How to Make Kids' Bath Soap

Children can have sensitive skin, and many bar soaps have harsh chemical ingredients that can irritate their skin. Organic, natural soaps contain only naturally derived ingredients, but purchasing an organic soap from a health food store can be expensive. Luckily, you can make your own cold-press natural soap at home, allowing you to use ingredients that will be gentle on your child's skin during bathtime. Here is a step by step guide to help you make kid's bath soap.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb. of olive oil
• 1 lb. of coconut oil
• 1 lb. of palm oil
• 7 ounces of superfatted lye
• 16 ounces of water
• 1 large stockpot
• Glass measuring cup
• 2 candy thermometers
• Soap molds
• 1/8 cup lavender essential oil
• Safety goggles
• Rubber gloves

Instructions

1. 

   In a well ventilated room, preferably outdoors, combine the lye and the water in a glass measuring cup. Do not breath in the fumes or let them get into your eyes. Protect your skin by using rubber gloves, and protect your eyes by wearing safety goggles. Lye is very caustic. Place a candy thermometer into the glass measuring cup, and let the lye heat until it reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. 

   Pour all of the oils into a large stockpot. Heat the oils over medium heat until they all melt and combine. Stir well. Place a candy thermometer into the pot and let the mixture cool to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

3. 

   Very carefully pour the lye into the oils. Make sure that the temperatures are both around 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves to protect your skin and eyes from lye fumes. Pour in the essential oil. Stir vigorously until the mixture resembles a thick pudding and leaves marks behind when you stir it. This is called "tracing."

4. 

   Carefully pour the mixture into the soap molds, and let them sit in the molds for five days. Take the soaps out of the molds, and place them in a cool, dark room for six weeks so that they cure. The longer you allow the soaps to cure, the harder and more able to lather they will be.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep lye and hot oils away from children.

Resources

• Easy Cold Press Soap