Best Massage Oils For Baby

Most parents massage their baby with oil either before or after a bath. Baby massage is essential for a baby’s healthy growth and development. And with the usage of proper baby massage oil, massage can be more accessible for you and relaxing for your baby.

Which Massage Oil is Safe for Baby?

The baby’s skin is very delicate, sensitive, and is prone to skin rash. Moreover, there is no evidence to recommend any specific type of massage oil. However, some oils are thought to be more absorbing to the skin than others, and they are skin-friendly.
Some experts recommend vegetable or plant-based oils that absorb quickly. Being edible, these oils are easy to digest even if your baby puts his oily fingers in his mouth. Pure refined oils are best suited to your baby’s delicate skin if you’re using vegetable oil. Refined oils have a milder smell, a thin texture, and fewer chances of having any impurities.

But make sure you pick vegetable oils that are high in polyunsaturated fats. These oils are high in a substance called linoleic acid, which helps to protect the skin barrier and is also gentle on the baby’s skin. One of the good examples of vegetable oils with high polyunsaturated fats is pure refined sunflower seed oil.

Remember, vegetable oils are safer on a baby’s skin because most of them contain monounsaturated fats – oleic acid. This can be harsher on your baby’s soft and gentle skin.
Unscented baby mineral oil

Unscented baby mineral oil

These oils are one of the following good options to use on dry and sensitive skin. It is best to use fragrance-free baby oils because they can further make your baby’s skin dry and rash-prone.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is one of the widely used oils in India. Research shows that coconut oil keeps the skin moisturized and nourished. Moreover, pure virgin coconut oil has lots more benefits for the skin.

Which oils are not safe for a baby’s skin?

For dry, sensitive, and eczema skin, it is not good to use mustard oil (sarson ka tel), clarified butter (ghee), or olive oil (jaitoon ka tel) to massage your baby.

Olive oil, ghee, and mustard oil are high in monounsaturated fats, i.e. oleic acid, thus it makes your baby’s skin more dry and tender. Moreover, according to the study, these oils do not get absorbed into the skin nor do they get washed off from the skin easily.

Aromatherapy essential oils, such as tea tree oil, or chamomile oil, should not be used, as they are unsuitable for your baby’s sensitive skin.

If you aren’t sure about which massage oil to use, speak to your doctor. He may suggest a perfume-free oil, cream, or lotion suitable for your baby’s skin type.

If your baby’s skin becomes red, itchy, sore, or flaky after using a particular oil on your baby’s skin, then stop using it immediately.

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