Baby Massage Oil: Which Oil to Choose and How to Massage

Baby massage is one of India’s oldest traditions. Beyond helping skin stay soft, it is a quiet bonding time for parents and grandparents. Choosing the right oil is the first question every new parent asks.

The common choices

• Virgin coconut oil: light, absorbs well and gentle on delicate skin. Very popular in South India. Try virgin coconut oil 200 ml.
• Sweet almond oil: mild and nourishing, popular in North India. Almond oil has no added fragrance.
• Sesame oil: the traditional Ayurvedic massage oil, warming in winter.
• Mustard oil: used traditionally in North India in winter, though many paediatricians now suggest gentler oils for newborns.

What to look for

• Pure, single-ingredient oil
• No added fragrance, colour or mineral oil
• Unrefined, so it keeps its natural vitamin E

A simple massage routine

1. Choose a warm room and a time when your baby is fed but not sleepy.
2. Warm a teaspoon of oil between your palms.
3. Legs: long, gentle strokes from thigh to ankle; rub the soles with your thumb.
4. Tummy: soft clockwise circles around the navel.
5. Chest and arms: strokes outward from the centre of the chest; gently roll each arm.
6. Back: with baby on their tummy, long strokes down the back.
7. Wipe off excess oil and bathe in lukewarm water.

Safety first

• Always do a patch test on a small area and wait 24 hours.
• Avoid the eyes, nose and the umbilical stump until it has healed.
• Ask your paediatrician before starting, especially for newborns or babies with eczema.

Our Baby Care Combo includes virgin coconut, almond and sesame oils.