Milwaukee Family Photographer | Milwaukee Baby Photographer | Milk Bath Photographer
Nadia was one of the most smiley babies I have photographed. I asked her mom if she is always so happy, and she said "yes!". What a perfect baby! During this session, we had a variety of adorable outfits and Nadia pulled off each and every one of them along with ending the session with a floral milk bath. When I say milk bath, I mean an ACTUAL MILK bath. I can picture a weird and confused look on your face right now but what most people don't realize is that milk baths are actually really good for your skin! And they make really cute pictures.
So what is a "milk bath"?
A milk bath can be done with a few different ingredients. For this specific shoot, I purchased dairy free oat milk (this is for those who have more sensitive skin, you can use regular milk), a variety of flowers and warm water. That...is....it! The secret tips about the flowers are 1. They have to be real because if they are not the flowers will sink 2. When you cut the flowers, make sure you keep a part of the steam on because it also helps them float easier. And for the milk/water ratio, majority of the bath was water. First I started pouring the milk and slowly added the water in. The water has to be just enough to make the water look cloudy or milky.
Other milk bath ingredients you can use are:
- Baking Soda (softens your skin)
- Corn Starch (soothes irritation)
- Milk Powder (moisturizes the skin and the natural lactic acid found in the milk exfoliates)
My guess is the baking soda would make the water fizzy but if you have tried this before, I'd love to hear how it turns out. When you're done, no need to rinse baby. Simply take them out of the bath and gently pat them dry. Apply fragrance-free lotion to baby's skin to lock in the hydrating benefits of the milk bath.
What are the benefits of milk baths?
Although there has been minimal research, many people have said this helps soothe and hydrate their infants' rashes and dry, irritated skin. Milk baths have been used to treat and prevent common skin issues in babies including:
- Dry skin
- Baby acne
- Minor cuts
- Eczema
- Diaper rash
- Cradle cap
If all goes well, you could see a marked improvement in your child's skin following their breastmilk bath but do keep a close eye on any irritation that may require additional treatment.
