Before babies are able to understand language, we communicate and comfort them through touch. Baby massage is part of this natural impulse. One of the best quality times shared with your baby! The question I get asked most frequently: Which is the best oil for baby massage?
Baby’s skin is amazingly soft and delicate. Baby’s skin is so much more thinner than an adult, which is the reason their skin is often more sensitive. It is still developing and so what we put on it is vital. Avoid products that contain: sulphates, parabens, phthalates, artificial or natural fragrances.
Your decision about what to use should depend on your baby’s skin.
If you baby has very dry skin or dry skin issues like eczema, psoriasis it is generally better to use a cream or lotion emollients. Of course, when using cream/lotion as a massage medium you will need more of it. Put lotion or cream in your palm and rub hands together, which warms up the lotion and your hands -- and makes for a more comfy, enjoyable massage. Cold hands are not appreciated by the receiver, baby or not!!
Vegetable oils are generally better, as you have such a huge variety in the nutritional qualities of the oils. You can mix and match them to what suits your baby’s skin. You may find massage easier with an oil that soaks in, or you may prefer one that stays more slippery on your baby's skin.
Please do not use unrefined peanut oil, because the proteins it contains may sensitise your baby to an allergic reaction to peanuts or cause a reaction on your baby's skin. It's also best not to use refined peanut oil. Although it's unlikely to cause a problem, refined oil may be cross-contaminated with the unrefined oil.
As a general guide:
• Vegetable oils that are high in linoleic acid may be gentler on your baby’s skin. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid that helps to protect the barrier element of your baby’s skin.
• Vegetable oils high in oleic acid may be harsher. Oleic acid can make some layers of your baby's skin more permeable. This permeability could help oil and water to be absorbed into your baby's skin. But it could also mean that oil and water is lost, rather than trapped in. So if your baby's skin is already dry and tender, then oleic acid could increase moisture loss from it, which causes dry skin.
Oils rich in Linoleic acid and therefor safe for massage:
• Grape seed oil.
• Safflower oil.
• Sunflower oil.
• Sesame oil.
• Pumpkin seed oil.
• Sweet almond oil.
So there is no best oil, but whichever medium you decide to use, if the baby’s skin reacts to it: causing redness, dry patches or itching it’s best to discontinue use. Every baby’s skin is unique and it may take a little experimentation to get it right.