Babies Stink

So we currently have two kids in diapers. We may or may not be able to convince Izzyman to successfully use the big boy potty before our June Bug comes along - meaning we're looking at possibly having three in diapers at the same time, at least for a little while.

It's okay.

But our house does get... stinky. So I've developed a couple inexpensive ways to keep the stink at bay, using essential oils.

I really like cleaning with essential oils because the scents last longer than imitations. Plus a bottle of one of my favorite oils may cost $7 or so, but I have to use so few drops to really get a good strong scent that it ends up being a lot cheaper than buying the pre-made stuff.

Two musts in our household cleaning/de-stinking routine are diaper bin freshener and room freshener - both of which I keep conveniently stored right with the diapers. The great thing about making these is there's such a wide variety of essential oils you can use, depending on what your preferences are. I love citrusy scents, so I usually go with tangerine, lemon, or grapefruit (or a combination!).


Remember though: even though essential oils are natural, that doesn't mean they're always safe to apply to your skin - or particularly your baby's skin. You should always consult a reputable source regarding which essential oils are safe for topical application. Neither of these concoctions is meant to be used directly in your baby's diaper or on your baby's skin - no matter how much he stinks.

Diaper Bin Freshener:

What you'll need:

• Baking soda
• Essential oil like lemon, grapefruit, lavender - anything with a scent you enjoy
• A storage container with a lid (I use a thrifted plastic Rubbermaid travel cup that I do not plan on using for anything else, as ingesting traces of essential oils can be dangerous. Glass containers are non-porous, and so are safe for use after thorough cleaning)

Fill your container almost to the top with baking soda. I leave a bit of space (about an inch or so) to allow enough room to mix the baking soda and oil together. Pour in several drops of essential oil (for my sixteen ounce container, I used about ten drops). Replace lid and shake vigorously until the drops have mixed in to the baking soda. Remove the lid and give it a whiff to decide whether you need to add more oil. It should have a nice strong smell - strong enough to overpower a diaper. Once you've gotten that perfect scent, you're done! Sprinkle a little bit into your diaper bin every time you chuck a dirty diaper.

[Psst! This is also a great recipe for homemade carpet freshener! Just sprinkle on your carpet fifteen minutes or so before you're ready to vacuum and your room will smell wonderful]

Room Freshener:

What you'll need:

• 18 parts water
• 1 part vodka
• 1 part essential oils

If you have a 20 oz. spray bottle, you could fill it up with this recipe without having to do any math! I didn't want to use up my entire bottle of grapefruit oil (which is one ounce) so I halved it.

Simply add all ingredients to a bottle, shake, and spray. The vodka helps preserve the scent of the oil  as well as encourages the oil and water to mix evenly (though you do still need to shake the bottle before each use). I like to keep a bit of this in a one-ounce spray bottle that will fit easily in my diaper bag, so my kids won't leave a lingering stench when I change their diapers at church.

And there you have it, friends. Babies stink. Your house doesn't have to.