I started making our signature Coco Oat Sóak in my kitchen back in 2014.
At the time, I was home on maternity leave with my little guy, navigating all the highs and lows of new motherhood. Like many babies, he struggled with eczema and sensitive skin almost immediately. His tiny cheeks were red and irritated, his skin constantly dry and bath time often left him even more uncomfortable.
When I brought it up with our doctor, the recommendation was topical steroids.
As a first-time Mom, that didn’t sit right with me. While I understand there’s a place for medical treatments, I personally wasn’t comfortable putting steroid creams on my baby’s delicate skin unless absolutely necessary. I wanted to find a gentler, more natural alternative first. Something simple, nourishing and safe enough to use every single day.
Só I started researching.
I spent countless late nights learning about traditional oat baths, natural ingredients for sensitive skin and the harsh detergents commonly found in baby soaps and washes. What I discovered shocked me. Many products marketed as “gentle” for babies still contained synthetic fragrances, sulfates, preservatives and ingredients that can further irritate eczema-prone skin.
I wanted better for my son.
Só I started experimenting in my kitchen.
After many small batches, I created a powdered coconut milk and oat soak that transformed bath time for us. It was gentle, moisturizing, soap-free and calming on his irritated skin. Instead of leaving his skin tight and dry like traditional baby wash, his skin felt soft and hydrated after every bath.
That homemade blend would eventually become what we now know as Coco Oat Sóak.
The Original All Natural Baby Wash
That first Christmas, I shared jars of my homemade soak with a few close friends who had also had babies that year.
Nothing fancy, just the original formula scooped into simple glass jars from the dollar store.
At the time, I had no business plan. No logo. No packaging strategy. No idea that this little recipe would become a company still here over a decade later.
I simply wanted to help other Moms who were struggling with the same things I was.
My friends started using it exactly the way I did. As a replacement for soap and traditional baby wash. They used it head-to-toe on their babies, especially for dry skin, eczema, diaper irritation, and sensitive skin concerns.
And they loved it.
They kept asking for more.
Soon, those friends were telling other Moms. And those Moms started telling their friends too.
Before I knew it, my first little business was born.
A Formula That Never Changed
One thing I’m incredibly proud of is that our Coco Oat Sóak formula has remained essentially unchanged since those earliest kitchen days.
The ingredients are still sourced from many of the same trusted suppliers we found back then. And let me tell you, finding an organic powdered coconut milk supplier in 2014 was not easy.
Long before “clean beauty” and “natural skincare” became mainstream marketing terms, we were doing the work to source simple, high-quality ingredients we felt good about using on babies.
That original formula not only helped calm my son’s eczema, but it became the only all natural baby wash we used on him for years.
From newborn baths to toddler messes and eventually washing his curly hair, Coco Oat Sóak was part of our daily routine until he was about eight years old and switched to showers.
As a Mom, there’s something incredibly meaningful about creating a product you use in your own home every single day.
We never created products just to sell something.
We created products we genuinely needed.
Why Moms Love Soap-Free Baby Care
Over the years, we’ve heard from thousands of parents whose babies struggled with:
- Dry skin
- Eczema
- Sensitive skin
- Cradle cap
- Irritation from traditional soaps
- Reactions to synthetic fragrance
One of the biggest misconceptions in baby skincare is that bubbles equal clean.
The truth is, many traditional baby washes rely on detergents and foaming agents that can strip the skin barrier. Especially in babies and young children whose skin is already more delicate and absorbent than adult skin.
That’s one reason so many parents are now searching for soap-free baby wash alternatives and more natural skincare routines for their little ones.
Our Coco Oat Sóak was intentionally created to be different.
Instead of harsh cleansers, it uses soothing ingredients traditionally known to help support dry, irritated skin while gently cleansing without stripping away natural moisture.
For many families, it becomes more than just a bath product. it becomes part of a calming bedtime routine and a gentler approach to skincare overall.
Built Through Word of Mouth
To this day, word-of-mouth marketing has been the biggest driver of our growth.
And honestly, I think that says everything.
When a Mom tells another Mom about the best all natural baby wash she’s ever used, people listen.
Parents are careful about what they put on their babies’ skin. They ask questions. They read ingredient labels. They share recommendations with each other because they genuinely want to help.
Long before influencer campaigns and viral marketing were common, our brand grew one conversation at a time.
One Mom sharing with another.
One market customer becoming a repeat customer.
One baby shower gift turning into a family tradition.
That grassroots support built this company.
The Market Days That Built Our Brand
If you’re one of our OG customers — or if you spent weekends at handmade markets around 2015 and 2016 — there’s a good chance you saw us in our early days.
Back then, I loaded heavy glass jars into my vehicle every weekend, packed up burlap tablecloths, handmade signage, and bath soak samples, and headed to markets alongside so many other small local makers.
Those market days were exhausting, exciting and honestly some of my favourite memories.
There was something absolutely magical about that era of small businesses.
We were all figuring it out as we went.
We traded business advice between customers, shared market snacks, supported each other online and celebrated every little win together. Many lifelong friendships were formed during those years.
And while many brands from that time have come and gone, we’re incredibly grateful to still be here.
More Than Just a Product
Looking back now, Coco Oat Sóak was never really just about skincare.
It was about motherhood.
It was about wanting something gentler for our babies.
It was about slowing down and choosing simple ingredients over complicated formulas.
It was about creating comforting bath routines that made both Moms and babies feel cared for.
As our company has grown, our mission has stayed the same to create simple, beautiful products for our own families and yours.
No unnecessary fillers.
No overpowering synthetic fragrance.
No complicated routines.
Just thoughtfully made products inspired by real motherhood and real life.
Thank You for Supporting Small Business
Whether you discovered us years ago at a local market, received Coco Oat Sóak as a baby shower gift, or you’re just finding us now - THANK YOU.
Every order, every recommendation, every review and every Mom-to-Mom conversation has helped this little kitchen creation grow into something far bigger than I ever imagined back in 2014.
And the best part?
We’re still doing it the same way we started.
With intention.
With heart.
And with the belief that simple really can be better.