How to Make Breast milk Soap
If you’re a breastfeeding mother, chances are you’ve heard about the benefits of breast milk, other than the benefits from producing it or consuming it, but also the benefits of external use. Using it for baby acne, bum rash, eye infections, eczema and other skin conditions are all great examples of reasons why moms all over the world choose to make breast milk soap or lotion for their babies’ and for their entire family’s skin.
Why you should consider making breast milk soap
Making breast milk soap is not just about using up any extra breast milk you may have, it’s also about using that precious liquid gold of yours for something that benefits your baby’s skin, or even the whole family’s skin.
Whether you have too much milk for you to use, or whether your baby no longer drinks expressed breast milk, instead of wasting it, you can turn it into soap for your baby and even for yourself and your family.
Breast milk is rich in fatty acids, vitamins, and natural moisturizers. This means that breast milk soap can help soothe dry skin, improve baby acne, and even help with conditions such as eczema and cradle cap.
What you’ll need to make breast milk soap
- Bowls and spatulas
- Sodium hydroxide (lye)
- Melt and pour soap base
- Oils such as olive oil and coconut oil
- Breast milk
- Essential oils (optional)
- Additional ingredients such as oats, honey, lavender etc. (optional)
- Silicone molds
- Safety goggles and gloves if working with sodium hydroxide (lye)
How to make breast milk soap
There are two options when it comes to making breast milk soap, the cold process method and the melt and pour method.
The cold process method
- Preparing Your Ingredients: Start by using a lye calculator to measure the sodium hydroxide needed safely. This ensures the chemical process is balanced and safe.
- Mixing: Carefully mix the lye with a cup of room-temperature breast milk; this initial step kicks off the saponification process, turning your liquid ingredients into soap.
- Blending Oils: Coconut and olive oils are heated gently and then blended. These oils are chosen for their ability to create a creamy soap that’s as beneficial as it is beautiful.
- Combining Lye and Oils: Slowly pour the lye mixture into the melted oils, stirring steadily to combine them into a smooth soap mixture. This is where the magic happens; as they meld, they begin to thicken into what will become your soap.
- Adding Extras: Now’s the time to personalize your batch. Stir in drops of vitamin E oil, which acts as a preservative and skin conditioner. Essential oils can also be added for fragrance; consider lavender for a calming effect or chamomile for sensitive skin.
- Molding and Curing: Pour the thickened soap mixture into a silicone mold. The shape of the container can vary, letting you create bars, shapes, or even loaves of soap. Once poured, the soap must cure. Cold-process soap generally takes about four weeks to harden and reach its final, usable state fully.
The melt and pour method
For those looking for a faster and easier method to make breast milk soap, the melt-and-pour method is ideal, and much safer to make too.
This method involves melting a ready-made melted soap base and then adding your breast milk along with any other ingredients that you choose to add such as essential oils or carrier oils.
After mixing the melted soap base with your breast milk and other ingredients that you want to include, pour the mixture into molds and let it set. This usually only takes a couple of hours in the refrigerator.
While this method doesn’t necessarily allow for the same level of customization as the cold process method, it’s still a great way to enjoy the benefits of breast milk soap quickly and easily.
Additional tips for making perfect breast milk soap
The great thing about making your very own soap is the ability to be as creative as you’d like. Experiment with different colors and ingredients, different shapes and smells. The possibilities are endless.
Experiment with different textures and scents
Customize your soap by adding natural ingredients like oatmeal for gentle exfoliation or honey for its extra moisturizing properties. Both are wonderful for managing skin conditions like dry skin or eczema. You can also add ingredients like vitamin e oil or lavender, both offering its own benefits too.
Use different colors and designs
Use natural colorants to give your soap a beautiful color while avoiding unnecessary chemical colorants on the skin. For example, turmeric can add a warm golden color, while spirulina can create a vibrant green.
The shape of silicone molds that you use can also add a fun twist to your homemade soap, making each bar as unique as your liquid gold. You can even make some fun shapes for the kids like animals, vehicles or shapes.
Curing and storage
Cold-process soap needs to be cured for about four weeks to make sure that it’s hard enough and gentle on the skin. To extend its shelf life, store your finished soap bars in a cool, dry place.
If you opted for the melt-and-pour method, keeping your soap in the refrigerator can help maintain its freshness, especially in warm climates.
Common soap-making issues and what to do about it
Sometimes, things don’t go as planned and even though you’re following the instructions step by step, it still doesn’t work out. Here are a few common issues and how to fix them:
The soap mixture isn’t setting
If your soap mixture remains liquid longer than expected, it may be due to an incorrect ratio of lye to fat. Double-check your measurements and ensure you’re using a reliable lye calculator.
The soap is brittle or crumbly
This can happen if there’s too much lye. It’s important to measure that your ingredients accurately to prevent a harsh, crumbly bar of soap.
The soap is developing ‘soda ash’/a white powdery substance
A white powdery substance on the soap’s surface isn’t harmful but it can be unsightly. To prevent this, cover your soap molds with plastic wrap during the first 48 hours of curing.
Important notes on making breast milk soap
DIY breast milk soap combines the wonderful benefits of human milk with the rewarding experience of creating something uniquely beneficial for the skin.
Whether you’re making breast milk soap to help manage baby acne, to help provide some moisture for dry skin, or simply as a special addition to bath time, breast milk soap is a wonderful way to turn your extra breast milk into something valuable for your baby and even your whole family.
If you ever need any education or support related to breastfeeding, contact an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) for evidence-based information and support.
If you’re ever worried about your or your baby’s health, do not hesitate to consult with your healthcare provider for support.
