Planning a Baby Shower Gift Basket - Day 1

I was recently asked to host a baby shower and it has inspired me to create a goodie basket for the new mom and baby. I know this week I want to make a gentle soap, a massage oil, and a diaper salve.

This week will feature things to pamper baby and mom. With that in mind, everything this week will be unscented. I usually love scent, but I feel it is important that mom and baby can be pampered without potential irritants and overwhelming odors. Everything this week will be unscented and will be formulated with some extra TLC (tender love and care) in mind.Today, I actually wanted to start with something very simple. A lip balm.

Now a lip balm seems very specific and singularly focused but take a step back and consider the other uses it might have for a new mom. When she has finished nursing and has cleaned up and dried off, she can use it on her nipples to prevent chaffing, drying, and further irritation. Breastfeeding moms can experience a lot of tenderness, and the skin needs something gentle and caring. It can also be used for dry skin, especially for elbows and other dry areas.

I waffled between choosing either the Lanolin Lip Solution Base or the Shea Butter Lip Solution Base. I ended choosing the Shea Butter Lip Solution Base simply because I felt it is creamy, easy to apply and more generally accepted compared to Lanolin. I know a lot of people who love beeswax but don’t find lanolin products appealing. So to be on the safe side, I will stick with the Shea Butter Lip Solutions Base unless I know the new mom and her personal care preferences well enough to be comfortable selecting something with lanolin. Come join me for a simple project that makes a difference for a new mom!

Recipe:

To make this a truly two-birds, one-stone type project, I will actually be using two different containers. This will help keep things clean and hygienic. One will be our classic lip balm container and the other will be our Bigger Lip Balm Tube. The classic 0.15 oz tube I will label as a lip balm and the Bigger Lip Balm Tube I will be labeling as Nipple Balm. I have included examples designed by Jen, who runs our label department. Didn’t she do a fabulous job? I love her work!

Label for the Nipple Balm

Label for Mommy’s Lip Balm

Shea Lip Solutions in a boilable bag

Let’s get started. Open the jar or bucket of lip solutions and remove the lid. Heat gently in the microwave until the mixture is liquid. If you still have a few stubborn lumps of lip balm that hasn’t yet melted, don’t worry. Simply stir the mixture and the heat should cause the lip solutions to melt.

If you are using one of the boil-able bags, do not open the bag until you are ready to fill your containers. These bags are great because you can put them in a pot of gently boiling water and allow the water to heat the lip solutions until liquid. We recommend the bags only if you are going to be using up all of the material in one go. The bag can be set in hot water for up to 30 minutes. The bag also makes for easier storage and takes less space. If you use a lot of lip solutions and are looking to increase your storage space, the bags are a really economical alternative to buckets! If the solution is mostly melted, feel free to carefully remove the bag from the pot of boiling water and gently knead the bag. Often times, that small amount of agitation is all that is needed to encourage the rest of the material to melt.

Melted Lip Solutions

From here, you can either pipette the mixture into your tubes, or you can use a filling tray. I like using a filling tray because they are simple and fast. If you are using a filling tray, insert your tubes into your tray. Flood the tray with your melted lip balm. Allow the mixture to cool. Scrape off the excess. I like to use a plastic putty knife. Remove the tubes from the tray then cap.

If you are going to pipette the lip balm into the tubes, fill the tube until you get a dome of the liquid material at the top. Wax shrinks when it cools and doing this helps ensure that you get a beautiful top. Fill all of your tubes making sure they are domed on the top before they cool. (You may need to reheat your lip balm during this process. This is normal and to be expected.) Allow the tubes to cool and cap.

Now you can give your lip balm or nipple balm as appropriate. If you are selling these, I highly recommend using a shrink band to provide tamper evidence! After all, no one wants to share their personal care products with a stranger!