diaper rash

Salad Bar Parenting: Coconut Oil

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Salad Bar Parenting:  A buffet of ideas, practices and products loved by a Motherhood Collective Mom. Depending on your season of parenthood or mothering philosophies, you may pile on what works for you or pass the salad tongs to the next Mom. I'm a cloth diapering mama. I cloth diaper for financial reasons and I love it. A few months ago my baby girl got a diaper rash and I tried a handful of different creams and products on her bottom with no success. I even switched to disposables temporarily and while that helped clear the redness, nothing cleared up the rash entirely. After receiving a number of recommendations, I finally decided to give coconut oil a chance.

Let me clarify that just because I cloth diaper and generally prefer natural solutions, I know there is a time and place for man-made products. Being the real American that I am, I prefer immediate relief from discomfort for both me and my child that over the counter creams and medicines provide. I tried a lot of those products (at the recommendation of my pediatrician) and none of them worked. So, like I said, I finally gave coconut oil a try.

After one day my girl's bottom was completely clear. Over 2 months of a diaper rash with trial and error and the answer was in a friend's pantry the entire time?! Who knew!

After I saw the incredible change coconut oil made on my babe's bottom I decided to do a little research. Did you know coconut oil is very good for you, 100% natural and has a TON of great uses? As I type this I currently have a coconut oil + baking soda combination on my face as an exfoliating mask. (Oh the benefits of working from home!) Here are a few other great ways to use coconut oil:

  1. Eat a spoonful when you need an energy boost.
  2. Use it to treat athlete's foot, ringworm, or other fungal or yeast infections.
  3. Use it on your baby's cradle cap.
  4. Use it to help reduce visibility of stretch marks or to prevent stretch marks.
  5. For nursing mothers, consuming coconut oil will help increase your milk flow.
  6. Eat a spoonful to improve digestion, help with heartburn, help overall immune function, or curb your appetite.
  7. Helps treat thrush.
  8. Mix with baking soda for a facial scrub.
  9. Whip in your mixer for a fluffy body moisturizer that stays soft year round.
  10. Use it to treat lice.
  11. Use it as a natural sunscreen.

The uses are endless! I am definitely a new believer in coconut oil and I plan to use it for the rest of my life.

Do you use and love coconut oil? Please share with us in the comments!

For more information about the benefits and uses of Coconut Oil, check out http://coconutoil.com/ To purchase your own, check out http://www.tropicaltraditions.com