Can babies take epsom salt baths

What Is Epsom Salt?

Epsom salt is also known as magnesium sulfate. It’s a chemical compound made up of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen.
Despite its name, Epsom salt is a completely different compound than table salt. It was most likely termed “salt” because of its chemical structure.
It resembles table salt and is often dissolved in baths, so you may also know it as “bath salt.” While it looks similar to table salt, its taste is distinctly different. Epsom salt is quite bitter and unpalatable.

Some people still consume it by dissolving the salt in water and drinking it. However, you probably don’t want to add it to food due to its taste.

Possible Benefits Of Epsom Salt For Babies

The correct use of Epsom salt under expert guidance may provide the following benefits to the baby.
Skin exfoliation: Bathing with Epsom salt can exfoliate the skin, remove dead skin cells, and improve skin health. Removing dead skin cells improves the skin’s texture and appearance.
Anti-itch or antipruritic: Using Epsom salt compression during bath time is a common home remedy for alleviating itching due to sunburn, swimmer’s itch, bug bite, and skin rashes. Diaper rash, psoriasis, and eczema are other skin conditions for which Epsom salt baths are sometimes recommended.
Muscle relaxation and pain relief: Epsom salt may promote blood flow by vasodilation (widening of blood vessels), which helps relax the muscles. It also has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties that could reduce swelling and alleviate aches and cramps. However, more research is needed to ascertain these effects.
Sound sleep: Naturopathy practitioners use Epsom salt baths to relax the mind and body and promote sleep. The magnesium in Epsom salt is believed to stimulate the production of melatonin, a sleep-inducing hormone. However, these effects are not clinically proven.
Most of these benefits are researched among adults, and it is unknown if they also apply to babies.

Are Epsom Salt Baths Safe For Kids?

It is absolutely safe for toddlers, children, and adults to take an Epsom salt bath.

When the salts are dissolved in bath water, they release magnesium and sulfate ions that are absorbed through the skin. More than half of all Americans have a magnesium deficiency, which is believed to be a factor in all kinds of health problems.

Sulfate also plays an important role in how your body works: It forms brain tissue and joint proteins and can strengthen the walls of the digestive tract.

Taking an Epsom salt bath helps restore magnesium and sulfate in the system. It also builds healthy joints, improves brain activity, and reduces stress, which are key reasons why an Epsom salt bath for kids is a great idea.

How To Bathe Your Baby Safely With Epsom Salt?

Care should be taken while bathing a baby; it also applies to Epsom salt baths. They are usually considered safe if used as directed. The infographic below highlights some safety measures while bathing your baby.

How Much Epsom Salt For Kids?

You may wonder how to make an Epsom salt bath for kids and how much salt to use. Here is a general guideline:

• For children under 60 lbs, add ½ to ¾ cup Epsom salt to warm bath water.
• For children 60 lbs to 100 lbs, add 1 cup salt to the bath.
• For 100 lbs and over, add 1 ½ to 2 cups to the bath.

Try adding Essential Oils if you want to make your own Epsom salt bath recipes! Lavender, orange, and eucalyptus are soothing scents that your kids will love in their special bath. Simply add about 10 drops of essential oil per 1 cup of Epsom salt.