Nature ’ s Diaper Bag
By Dr . Gregory L . Woodfill , D . O .
There is nothing more precious than the beginning of life . In my profession , I work with families entering into this amazing process . These wonderful families allow me to be a part of their pregnancies and the delivery of their beautiful babies into their arms and the world . The pregnancy period closes and the next phase of life begins . Families begin to develop their personal schedules and routines — routines that will help their child grow and thrive in the external world .
During pregnancy many women are careful about the products they place in / on their body , the food they eat and the internal environment they are creating for the development of their baby . After the birth , these concerns are now focused on ensuring that they give their newborn the best external environment possible . Developing a natural alternative to the traditional products we place on our children is healthy and allows our children to develop free from the processed and unnatural chemicals found in many manufactured products .
In 2004 the FDA ’ s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition ( CFSAN ) began a program to increase transparency in the food and cosmetic industry . They began an adverse event reporting program , CFSAN Adverse Event Reporting System ( CAERS ). Reports to this system come from consumers , medical professionals , and industry .
Prior to 2004 the FDA did not fa cil itate reporting of adverse events associated with personal care pro ducts . Since that time , there have been higher rates of serious events with baby products than any other personal care or cosmetic product . A high percentage of these claims has been associated with baby wipes . Some of the chemicals associated with baby products are : 2-bromo-2-nitropropane- 1,3-diol ( bronopol ), Methylisothiazolinone ( MIT ) and triphenylphosphate . Each of these have been associated with serious reactions in children with their use .
There are a few DIYs that my wife and I have found safe and effective for our children , along with other products that will make your natural diaper bag complete . †
Essential Oils for Babies
†
Consult your healthcare provider . dōTERRA OnGuard ® Sanitizing Mist : A necessity for cleaning hands of anyone near the baby .
Single Oils :
• Basil on outer ear for discomfort ,
• DigestZen ® for tummy massage ,
• Lavender for soothing the skin ,
• Melaleuca for breastfeeding discomfort and skin irritation ,
• Correct X ® for scrapes .
DIY
Baby Wipes What You Need :
• 1 roll strong paper towels
• 2 cups warm filtered water
• 1 tablespoon Fractionated Coconut Oil
• 1 tablespoon aloe vera oil
• 3 drops Lavender essential oil
• 3 drops Melaleuca essential oil
Directions : Soak paper towels with water , aloe vera oil , and essential oils in a sealed container or bag . Use as needed .
Teething Oil What You Need :
• 1 tablespoon Fractionated Coconut Oil
• 1 drop Clove , Lavender , or dōTERRA On Guard ®
Directions : Put oils in a sealed vial and apply when needed with a Q tip .
18 / SUMMER 2018 LIVING MAGAZINE