Choosing baby care products is not easy . New mothers are bombarded with information. One of the queries that new moms have is about the right baby oil. Questions cloud their mind .
What are the best oils for baby massage?
To massage or not?
What kind of baby oil is best?
What benefits does baby massage with baby oil?
The answers, though, are not always clear or transparent. Our mom’s and Grandmothers experience and modern science support the use of natural oils and products. In India, baby oil massage is not taken lightly. It’s a beautiful bonding ritual. Today, when I share my favorite baby oils, I talk as a doctor and as a mommy.
My favorite tip for choosing baby care products is “read the label.” Be aware of the products to avoid.
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Shalimar Coconut oil:
Coconut oil is a popular oil in India and all over the world. Shalimar has food-grade coconut oil. According to scientific research, coconut oil is well absorbed through our skin and scalp because of its molecular size. Coconut oil contains antioxidants and lauric acid that make it skin-friendly, and it has antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Since its edible and food-grade, if baby licks their fingers, it’s not a problem. But this brand is not always available online.
Mother Sparsh Baby oil
Mother Sparsh is making quality, affordable baby care products that are gentle and keeps its promise. The Mother Sparsh Baby oil is a beautiful mixture with the goodness of ancient herbs and oils, easily absorbed and non-sticky.Almond oil is Vtamin E rich, making the skin soft and supple, nourishing gently. The emollient action of the mixture of oil keeps your baby’s skin protected. This Mother Sparsh baby oil being light, is perfect for summers as well.
Other oils and extracts include :
Jojoba, Lavender, Orange, Wheat germ, Rosehip, Sunflower, Walnut, Shankhpushpi, Durva, Ashwagandha, Tagar, Tamalpatra, and Lajjalu are herbs that soothe and moisturizes baby’s tender skin.
Some of the product features mentioned are :
Ashwagandha has antioxidant properties, Durva has anti-infection action. Tagar, Jojoba, and Avocado work at improving skin texture and promotes wound healing. Olive oil helps moisturize the skin, while Lavender oil enhances skin tone. Wheat germ oil improves skin health and rosehip oil prevents inflammation and also hydrates,
The Mother Sparsh Baby oil is healthy for babies, baby skin-friendly, eco-friendly, readily available, Made in India, and purity guaranteed. As a mother, these are features that are crucial for me. It’s not just a brand, it’s a promise to stay true.
Cetaphil Baby oil
Cetaphil Baby oil is enriched with natural ingredients: Shea Butter, Sunflower seed oil, Soyabean oil, Calendula.
Read about other mama earth baby products here .
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Mama Earth Baby oil
A light oil, it has cold pressed Sesame oil, coconut oil, Olive oil, Sweet Almond, and Jojoba oils. It spreads and absorbs quickly.
Olive Oil
Olive oil is growing popular in many places. Still, pure olive oil is not recommended for sensitive skin or dry skin. It has the highest quantity of oleic acid, and thus pure olive oil is avoided.
Mustard oil: This causes the skin to warm and is one of the things that Grandma’s loved using. Though it has some side effects, mustard oil is one of the most popular baby massage oils in India. It’s only when a baby has a sensitivity to mustard oil that parents consider other oils.
The main con of mustard oil is it can cause dermatitis if baby has a sensitivity to mustard oil.
Are there real benefits of #babymassage for babies?
Baby massage does have real benefits .
- It prevents skin from drying by avoiding loss of moisture.
- Topical oil massage improves skin barrier function and helps in temperature control in babies. Studies show that baby massage has a positive effect on overall growth too.
- Oil massage benefits relate to the oil application on the skin and that which comes from a loving touch. Tactile, kinesthetic stimulation by oil massage gives sensory stimulation to the baby’s brain. This helps in improving brain development and maturation.
How to choose a baby oil?
- Read the label before choosing. Quality comes first.
- Always do a skin test before trying new skincare products for babies. Apply the oil to the inner part of your forearm’s skin on the inner part of the elbow. Observe the skin for 24 to 48 hours for any redness or itching. You can always have a chat with your doctor in case of doubts , right?
Is it safe to use baby oil on newborns?
You must talk to your Paediatrician before starting any product for a newborn.
So what kind of oil is best?
An oil that doesn’t irritate the skin and is a hundred percent nontoxic to the baby. Since the baby’s skin is sensitive, always be careful of skin breaks and rashes. Keeping your baby’s skin healthy involves proper cleaning, moisturizing, and a good emollient.
