Breast milk in the bathroom to soften the skin of babies, myth or reality?

Article originally published on April 11, 2022

So wait a bit before throwing the milk you took out a few days ago in the bathroom sink: there may still be something under the hood!

Although no scientific studies state this, breast milk, diffused in the baby’s bath water, could help they have very soft skin.

Breast milk in the bath water, what to think?

We asked the question to Laurence Netter, a dermatologist. For her, as there is no scientific evidence on the subject, he does not recommend it.

Do not add anything to the bath water and do not let children soak in it too much so that their skin does not become dehydrated.

We also asked our favorite midwife, Anna Roy, what she thought of this technique.

In fact, there are no studies on the subject, but it is still without danger for the child. If parents want to add milk, why not! The effectiveness has not been proven, but everyone does what he wants, there is no injunction to do it!

And on the practical side, how is it done? We can put the milk that’s been left in a bottle on the nightstand for hours, risk-free? Does the milk have to be fresh, as if it just came out of the breast?

La Leche League, the well-known breastfeeding advocacy association and inexhaustible source of advice, explains that theBreast milk, even if it is not fresh and slightly acidic, can be added to the bath water without any problem. Just like Cleopatra who loved baths with donkey milk to soften the skin, breast milk would have the same virtues, minus the horse side.

Remember that breast milk at room temperature only lasts 4-6 hours when temperatures are high or 24 hours when it is 15 degrees. It can be stored in the refrigerator for 5 to 8 days and much longer if frozen.

Mixing milk in the tub, does it really work?

If adding breast milk to the bath water has no scientifically proven virtues but is safe, what do those who use it on a daily basis think?

We asked several nursing mothers who use this technique what they think.

For Kat, breast milk has several virtues : “I also added the oatmeal and the mixture of boob milk and oats was magical! “. She also used her milk to clean her baby’s nose and eyes and to loosen her cradle.

Meanwhile, Pauline I didn’t see big differences: “I’ve tried just about everything, powders, breast milk… other things, but nothing worked on her skin! She is constantly scratching herself. I am the same, and it has grown. “

Agathe notices this, whose tap water is particularly calcareous your baby’s skin is softer when using her milk in the bathtub: “When you don’t add milk, my baby tends to get eczema more easily! His skin is softer with milk. ”

But it doesn’t end there: Agathe he also makes soap with his own milk, which the whole family uses. His recipe? “Aleppo soap, sweet almond oil and breast milk! We also wash ourselves with this soap, my wife and I, and it is clearly softening and healing ”.

A soap recipe with the maternal? Ok, we need to know more.

How to make breast milk soap?

We searched the Internet to find THE best recipe, and it was on the website of the (genius) breastfeeding clothing brand TajineBanane that we found what appears to be the most popular among nursing mothers. Here she is :

• 100 ml of milk
• 100 g of Aleppo soap flakes (or Marseille).
• 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 2 spoons of honey
• Optional: 25 drops of essential oil compatible with pregnancy and breastfeeding (such as vanilla or tangerine for example)

TajineBanane explains the relatively simple procedure:

“Melt very gently in a saucepan in a double boiler. Let’s keep the essential oil drops aside for now. Stir your potion regularly. Once your mixture is homogeneous and well melted, you can remove it from the heat and add, if you want, a few drops of essential oil. Quickly enough you have to shape your little soaps, for this please silicone molds, muffin mold style. If you have it in Paw Patrol, you can too.

Leave the molds in the refrigerator overnight, make sure they are solid before you unmold the soaps.

Last step that will test your patience, find a cool and dry place and let your soaps rest for about a month before you can bathe your baby with them! “

So who will play modern day Cleopatra and take a little breast milk bath this week?

Front page image photo credit: Vesnaandjic