7 Benefits of Using Baking Soda in your Baby’s Bath

There is one ingredient found in every kitchen pantry that does wonders for your baby’s skin: baking soda. It’s inexpensive and works as a perfect home remedy for many common baby skin problems.

Many new parents are unaware of the benefits of using baking soda to promote skin health. Here are 7 benefits of adding 2–3 tablespoons of baking soda to the bath time routine:

1. Relieves Constipation

Throughout infancy, constipation can be a common occurrence. As parents, we need to help relieve their symptoms as babies often resist passing hard or painful stools. If your baby is constipated, adding baking soda to the bath water can help relieve their symptoms. Warm bath water will help your child relax, plus the baking soda will make passing stools easier. It’s important to talk to your child’s physician if constipation continues so that the child’s diet, hydration levels, and nutritional intake do not suffer.

2. Quickly Improves Diaper Rash

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One the biggest benefits of using baking soda in the tub is diaper rash. It is a common occurrence in little ones, and most of the time, the rash can be treated at home. If your baby has a rather painful diaper rash, WebMD suggests you soak your child in a warm bath with baking soda three times a day for 10 minutes.

3. Alleviates Itching for Dry Skin

The smooth texture of baking soda can relieve itchy skin. Also, baking soda removes dirt, oil, and sweat that can be the cause of your child’s itching. Some parents choose to make a paste of baking soda by mixing baking soda with essential oils or vanilla extract and then adding the mixture to the running bath water. This makes for a more fragrant and calming bath time.

4. Balances pH Levels and Dissipates Bad Odor

You know the distinct smell of a baby that's been sitting in a wet diaper too long - right? Changing your baby’s diaper more frequently is helpful, but adding a little baking soda to your baby’s bath will also help for a refresh. So, why does it work? Well, baking soda is alkaline in nature. When an alkaline substance is mixed with something acidic (your babies urine), it neutralizes the smell. And there’s your science lesson for the day ;)

5. Natural Remedy to Eczema

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Eczema can make your baby irritable. Although there is no tried and true cure, baking soda helps to manage the symptoms. Baking soda has even been known to soften your baby’s skin while being a gentle cleanser.

6. Cleanses skin and decreases bacteria

As mentioned previously, baking soda is an alkaline substance, which also means it has antibacterial and antifungal properties. A few tablespoons of baking soda in water can help cleanse the skin without having to use harsh soaps or scrubbing. This is especially helpful if your child’s skin is irritated and inflamed.

7. Promotes more restful sleep

When your baby feels clean and comfortable, sleep comes more naturally.

The benefits of using baking soda are vast. if your baby is having skin problems, you may find yourself wanting to use it often. But, we recommend avoiding using it for prolonged periods of time. Plus make sure you are using a highly diluted bath with baking soda.

As always, ask your pediatrician before introducing baking soda baths. As with any product you apply topically to your child, start with a small amount. Dr. Ploch advises parents to avoid using with newborns: "I don't recommend using baking soda on kids younger than 6 months of age because their skin doesn't have a fully developed barrier.”

**Please note baking soda is different from baking powder. Check the label to ensure you are adding baking soda to your child’s bath.