Virgin Coconut Oil: 7 Easy Ways to Use VCO on Your Baby

Virgin coconut oil is becoming ever more popular as people now wish to go natural or organic.  More things are being discovered about the nutritional value of VCO. No longer is it only for cooking. Some are even using coconut oil on their hair and body. 

Even parents are now starting to figure out the benefits that coconut oil brings to their kids. 

Why use virgin coconut oil

VCO is perhaps the most nutritious oil out there. Unlike vegetable oil, which contains mostly long-chain fatty acids that are not easily absorbed by our system, coconut oil comprises medium-chain fatty acids. Hence, it is quickly absorbed by our body, providing us an instant energy boost.

Also, since the skin readily absorbs coconut oil, many are using VCO as a beauty regimen.

VCO also contains monounsaturated fats and polyunsaturated fats. Hence, it provides energy to various parts of the body at different times.

Flavonoids and polyphenols are antioxidants also present in coconut oil. Such antioxidants get rid of free radicals in the bloodstream, thus preventing plaques from building in arteries.

However, the process of making cheap coconut oil products could strip away most or all of the nutritional benefits of coconut oil. Hence, virgin coconut oil, though expensive, will be worth the price.

(Photo : Unsplash/Tijana Drndarski)

Virgin coconut benefit kids

Coconut oil can give your kids the energy boost they need to last a day of learning and playing. It is especially beneficial to babies because free from harmful chemicals.

Here are some of the uses of VCO. 

Relieve itch

The comfort of your child is vital. Bug bites, diaper rash, and even chickenpox are awful and itchy, and kids are never happy about these things.

To ease the itch of a regular mosquito bite, you need about 6-12 drops of virgin coconut oil. With proper rubbing of VCO on your child's skin, you can also reduce swelling and speed up healing.

Apart from itch from a mosquito bite, that of chickenpox is also disturbing. You can also reduce itchiness and swelling from chickenpox with VCO. Again, just apply a few drops to the spots.

For diaper rash, simply apply VCO liberally to the affected right after cleaning it. The VCO will significantly reduce redness, itching, and swelling. 

Prevent scars and remove acne

VCO helps prevent scars from burns. Simply rub the coconut oil on the burn immediately. Do this twice a day until the burn entirely disappears. For small burns, you will only need a few drops a day of high-quality virgin coconut oil. Take note that VCO could also reduce the visibility of already existing scars. It is especially effective for reducing acne scars.

Also, since VCO contains massive amounts of lauric acid and vitamin E, it is excellent for skin treatment and especially for getting rid of baby acne. Lauric acid is the anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and anti-viral component of VCO. Vitamin E, meanwhile, nourishes the skin and encourages new growth. To use VCO as a skin treatment, you need to put a hot washcloth over the affected area. This process is important in opening the skin. Then rub coconut oil onto the affected area. Leave for 15 minutes to allow the skin to absorb the oil. Then wipe the skin with a new warm washcloth.

You can use this treatment not only on your baby but even on your teenage kid. 

Get rid of hangnails

Hangnails are the jagged pieces of skin that jut out from the sides of the fingernails. Such jutted skin could be irritating for kids. You can use VCO when you are removing hangnail to reduce redness and pain. Just apply coconut oil liberally to the area after you remove the hangnail. 

Ease pain from teething

When your baby starts teething, he or she could become irritated, not to mention experience pain. To use VCO for teething, soak the tip of your index finger in coconut oil. Then rub it along your baby's gums. Doing this helps ease the pain. 

Remove head lice

Since coconut oil is similar to the oil in human hair, you can use it to remove lies without any risk of damaging your kid's hair. Rub a little coconut oil into the roots of your child's hair before combing. After combing through and washing out the lice, apply liberal amounts of coconut oil again from the root to tip. Leave the oil overnight. 

Protect from the sun

You can use VCO as sunscreen also. Put about one tablespoon of coconut oil to your regular sunscreen. Then apply it as you would normally put on sunscreen. The VCO gives your sunscreen a longer lifespan and makes it stronger. Repeat the application if you are going with your baby for a long walk.

(Photo : Unsplash/Jakob Owens )

Tame the hair

Again, since VCO is safe to use on your kid's hair, you can use it as a conditioner to tame the hair. After thoroughly washing your kid's hair, apply coconut oil, and leave it for about half an hour. Doing so allows the proper absorption of nutrients. Not only can you groom your baby with VCO, but you also can help your teenager's hair from being damaged by hair treatments or dyeing. 

There are just so many uses for virgin coconut oil. What are you waiting for? Get a bottle now!