Make your own milk bath with this easy DIY recipe…
Make your own milk bath with this easy DIY recipe. Inspired by my latest posts on mom self-care, I wanted to expand on something I’ve gotten quite a few questions about.
MILK BATHS!
A nice breast milk bath happens to be my favorite at-home spa treatment that I think all moms can benefit from – especially at the end of a really rough week!
*This post contains affiliate links, however, all opinions are my own.
Are Milk Baths Good For You?
There are a few key reasons why milk baths are good for you. First and foremost, they’re incredibly relaxing. The lactic acid in milk is a natural exfoliant, so it leaves your skin feeling incredibly soft and nourished.
Additionally, the protein in milk helps to firm and tighten skin – making it an ideal treatment for dewy, glowing skin.
For babies, breast milk bath is a great way to calm and soothe little one’s irritated skin. It’s also effective at treating dry skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and diaper rash.
Pregnancy Milk Baths
If you’re pregnant and looking to enjoy a little bit of pampering during your pregnancy, milk baths are a fantastic addition to your at-home routine.
They’re incredibly soothing and help to relieve stress and aches that are common with pregnancy.
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How To Make Your Own Milk Bath
I learned about milk baths for babies when my youngest son, Jax, was about 2 or 3 months. I put some pumped breast milk into his bath to treat some dry skin he was dealing with.
After putting him down for his late evening nap that day, I had the idea to take my own milk bath.
I had heard of them before, and I know they’re a huge hit with newborn and maternity photographers, but I had yet to experience it for myself. Plus, I had a 2-month-old tugging at me all day, so it was hard to find time for myself.
But I decided to just try it for myself and handed my husband the baby monitor. I knew Jax would sleep for at least an hour if not two.
I mixed up a hot milk bath for myself with some essential oils, and just soaked away in our tub. I could suddenly see why everyone was making a big deal about this easy at-home spa treatment of sorts.
When I pulled myself from the tub of water, I patted my skin with a soft towel – it was so soft!
Now, I try to take one every 3-4 weeks at least to keep my skin soft and incorporate some much-needed self-care into my routine.
*This post contains affiliate links, however, all opinions are my own.
Drawing yourself a milk bath at home is very easy to do, and the best part is that you probably already have all of the necessary ingredients in your pantry right now!
Milk Bath Benefits
There are a number of benefits that a milk bath can bring your skin and your mind, but here are a few:
- Relaxation
- Soothes irritated skin
- Smoother skin (thanks to the lactic acid)
- Improves the appearance of the skin
- Calms redness/dryness
According to WebMD, “Because of the moisturizing fats in milk, it may help to calm redness from a sunburn or to reduce some of the dryness and itching caused by skin conditions such as xerosis or eczema.”
I can say this is quite accurate as I experience softer skin each time I take a milk bath, especially in the harsher winter months here in the Midwest!
I can only imagine the wonders a milk bath for eczema would do for those who experience it.
If you haven’t already, consider drawing up a milk bath for baby! Have some extra pumped breast milk taking up room in your freezer?
Add it to your baby’s bathwater…
Our lactation consultant for Jax was the first one to tell me about adding some of my breast milk to his bath water to tend to his sensitive skin.
It truly works wonders for their skin, diaper rashes, and even the sting of a bug bite.
Milk Bath Recipe
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to create a milk bath your skin will love…
You can still treat yourself to one of these relaxing and soothing baths even if you are vegan, or lactose intolerant! I’ve included some alternative options included below that will work for you too.
Organic milk bath recipe for a relaxing bath that will soften your skin and improve its appearance, and soothe and relieve dry, itchy skin:
- 2 cups whole powdered milk
- 1/2 cup baking soda
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 10 drops of essential oils (this is my favorite brand, and they AREN’T an MLM!)
- Carefully pour dry ingredients into a large glass container. Secure the lid, and shake to combine.
- Shake, shake, shake that thang.
- Add 10 drops of essential oils to the freshly mixed powder. Secure lid again, and shake to combine.
- Allow mixture to sit for 24 hours before using – this allows the ingredients to fully combine. Store in a cool, dry place out of direct sunlight.
- Pour 1-2 cups of your mixture into the bath under hot running water. Sit back and relax!
Some key points to remember when selecting ingredients to mix together for your own milk bath are:
- Milk that contains less fat is not as nourishing to your skin as milk with higher fat content.
- If you are lactose intolerant, no need to fret! You can still enjoy the milk bath because you are not physically digesting the bathwater containing the milk, and therefore you will not experience any digestion problems.
- If you are vegan, consider using rice, soy, or coconut milk!
Sealing In The Moisture Once You’re Done…
Whether you’re pampering your skin or your baby’s skin, once you’re all done relaxing and soaking in the wonderful lactic acid milk bath – pat the damp skin dry with a soft T-shirt or towel.
There’s no need to rinse off the milk bath water or wipe off any excess. The lactic acid will continue to work on your skin and will soothe any irritation.
Apply a natural moisturizer made from shea butter, coconut oil, jojoba oil, almond oil, or some organic coconut oil to seal in moisture after each time you use your milk bath for baby’s eczema or for adult eczema.
I hope you enjoy your milk bath experience and that it leaves you feeling as soft, relaxed, and pampered as I do each time!
And don’t forget – if you want to try a milk bath for babies with eczema like we did for Jax, just make sure to check with your little one’s pediatrician first.
Have you tried a milk bath? Let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear your experience!
*Post published October 2017, last updated June 2022.