Homemade everyday baby lotion/cream

Here is a recipe for soothing ,all natural lotion, that I came up with ,a while ago ,when I decided to cut cost and go all natural with our baby products.I always quadruple the recipe to make a big batch of lotion and store it in the fridge, in airtight jars, all labeled ,with a date on it ,and take out small portions as need.
 This lotion uses all organic ingredients and is hypo-allergic, but I recommend using it first on yourself before start using on baby.

1/4 cup organic extra virgin coconut oil                                          

1/4 cup raw unrefined shea butter
1 tbs organic beeswax
2 tbs cold press extra virgin olive oil
essential oil(optional)- here is a list of EO considered  safe for babies

baby safe essential oils
EO safe to use on babies

Why Coconut oil?
Coconut oil contains large amounts of lauric acid,which is a powerful anti-microbial and anti viral fatty acid found in nature.it helps prevent and eliminate baby acne,dry skin,diaper rash and numerous other skin conditions.
Coconut oil when taken ,either internally or applied topically helps treat yeast infections and can thus be called " miracle oil "for babies
Why Shea butter?
 Shea butter has been in use for centuries in the continent of Africa .The shea tree is considered sacred and babies are often welcomed to the world with a vigorous rub down with shea butter ,which is obtained from the seeds of fleshy fruit that grows on the very same tree.
 Its anti-inflammatory,antiseptic and anti fungal properties,helps with diaper rash,eczema and other dry skin condition.It has anti oxidants which protects the skin from free radicals.Shea butter is deeply moisturizing and soothing with naturally occurring fatty acids,vitamin E,D and allantoin

Why cold pressed extra virgin olive oil?
cold pressed olive oil is obtained from the first pressing of olives which is considered the finest with only 1% acid,if the baby has supersensitive skin,I would rather leave out this ingredient and replace with equal amount of coconut oil.
Directions:

• start by adding your beeswax in a glass jar
•  to this add shea butter and coconut oil.
• bring this mixture to a make shift boiler as shown in the video ,you can also use a double boiler for this purpose ,just make sure that the mixture is melted by the heat from the steam alone,to ensure that the goodness of ingredients used are intact.
•  once everything is melted and incorporated well remove and add the olive oil.
• mix well again and add in the essential oils.
• The lotion will starts to set in a while , in my case it took about half an hour.
• finally give it a good mix using a handheld blender or an electric mixer.
• apply as needed

Notes:

• lotion will solidify if you happen to live in cold places.
• Lotion will keep good for three months in room temperature,after that I have seen the texture change,but when stored in the refrigerator can be used for longer periods. 

 Here is a quick video tutorial:

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Oats and barley cereal/porridge for babies

I have been feeding my little one this recipe for more than a month now and I can say she loves it, in fact we too occasionally enjoy this creamy and satisfying porridge as breakfast,with some of  our favorite fruits and a dash of cinnamon  .

  used in this recipe is pearl barley (Bob's red mill brand)which looks very much similar to wheat berries and is packed with fiber and essential minerals . 

Ingredients:

• rolled oats -1 cup
• pearl barley-1 cup(the ratio is 1:1)
• salt -as required
• water-for every 1/4 cup of powder use 1 and a 1/2 to 2 cups

method

• measure out the ingredients and using a sharp blade grinder make a coarse powder
• you can make a finer powder if you want the porridge or cereal to be smooth rather than granulated.
•  transfer the powder to a dry airtight container and that is our base.
• when you are ready to make the porridge ,in a saucepan bring water to a rolling boil . 
• add in the powder and whisk thoroughly to ensure no lumps are formed.
• when bubbles start to appear simmer down and cook for 10 more minutes.
• season with a little salt,add in your little once favorite fruit and add milk if desired .
• you can add pureed fruits if adding whole chunks doesn't suit 
• The powder or flour as mentioned can be stored in an air tight container same as you would store any other flour in your pantry .I recommend making the powder meal in small batches to retain freshness.

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Baby food - Ragi porridge

lets have  a look on how to prepare ragi or finger millet for a baby's diet


Disclaimer:  following  is a basic recipe , always consult the pediatrician  before changing your baby's diet.
Cleaning the whole grain:
look for impurities rinse,dry properly and store t in an airtight container .

• Start by soaking 1 tbs of this grain for a minimum of 4 hrs in enough water .
•  grind this into a loose paste along with the water it was soaking in 
•  filter the contents with a cloth or a strainer, and leave undisturbed for the next hour or so until  a layer of water gets collected on the top,
• Drain the water alone into a separate container and discard.
• Bring the paste into a saucepan, add water and keep stirring until it changes into a darker shade,also bubbles will start to appear on the surface to indicate that the ragi is cooked.
• Stir in for a few more minutes ,if not sure whether the ragi is cooked follow this simple step : dip your hand into water and lightly touch the surface (taking care not to burn your hand) it should not stick if it is well cooked.
• season with a little salt,and add sweetener of your choice.
• finally turn off the heat and add milk if desired 
• Adjust the consistency to your liking by adding more or little liquid to the recipe.

here is a quick video tutorial:

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