breast Milk Lotion Good For?
Breast milk lotion is good for nourishing the skin and relieving skin irritations. You can use breast milk lotion to treat the following skin and medical conditions:
- Eczema
- Burns
- Diaper rash
- Minor scrapes
- Acne
- Nasal congestion
- Umbilical cord separation
- Pink eye
- Cracked, dry, or sore nipples
Breast Milk Lotion Benefits
Breast milk lotion has many moisturizing properties and healthy nutrients for you and your baby’s skin, such as:
- Antibodies to help the skin fight against infection.
- Omega-3 fatty acids to moisturize dry, red skin.
- Soothing ingredients that get your baby ready for bedtime.
- Healing agents that treat minor infections, wounds, cuts, scrapes, and other skin conditions.
Breast Milk Lotion for Stretch Marks
For pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, breast milk lotion can allow you to create an inexpensive, efficient alternative to anti-aging products and stretch mark creams.
Try to collect milk with colostrum for your breast milk lotion as it has natural features to smooth stretch marks and wrinkles.
How To Make Breast Milk Lotion
To make breast milk lotion, mix breast milk with a thickening agent and a moisturizing agent. Heat the ingredients and blend everything.
Check out the different recipes below to find the best one for your baby.
Breast Milk Lotion Recipe
In this recipe by Medela, you need the following ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon beeswax
- 3.5 ounces of grapeseed oil
- A few drops of vitamin E oil
- 3.5 ounces of breast milk
- A few drops of essential oil (optional)
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Microwave
- Spoon/whisk
- Shallow mason jar
Follow these directions to make homemade breast milk lotion:
- Put the beeswax and grapeseed oil in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Slightly melt the beeswax by heating the grapeseed oil and beeswax in your microwave for a few seconds.
- Add the vitamin E oil to the mixture.
- Carefully pour the breast milk into the bowl, quickly whisking all the ingredients together.
- Let it stand to cool and thicken before transferring to small jars or containers.
Breast Milk Lotion Recipe Without Beeswax
Wax is essential to breast milk lotion because it holds everything together. You can use carnauba, barberry, or candelilla wax in place of beeswax. Always use half the amount of vegan wax you’d use for beeswax.
For this recipe by Lactation Mamas, you’ll need the following ingredients and supplies:
- Carnauba wax, 1 tablespoon
- Olive oil, 2 tablespoons
- Jojoba oil, 2 tablespoons
- Coconut oil, 2 teaspoons
- Breast milk, 6 ounces
- Mason jars, 4 ounces each
- Whisk/spoon
- Glass bowl or regular-sized mason jar
- Saucepan or pot
- Glass storage jars
Follow these steps to make homemade breast milk without beeswax:
- Put about an inch of water into the saucepan or pot, and set the stove to low heat.
- Mix carnauba wax, olive oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and breast milk in a mason jar or glass bowl.
- Put the mason jar in the warmed saucepan and let the mixture melt, carefully stirring as it melts. Avoid overheating the mixture since extreme heat kills the antibodies in breast milk.
- Carefully remove the mason jar from the pan when everything melts. Cool off the mason jar by letting it sit for a few minutes.
- Put the mixture into your glass storage containers. Allow it to set by covering the jars lightly. Wait to seal the jars until they’ve cooled.
Breast Milk Lotion With Coconut Oil
You can add coconut oil to your breast milk lotion to hydrate your skin even more. For this recipe from A Little Crunchy, you’ll need these ingredients and supplies:
- Coconut oil, 4 ounces
- Beeswax, 1.5 tablespoons
- Vitamin E oil, 5 drops
- Lavender essential oil, 5 drops (optional)
- Room-temperature breast milk, 4 ounces
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Whisk
- Glass jar
Follow these steps to make homemade breast milk lotion with coconut oil:
- Slowly melt beeswax and coconut oil in the microwave without overheating.
- Add vitamin E and the lavender essential oil.
- Slowly pour in the breast milk, and quickly whisk as the milk thickens. Keep whisking until all the ingredients have mixed together.