Baby lotion, baby oil, or both?
The baby lotion moisturizes and hydrates skin. Baby oil acts as an emollient .It helps improve barrier function, thermoregulation, and locks in the moisture. So, both together are best.
What are the common Baby oil ingredients?
Common baby oils can be based on vegetable oil or mineral. Both types have some pros and cons.Baby oils with vegetable oils usually have varying combinations of the following:
- Coconut oil
- Soya oil
- Hydrogenated Olive Oil (olive oil)
- Seasame oil
- Sunflower oil
- Avocado oil
- Almond oil
- Shea Butter
- Jojoba oil)
Sensitivity to specific vegetable oils needs to be ruled out.
About Mineral oils
They are inert and lock in moisture. This was a popular poduct .Its a petroleum derived product .It is used for skincare after hydro-treatment and solvent extraction. These processes lower the PAH (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) and possible carcinogenic quotient. But the diverse nature of mineral oil source and lack of transparency, regulations, and accountability makes this a slippery slope when choosing mineral oil.
The other factor you and I, as parents, can not ignore is the ecological burden of using mineral oil. It’s not eco-friendly. Also, they often contain artificial fragrance, which is a strict no. But if that’s the only option for you for whatever reason, choose a high-quality product.
What is the best time for massaging a baby?
When the baby is semi alert, playful and not sleepy, hungry, or irritable.
What precautions should you take before starting a baby oil massage?
- The baby massage in a draught free room is best. Checking the oil(it shouldn’t be too hot or cold) and the baby temperature before starting the oil massage. The baby temperature should be normal.
- Avoid oils that cause sensitivity.
- Avoid putting oil in the ears, nose, or eyes of the baby.
- Avoid essential oil containing products for babies less than six months of age
- Avoid baby massage by strangers. It’s bonding time with the baby, and no one will be as gentle as you.
Baby oil for massage has research goings-on; it’s important to choose gentle and safe. In case of any doubt, your pediatrician is the best person to talk to.
Writing this for #MyFriendAlexa with Blogchatter.
Reference :
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6477564/
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I have gone through these ideas and felt massage is one of the important things which is connected to baby. There are a lot many usage of massaging, but one must have best baby massage oil for it.
Thanks for sharing this information.
Thanks for this selection and their benefits. As a new dad with a 20-month old and a baby on the way, my wife and I are always looking for safe products. Have booked marked this page and will show to my wife. Thanks for sharing.
I have used Mother Sparsh oil recently on my child, and absolutely agree to the ingredients are plant based making it healthier to use on Kids.
Mother Sparsh products are really good for babies. Many use them & are happy.
Nice list.
That’s a very useful list and am sure its going to help new parents choose the best for their babies.
Will be sharing this post with friends. It is a well-researched and informative post. I use olive oil and mustard oil. Info on the others are extremely helpful.
Thank you Srishti
These are some great tips. My sis is expecting, so will share this post with her as a ready reckoner
This seems to be a very good oil for baby massages.
I too have used Mather Sparsh oil for my daughter. It’s really good.
I too use mothersparsh baby massage oil for my son, although I prefer coconut oil in summers.
Very informative post. Massaging helps kids in their overall development hence to choose the right Massage oil is very important.
These are some great new varieties.I had always relied on Johnson’s and Himalaya.
Massage is so essential for babies. And oil indeed plays a vital role I used use Mustard oil for my first born and with second born went on to use some other brand of oil. But recently even I liked this one from Mothersparsh. The oil is really nice so now I do massage with this one for my son
i havent used this. i have always used johnsons for both my babies but good to know there are new oils in the market.
When my brother and I were kids, Johnson & Johnson was the only brand around. That was the one my mother used. But now we have a lot of options to choose from. This post makes selecting a little bit easier. Thank you for sharing 🙂
What a lovely article!
When I showed my man a baby Massage book in the 70s, deepen for the West, but based on observing baby massage in India, she laughed and said, “that’s not new! I always massaged you after your bath!” (Likely using the petroleum bases “baby oil” popular in North America!)
I explained the author agreed it wasn’t a new idea, rather a tradition long handed down …
I was indeed lucky that Madge was a tradition in my Western family, and I became a massage therapist 37 years ago.
I grew up with Johnson & Johnson products and used them on my kids. I still have a bottle (plastic, no longer glass) of J&J baby oil.