FAQ – Page 3 – Mummy’s Busy World: A Parenting Blog!

Baby oil is made from highly refined and purified, perfumed mineral oil. Mineral oil is a colorless, odorless, light mixtures of higher alkanes from a mineral source like petroleum. Hence, mineral oil is also known as liquid paraffin, paraffin oil or liquid petroleum. That being said, mineral oil cannot be metabolized or in simple terms, it cannot be broken down and hence, stays in your body forever. Does Baby Oil Expires? Baby oil contains things like fragrance and stabilizers also which might degrade over time and reduce the shelf life of mineral oil. As a rule of thumb, it is safe to use the oil within 3 years from the date of manufacture, if stored at room temperature. How to Check if an Oil Has Expired? Always check the label located at the bottom, side or back of the product for the date of manufacture. If an expiry date is mentioned, then do not use the product after the specified date. Natural oils break because of oxidation and hence, have a limited shelf life. However, mineral oil is an inert substance and would not undergo any breakdown or oxidation to release a foul smell. An expired baby oil might turn sticky or irritate your skin if used. To avoid such risks, it is recommended to replace baby products every year. Do Johnson Baby Products Expire? Yes. Like any other product, Johnson baby products do expire, but the expiration date depends on the main ingredient of the product. Johnson & Johnson recommends the following points for product expiry: Replace products annually to get the best experience. Products without expiration date are stable for three years from the date of manufacture as long as they are stored at room temperature. If an expiry date is mentioned, do not use the product after the specified date. If you want to determine the exact age of a product then give them a call with the lot number. How Long Does Baby Oil Last on Skin? Baby oil is a topical emollient and it is used to moisturize and soften skin. Since its non-comedogenic, it won’t clog your pores but will sit as a barrier on your skin to prevent the loss of moisture. Follow the steps mentioned below to make your baby oil last long: Thoroughly clean the skin before applying oil. Some products need to be shaken before use. Apply the oil when the skin is still wet. Wet skin is ideal for oil application as water acts as a carrier and allows deeper penetration of oil to have a lasting effect. If you are using this product for diaper rash, then clean the area well and allow it to dry before applying the product. How long the product lasts will depend on your skin condition and the area of application. If you are using it to treat dry hands, you may have to apply the oil every time you wash your hands. On a normal skin and if applied after following the above steps, baby oil lasts for a day. What to Do With An Expired Baby Oil? Parents receive many gifts for their babies and one of the most famous baby gifts is baby products. You might have such stuff in bulk and some of them might have expired. Should you just throw it away? Absolutely not! Products like baby oil can be put to some amazing usage including the latest addition to your beauty routine. Makeup remover: Baby oil is a safe and gentle way to remove even the most stubborn makeup off your face. Just soak a cotton pad with a little baby oil and say bye-bye to your makeup face. Removing temporary tattoos, bandaids or stickers: Baby oil is an excellent lubricant. Just soak the sticker or tattoo with baby oil and rub it off. You can also use it for removing price-tag stickers. Slip off a tight ring: Add a few drops of baby oil to slip off a tight ring from your finger. Shaving: Baby oil can be used before as well as after shaving. Use baby oil instead of shaving cream and shave as per normal. Its emollient effect leaves the skin soft and moisturized even after shaving. You can also use baby oil after shaving to moisturize your skin. After Waxing: Baby oil helps in soothing the skin and removing any extra wax after waxing. Remove chewing gum from hair: Soak the chewing gum in baby oil and leave it for a few minutes. After some time, it will be easier to remove chewing gum without affecting your hair. Lubrication: Baby oil can be used as a lubricant for squeaky door hinges, rusted screws or difficult keyhole. Foot moisturizer: Wash your feet well and remove the dead skin. Gently massage baby oil all over your feet and cover them with socks. Leave it overnight and wake up to a soft and smooth heel. To shine your furniture: Baby oil acts as a perfect varnish for your old furniture. Just damp cloth with a little water and then add some baby oil to it to polish the furniture surface. To shine shoes or boots: Add a few drops of baby oil to a dry cloth and polish your favorite leather bags or shoes to make them shine. Cleaning stainless steel: Baby oil is a safe and cheap way to keep your stainless steel appliances looking clean, shiny, and smudge-free. Related Questions Is baby oil harmful to my baby? Mineral oil and other hydrocarbons are the greatest contaminants of the human body- and the studies have found that skin contamination is the possible route of its accumulation in the body. As a result, mineral oil accumulates in human tissues, fat, and milk. Being a hydrocarbon, baby oil is a type of liquid that can be easily inhaled and can lead to pneumonia or other fatal complications, according to the National Capital Poison Center. Apart from that, the mineral oil used in baby oil and other cosmetics is highly refined and purified and is considered cosmetic-grade and hence safe to use. They also have a long record of safe use. What are the uses of baby oil for babies? Baby oil can be used as a massage oil for your baby. It glides over skin smoothly locks in moisture. Use baby oil as a bath oil for your baby. You can use it as a moisturizer for your baby’s skin. You can use it to treat cradle cap. Cradle cap is a baby form of dandruff and it appears as scaly patches on the head, where a baby would wear the cap and hence the name. To treat it, massage baby oil into your baby’s scalp to loosen and remove the dry and dead skin. What are the natural alternatives to baby oil? Parents should be the only ones to decide what they want for their babies. If you are still not convinced that baby oil is safe for your little one, then there are many natural and organic options available to pamper your baby’s soft and delicate skin. Extra virgin coconut oil: Coconut oil is a great substitute for baby oil. Its moisturizing, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial benefits keep your baby’s skin soft and nourished. Almond oil: It is light and sweet-smelling oil perfect for taking care of baby-soft skin. It also has anti-microbial properties. Extra virgin olive oil: Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil is one of the best skin care products. Olive oil is rich in antioxidants and is super moisturizing. Lavender oil: A few drops of lavender essential oil can be added to any of the above three oils. Lavender oil smells wonderful and has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. (Check for lavender sensitivity in your baby before applying it.)