- Put the lotion in a glass jar, and store it in the refrigerator for up to 3 months.
Breast Milk Lotion Recipe With Shea Butter
Shea butter has anti-aging qualities and UV protection to enhance your breast milk lotion’s moisturizing benefits. For this recipe by Natural Beauty With Baby, you’ll need these ingredients:
- 5 tablespoons of room-temperature breast milk
- 5 tablespoons of room-temperature aloe vera gel
- 5 tablespoons of shea butter
- 1 tablespoon cocoa butter
- 2 tablespoons of calendula-infused oil
- 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil or other oil of your choice
- 1 tablespoon of beeswax pellets
- 15 drops of essential oils (optional)
- A natural preservative (if you don’t plan on using the lotion within a few days)
- Small jug
- Heatproof bowl
- Saucepan or pot
- Immersion blender
- Metal or wooden spoons
- Jar with screw lid for storage
Follow these steps to make breast milk lotion with shea butter:
- Put aloe vera gel and breast milk in a small jug.
- Put about an inch of water in the saucepan or pot, and set the stove to low heat. Set the heatproof bowl in the pot to form a double boiler.
- Add the other ingredients to the bowl in the warm water, leaving out the aloe vera gel, breast milk, and essential oils.
- Gently heat the mixture until everything melts.
- After everything melts, take the bowl out of the water.
- Cool the bowl enough so you’re able to handle it.
- Add the breast milk and aloe vera to the bowl and blend with the immersion blender until everything is mixed together.
- Once your lotion has cooled, add the scented essential oils.
- Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for your natural preservative of choice.
Breast Milk Lotion Bar Recipe
For this breast milk lotion bar recipe from Mama of Five, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- Breast milk, 3 ounces
- Beeswax, 3 tablespoons, melted
- Coconut oil, 3 tablespoons
- Vitamin E oil, a few drops
- Scented essential oils, a few drops (optional)
Follow these steps for this recipe:
- Combine the vitamin E oil, beeswax, and coconut oil.
- Whisk vigorously as you slowly add the breast milk.
- Add a few drops of scented essential oils.
- Put the mixture into a silicone mold.
- Freeze for three hours.
How Long Does Homemade Breast Milk Lotion Last?
Homemade breast milk lotion lasts for three months in the refrigerator. You can also store it in the cabinet, but it won’t last as long. Store it away from areas with direct sunlight. You should also avoid freezing it because it’ll ruin the texture.
Does Breast Milk Lotion Need To Be Refrigerated?
No, breast milk lotion does not need to be refrigerated. It’s best to store breast milk lotion in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
If you refrigerate your breast milk lotion, make sure to bring it to room temperature before using it so that it has time to soften.
Breast Milk Lotion Separating
Since breast milk lotion can separate when not mixed correctly, it’s important to use a thickener like beeswax or coconut oil to keep the ingredients from separating.
The breast milk may separate from the other ingredients when you don’t whisk the milk quickly enough into the mixture.
Can I Sell Products Made With Breast Milk?
Yes, you can sell products made with breast milk, such as soap and lotion. However, keep in mind that most mothers prefer to use their own milk since their milk is specifically designed to care for their children’s needs.
Store your breast milk properly before using it to make products.
Conclusion
Breast milk has many benefits for your growing infant, and making breast milk lotion can help nourish their skin. Try making your own and seeing how it can enhance your family’s well-being.
Sources:
- https://www.mamaoffive.com/breastmilk-lotion/
- https://www.medela.us/breastfeeding/articles/unique-breast-milk-uses-and-topical-benefits
- https://cafemom.com/parenting/212090-weirdest-uses-for-breast-milk
- https://joybileefarm.com/substitutions-lotion-bar-recipes/
- https://www.diyproducts101.com/how-to-make-lotion-without-beeswax/
Mom of three (including identical twin boys), wife, and owner of Parents Wonder. This is my place to share my journey as a mother and the helpful insights I learn along the way.