Relaxing Bath Bombs for Kids and Adults

Hi everybody,

In this Instructable I will show you how you can easily make bath bombs for kids and adults. I think we can all use a break, and for me this is taking a relaxing bath. Of course this can only happen if your kids are asleep and sometimes this is easier said than done. I have found that lavender and mint can really help my little one relax and fall asleep easily.

This is why I will give you two bath bomb options - one for kids to make bath time fun and prepare them for bed and another one for adults to enjoy the so very rare moments of peace and quiet.

For the Funfetti kids' version:

- 2 cups baking powder

- Funfetti/sprinkles. I prefer ball-shaped to rod-shaped as this minimised clean-up.

- 1/8 cup baby oil

- 3 tbsp. apple cider vinegar (I sometimes use raspberry for the lovely pinkish colour)

- essential oils of your choice. I tend to use mint and lavender

- food colouring (optional)

For the Rose adults' version:

- 2 cups baking powder

- 1 cup citric acid

- 1/2 corn starch

- 1/2 Epsom or bath salts

- ground dried flowers (optional)

- 5 tbsp. baby oil or almond oil

- 2 tbsp. water

- essential oils of your choice. I tend to use mint and lavender
- food colouring (optional)

Tools:

- spatula

- bowl

- measuring cups

- cutting board

- air-tight storage container

In principle, either version will result in fragrant, fizzing packets of relaxation. The reason for a separate recipe is that babies and children can sometimes be very sensitive to the citric acid. This is why the reacting agent in the Funfetti bath bomb is the vinegar. Of course, many possibilities exist - colours, essential oil types, flowers... This is just an inspiration, let your creativity flow!

If you have some dried flowers, grind them up. Of course you can keep the petals whole, but grinding them would minimise the clean-up efforts. If you do not wish to have any petals in your bath bombs, skip this step.

Take all of the liquid ingredients and mix them in a bowl. I use a spatula to mix everything, it works very well. If you want to add colour, mix it in. As you can see, the colour does not mix in well, that's ok, don't worry about it.

Mix dry ingredients, except for rose petals (or Funfetti), in a separate bowl. Mix very well, take your time. This is highly important. If it is not mixed well, the bath bombs will not fizz.

Then add liquid mixture and mix quickly. Some baking powder might fizz, you just have to mix faster. The mixture should be a consistency of wet sand. It should hold shape if you squeeze it with your fingers.

Then add rose petals (or Funfetti).

If you'd like, you can buy bath bomb forms. But I did not have any on hand and wanted to use something that I already had in the house. Many options exist - ice cream scoopers, empty yogurt containers, silicone forms, ice cube trays, measuring cups. I went with the latter and used a 1/4 cup one.

Pack the form with your fingers. Make sure it is not completely full - you need to have a tiny bit of the rim visible on either side. This is crucial in getting the bath bombs out. Flip the cup over and hit it on the cutting board.Think of how you used to make sand castles - same idea. Continue until all of the mixture is shaped. For the recipe I give, you will make 12 Rose bath bombs.

In principle, you can also shape the Funfetti bombs the same way. But I was a bit afraid of kids trying to eat them if they look like immaculate desserts. This is why I went with a rock option. The shaping of these is very easy - just let the mixture dry out in the bowl. Once it is dried - about 2 hours - break apart into pieces of your choosing.

Let the bath bombs dry for a day. I sprinkled leftover rose petals on my rose bath bombs for decoration. Then put bath bombs in an air-tight container and use within one month. I used Mason jars. The bath bombs make a wonderful gift for kids and adults.