8 Amazing Benefits Of Aloe Vera For Babies

Q: Can I Feed Aloe Vera to my Baby?

No you cannot. It is not safe to give aloe vera juice to a baby. Their systems are very sensitive and will need time to start digesting such items.

Q: Is it Safe to Apply Aloe Vera on my Baby’s Face?

Check with your doctor. Some baby’s eyes might get irritated. Facial skin is very tender and easily affected, so do a patch test first if the doctor approves.

Aloe vera is an extremely useful plant that plays a crucial role in maintaining skin health. Some proponents of aloe also claim that drinking aloe juice can be beneficial for your health. Is aloe vera for babies beneficial? When it comes to our little ones, as parents, we tend to be extra careful about what we use on their skin. Babies have extremely sensitive and delicate skin that can react badly to the smallest disturbance. In this article, we discuss the safety of aloe vera for babies.

What is Aloe Vera?

Aloe Vera is a species of cactus plant that can be easily grown as a potted plant at home. It requires minimal care, and you don’t have to water the plant every day and trim it every week. Aloe Vera or Ghritkumari (घृतकुमारी) Hindi, can indeed perform miracles on improving your child’s skin.

Aloe Vera – in the juice or gel form finds a place in consumer products like skin lotions, cosmetics, ointments, and medicinal beverages. It is chemical-free and 100 % natural.

Being a natural healer and a great alternative to a lot of medicines, isn’t it apt that the Egyptians rightly called aloe vera “The Plant of Immortality?” You can use fresh aloe vera gel on your child’s skin to reap amazing benefits.

Is Aloe Vera Good For Babies?

Yes, aloe vera is good for babies and generally safe, too. You can apply aloe vera to any part of your child’s body. However, be careful when using it on the face. Avoid the eyes, mouth, nose, and ears when applying it to your little one’s face. Don’t give aloe vera to your child orally without consulting your doctor first.

8 Amazing Benefits of Aloe Vera for Babies

Aloe Vera is very safe to use on your baby’s skin. Some amazing benefits of aloe vera on babies include

1. Beneficial in Treating Baby Eczema

Aloe Vera can treat baby eczema (inflammation of the skin with red and itchy patches) without any side effects.

2. Keeps The Skin Well Hydrated

Water is the main ingredient in Aloe Vera Gel. The hydrating properties of Aloe Vera help retain infant skin’s moisture. Also, applying aloe over the baby’s skin allows the skin to breathe. The soothing and healing properties of Aloe Vera act as a shield between your infant’s skin and harmful elements they could possibly come in contact with.

3. Excellent Treatment for Sunburns

The child’s skin is very sensitive. Prolonged exposure to the sun can easily cause sunburns. Sunburns cause redness, burning, and inflammation of the skin, due to prolonged exposure. Aloe Vera is extremely soothing on sunburns and brings a cooling effect to the skin.

[Read: Sunburns in Babies-Treatment and Prevention]

4. Nourishes and Promotes Hair Growth

Aloe Vera is very useful in improving hair growth in babies. You can scoop out the fleshy insides of the aloe vera leaves and blend well with distilled water.

You can use the resultant paste during the final rinse when washing your child’s hair. This paste or juice helps in maintaining the pH balance of the scalp and also serves as an excellent conditioner, making the hair smooth and silky.

5. It is a Natural Healer

Aloe Vera can heal minor burns, bruises, scrapes, or cuts on child’s skin. Due to its moisturizing effect, it prevents air from drying the wound and improves blood circulation through the area. It also helps treat mosquito bites and insect bites due to its soothing properties.

[Read: Insect Bites -First aid and home remedies]

6. Soothes Various Rashes, Including the Diaper Rash

It is also a great home remedy for any kind of rash that occurs because of bacterial, fungal or viral causes. Aloe Vera is very effective in treating any kind of nappy rash due to the presence of an anti-inflammatory component called B-sitosterol.

The infection-fighting properties and abundance of skin-friendly vitamin E present in aloe vera help in the treatment of diaper rashes, which are very common among many babies due to the constant use of diapers.

7. Good To Treat Baby Acne

The anti-inflammatory and medical properties of aloe vera can help reduce redness and inflammation associated with baby acne. Adding aloe vera to your baby’s skincare routine will provide oil-free hydration. Baby acne can be aggravated by oil.

8. May Help To Reduce Pain

Aloe vera contains phytosterols, anthraquinones, carotenoids, terpenes, and salicylic acid that have anti-inflammatory properties. The topical application of aloe vera leads to pain reduction in wounds due to its ability to penetrate the skin. This is one reason that aloe vera cream is recommended to relieve mild sunburn pain.

Side Effects Of Aloe Vera For Babies

The main concern with aloe Vera being used on baby skin is the possibility of an allergic reaction. Aloe can cause allergic reactions in babies who are allergic to plants in the lily family (such as onions and tulips). These types of reactions are known as cross-reactivity.

Possible symptoms include redness, burning sensations, skin irritation, hives, cramping, and diarrhea. Rarely, aloe can bring about dermatitis in babies. In certain cases, applying aloe vera to the skin of your child may interfere with or reduce the effectiveness of other medicines that you may be applying or giving them.

Preparation of Fresh Aloe Vera Gel

Cut two aloe vera leaves with a sharp knife and wash them thoroughly. Then cut off the edges of both leaves and split the top layer of the leaf lengthwise. Carefully peel off the transparent aloe vera gel from the leaf and use it fresh.

Active Components Present in Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera contains some active components that are responsible for its amazing medicinal value.

It contains 8 enzymes that help in reducing inflammation.
Minerals like calcium, copper, selenium, chromium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, and zinc are present in it which helps in the proper functioning of the above enzymes.
Aloe Vera provides sugars like glucose and fructose that have anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory properties.

Precautions While Using Aloe Vera on Babies

Aloe Vera has amazing benefits for babies, but at the same time, it is necessary that we adhere to some precautions too. Some of them include:

Although aloe vera is safe to use on your little one’s skin, it is better to consult your doctor before using aloe vera gel on your little one’s sensitive skin as it can interfere with any other medication that is being used on your child and may reduce its effect.
Also, if you notice any rash, itchiness, or redness on your baby’s skin worsens after using aloe vera, immediately wash off the gel from your infant’s skin. Consult your doctor for treatment.
Avoid giving aloe vera juice to babies, as oral consumption can be harmful for them. Speak to your doctor before you begin using aloe vera orally.
Nursing mothers should also avoid consuming aloe vera juice orally, as your little one can easily ingest some of it through breast milk.
Similarly, pregnant women should also stay away from drinking aloe vera juice as it can harm the fetus.

Today, more and more people around the world are using aloe vera due to its amazing benefits. Aloe Vera is safe to use on babies as it is gentle and works very fast. Did you use aloe vera on your baby’s skin? How do you use aloe vera on your baby? Do share your experiences in the comments section below.

FAQ’s

1. Can I Use Raw Aloe Vera on my Baby’s Skin?

Yes, you can. Ensure the gel is fresh and clean. If you feel your baby is reacting to it, check with your doctor.

2. Can I Feed Aloe Vera to my Baby?

No, you cannot. It is not safe to give aloe vera juice to a baby. Their systems are very sensitive and will need time to start digesting such items.

3. Can I Apply Fresh Aloe Vera Gel to my Baby’s Bottom?

Yes, you can. This can be a great cure for diaper rash. It is cool and soothing for the skin.

4. Is it Safe to Apply Aloe Vera on my Baby’s Face?

Check with your doctor. Some infants’ eyes might get irritated. The facial skin is very tender and easily affected, so do a patch test first if the doctor approves.