DIY Newborn Oil & Balm (First Touch)

Last updated: August 2026

A good DIY newborn oil is shea oil, fractionated coconut oil and a few drops of vitamin E, with a minimal shea butter and coconut oil balm as a richer option, both unscented and free of essential oils. The shea oil and shea butter are made by hand at the Konjeihi Women's Enterprise Centre in Wa, Ghana. Both are deliberately unscented and free of essential oils, appropriate for use from the first days of life; full ingredient reasoning is covered in DIY Baby Balms: Why Ingredient Simplicity Matters Most, if you'd like the fuller picture. Both lean on the same trusted Baraka ingredients used throughout our Mother & Baby DIY Skincare Hub, and come together in under 20 minutes.

In This Recipe:

• What This Recipe Helps With
• Ingredients
• Directions
• Application Tips
• Customisation Ideas
• Storage & Shelf Life
• Voice Search FAQ
• Try These Next
• Disclaimer

Choose Your Formulation

What This Recipe Helps With

• Providing gentle first-touch care for newborn skin from day one
• Supporting dry patches, delicate folds, and dry scalp
• Offering both a lightweight oil and a slightly richer balm option
• Creating a calm bonding ritual through gentle massage after bathing

Why This Is a Great DIY Recipe

The Primary oil uses just 3 ingredients with no heating required, while the Gentle Newborn Skin Balm variation uses 3 ingredients with one simple melting step. Skill Level: Beginner. Both are about as forgiving as DIY gets — there's no temperature to watch closely and no risk of separating. Commercially, truly minimal-ingredient newborn products are surprisingly hard to find, since many baby oils and balms include fragrance or preservative systems even when marketed as gentle; both formulations here are fully traceable to a Baraka cooperative with nothing extra added.Yield: approximately 3 fl oz (90 ml) (Primary) plus one balm. This recipe is expanded from our Shea Butter for Babies guide, which covers additional formulations for newborn and infant skin.

Why These Ingredients Work Together

Shea Oil and Shea Butter both create a protective barrier gentle enough for a newborn's still-developing skin, supporting healthy barrier function without clogging pores. Traditional Coconut Oil lightens the texture in both formulations, helping them absorb without feeling heavy. Vitamin E Oil supports the stability of each formulation over its shelf life. Deliberately, neither formulation includes essential oils — full reasoning on that choice is covered in the linked ingredients guide above.

Hero Ingredient Benefits

• Shea Oil: So gentle it can be used from the first day of life, supporting healthy skin barrier development in the Primary formulation.
• Shea Butter: Creates a protective barrier that doesn't interfere with skin's natural functions, forming the base of the balm variation.
• Traditional Coconut Oil: Lightens the texture across both formulations so they absorb easily into delicate skin.

Primary Formulation: First Touch Newborn Oil

Ingredients:

• Shea Oil — 1/4 cup (60 ml)
• Traditional Coconut Oil (fractionated) — 2 tablespoons (30 ml)
• Vitamin E Oil — 3 drops (approximately 0.15 ml)

No essential oils are used in this formulation — none are recommended for newborns under 3 months.

Directions

1. In a clean, sterilised bottle, combine the shea oil, coconut oil, and vitamin E oil.
2. Cap tightly and shake gently to combine.
3. Label with ingredients and date of preparation.

Variation: Gentle Newborn Skin Balm

From Nurture & Nourish: DIY Remedies for Mother & Baby.

Ingredients:

• Shea Butter — 2 oz (60 g)
• Traditional Coconut Oil — 1 oz (30 g)
• Vitamin E Oil — 1 teaspoon (5 ml)

1. Melt the shea butter and coconut oil together in a double boiler.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly, about 5 minutes.
3. Add the vitamin E oil and stir thoroughly.
4. Pour into a clean glass jar and allow to cool completely.

Application Tips

For the Primary oil: apply a few drops to clean hands and gently massage over baby's skin after bathing, or as needed for dry patches — many parents report it is especially helpful for dry scalp, cradle cap and delicate folds. For the balm: apply a thin layer to dry or irritated areas of baby's skin as needed. Both formulations are gentle enough for regular use.

Customisation Ideas

• Choose the oil for all-over massage and lighter daily use.
• Choose the balm for targeted dry patches that need a slightly richer texture.
• Keep the oil bedside for quick application during nighttime diaper changes.

Storage & Shelf Life

Store the Primary oil at room temperature away from direct light for up to 6 months. Store the balm in a cool, dry place for up to 3 months.

The Impact of Your Purchase

When you make skincare with Baraka ingredients, you're supporting women's cooperatives who earn fair wages and preserve traditional processing methods. According to Baraka's Social and Environmental Impact Report, this direct trade model provided income for over 1,000 women and prevented 47 metric tons of CO2 emissions. You also gain complete transparency — knowing exactly what touches your skin and your family's skin, without hidden synthetics or uncertain supply chains.

Meet one of the women behind these ingredients in this short film: Your Impact: Joe Bereema.

Shop the Baraka Ingredients in This Recipe

Pure. Natural. Ethically sourced. Hand-crafted by women's cooperatives. These are the ingredients trusted throughout Baraka's DIY guides and recipes.

• Shea Oil — Shop Now — The liquid form of shea butter, ideal for lightweight application on delicate skin.
• Shea Butter — Shop Now — Rich and deeply moisturising, a versatile base for balms and creams.
• Traditional Coconut Oil — Shop Now — Lightweight and versatile, softens formulations and absorbs well.

Voice Search FAQ

What's a good DIY oil for newborn skin?
A shea oil and coconut oil blend with vitamin E, or a shea and coconut butter balm, both provide gentle care safe from the first day of life. Apply a few drops of oil or a thin layer of balm after bathing or as needed for dry patches.

Is it safe to use essential oils on newborn skin?
No. Baraka uses no essential oils in anything for babies or young children, which is why both formulations here are completely unscented.

What's the difference between the oil and the balm?
The Primary oil is a lightweight liquid ideal for all-over massage, while the Gentle Newborn Skin Balm is a slightly richer solid balm better suited to targeted dry or irritated spots. Both use the same core ingredients in different textures.

How often can I use these on my newborn?
Both formulations are gentle enough for daily use, such as after each bath, or as needed whenever dry patches appear. There's no strict limit since both are free of fragrance and essential oils.

Try These Next

If you enjoyed this recipe, you might also like:

• DIY Baby Massage Oil Recipe — a complementary formulation for slightly older babies once bonding massage becomes a daily ritual.
• Is Coconut Oil Good for Baby Skin? Top 3 Benefits — useful background on an ingredient shared by both formulations here.
• Shea Butter for Babies — a deeper look at how shea supports newborn and infant skin.
• Baby Skincare Essentials Every New Parent Needs — useful if you're just getting your baby skincare routine started.
• DIY Baby Balms: Why Ingredient Simplicity Matters Most — the fuller ingredient background behind both formulations on this page.

About These Ingredients

This recipe draws on two Baraka recipe books: the primary formulation is expanded from DIY Formulations for the Motherhood Journey, with the variation credited to Nurture & Nourish: DIY Remedies for Mother & Baby. Each book explores additional formulations for supporting newborn and infant skin.

Disclaimer

Many parents use this recipe and are happy with the results. Everything in it is pure, natural ingredients that many others have used with no issues or harm, but it is not a formally approved treatment. Your doctor, pediatrician or pharmacist should always be your first source of advice for your baby.