Coconut Oil is Great for Newborn Babies!
Who doesn’t love the smell of fresh coconuts in the morning? Not only does it have a great taste, coconut oil is the perfect natural moisturizer. Coconut oil has many uses for newborn babies, including treating and preventing diaper rash. The nourishing feel of coconut oil also doesn’t cause irritation or itching, leaving the skin shiny and smooth. But before you go out and purchase your first jar of coconut oil, read the label and understand what you are getting inside.
Types of Coconut Oil Available
Although coconut oil is great in any form, there are 5 varieties that you should be aware of:
Pure Coconut Oil – Obtained from dry coconut flesh that is crushed to extract oil. Nothing is added to the oil, so it is considered pure.
Refined Coconut Oil – This oil goes through the process of refinement: The oil is bleached, and deodorized to remove its color and smell. You will probably want to avoid this type of oil.
Virgin Coconut Oil – Obtained directly from coconut milk and not the meat. During extraction, the milk is not heated so it retains its pleasant taste, smell, and healthy antioxidants.
Organic Coconut Oil – This type of oil is extracted directly from coconut palms that have been grown without the use of chemical fertilizers. No chemicals are used throughout the whole extraction process.
Organic Virgin Coconut Oil – Obtained by extracting oil from organically raised coconuts. No chemicals are used during the extraction and processing process throughout.
Benefits of Coconut Oil for Babies!
- Can Be Used as Baby Oil
Newborns are born with a special coat on their skin to protect them from the environment, thus they don’t need lotion. Using coconut oil to protect a baby’s skin helps provide vitamins and healthy fats to their skin as their body grows. The oil also is great as it avoids and harsh smell or chemicals that come in traditional moisturizers on the market.
- Use Coconut Oil to Heal Cuts and Wounds
With its ability to stimulate collagen, virgin coconut oil can help the healing of cuts and wounds on a baby’s delicate skin. The antioxidant properties of coconut oil are a vital part of the rebuilding process.
- Add Coconut Oil to Baby Food for a Nutritional Boost
Coconut oil goes great with baby food! It hypoallergenic and contains lauric acid, which makes digestion much easier. This makes it easier for babies to absorb healthy nutrients from carrots, leafy greens, pumpkin, and squash like vegetables.
- Use Coconut Oil as a Massage Oil
With its chemical free properties, using coconut oil to massage your baby is one of the best ‘all-natural’ ways to go. Massaging your baby can help them calm down before sleeping as well as activate the parasympathetic nervous system.
- Treatment of Diaper Rash
After changing a diaper, it’s best to avoid using chemical based ointments and oils. Try using coconut oil to protect your baby’s bum and to treat any existing rash. The antibacterial properties of coconut oil make sure no further irritation will occur.
Coconut oil is a great multi-use super food that can be used for anything from cooking to beauty. Want to read more about the benefits of coconut oil? Take a look at the LiveCoco blog and be sure to subscribe to our newsletter to get 20% off of our flagship oil pulling kit.