herbal bath tea for kids

I love seeing a gorgeous flower bath on Instagram, don't you? They look so pretty and relaxing! While I am sure the experience is fun, I know for a fact that the clean up is not! But there are so many benefits to soaking in the tub with herbs and flowers. Did you know that taking a bath, steeping like tea, can be extremely good for your skin, hair, nails, and can even act as aromatherapy for your mind and spirit. Herbs are wonderful things! I have been making bath teas for years now, and every time we get ready to take a bath, Tad makes sure that we have our little muslin bag to go with. That's my secret! It may not be as beautiful as a floating flower bath, but by keeping your herbs contained in a tiny muslin bag, they don't leak out into a bath water and are much easier to clean up. 

To make a bath tea, you need a few common ingredients: dried herbs, bath salts, oats, and essential oils. There are so many different combinations out there, but I wanted to make sure that we were using more mild options if, for instance, you wanted to use these blends on your little ones! Depending on the potency of your ingredients, they can sometimes be harsh on a tiny person's skin or nose, so be weary of what you decide to use and how much. My recipes fit perfectly inside a pint sized mason jar, and we use about 2-3 tablespoons per bath. Essential oils can sometimes be irritating, so if you'd rather leave those out, you won't be missing out on too much. You can even turn these recipes into milk baths! Add in around 1/4 cup of dried milk (non-dairy works, too) into the mix. 

To Calm + Soothe:

1/4 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup epsom salts

1/4 cup dead sea salt

1/2 cup lavender

1/2 cup chamomile

5-10 drops lavender essential oil

This is my favorite recipe and is kind of our signature! It combines both of the calming and soothing herbs: lavender and chamomile. Chamomile is such a perfect herb for children as it is extremely mild and can even help to relieve colic in infants. Add a little dried milk and 1 tsp coconut oil to make a luxurious skin softening bath!

To Nourish + Replenish:

1/2 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup epsom salts

1/4 cup Himalayan pink salt

1/2 cup rose petals

1/4 cup chamomile

1/4 cup spearmint

5-10 drops rose absolute

This is a perfect recipe for little ones! Mint can be a bit overwhelming when inhaled, and spearmint is a wonderful choice as it contains less menthol than other varieties like peppermint. Spearmint can help to lower body temperature, so this is a great combo to put into the bath for babes with a fever. Rose contains Vitamin C and helps build collagen to maintain youthful skin.

Once you have made your mixes, store them in containers with an airtight seal like a mason jar and label them accordingly. You don't want to forget what it inside! If you choose to put oils in your mix then they will last for about 6-8 months if kept in a cool, dark place like the pantry or bathroom cabinet. If you choose to not use oils, then they will last as long as the expiration date for your herbs/salts/oats! Be sure to check which date is the nearest and label. Place 2-3 tablespoons inside a small muslin bag that you can find at most craft stores.

Enjoy!

xoxo Kayla