Numerous questions pop up in our minds when massaging our tiny treasures. Massage oil is essential in the newborn nursery checklist as it will be applied to the baby’s delicate skin to foster its overall development.
How many times is an oil massage required for your newborn in a day? What’s the ideal time to settle on with the massage? Is baby oil safe to apply? What are its perquisite advantages? This article answers it all and provides the best baby massage oils prepared for babies.
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Massaging your little wonder from nascent stages can show yielding results. Baby massage is an old and trustworthy routine practice that has been used to ease babies and is useful in the comprehensive development of infants.
1. Advantages of Massaging Your Newborn
Massaging your baby has many advantages. It decreases anxiety in the infant, encourages a love-filled bond between you and your child, and helps the babies sleep peacefully. Massaging your dearest also fosters a playful bond between both of you. The light fragrance of baby oil swiftly voyages you and your baby to an Arcadian world.
The baby oils moisturize the tiny darlings’ sensitive skin and provide warmth. It further facilitates an inclined closeness. It helps in reducing crying and also regulates his breathing. It also does miracles in improving blood circulation to the hands and legs. And nurtures eye contact with the little one while calming your baby, making him feel secure, and filling him with a sensation of well-being and safety.
Use massage oils that are gel-based if their skin is dry. They moisturize the skin and provide warmth, keeping the skin supple. Best baby massage oil helps in treating diaper rash and other skin rashes, such as rashes from eczema in babies.
2. What are Baby Massage Oils Made Up Of?
Baby massage oils are extremely popular and specifically for babies’ sensitive and soft skin. They work naturally by making a semi-breathable barrier over the baby’s skin.
Baby massage oils are made up of vegetable oils, mineral oils, and essential oils.
Best baby massage oils are principally used as skin care products. They are used as moisturizers to keep the baby’s skin soft and find application in the cure of several skin diseases like psoriasis, atopic dermatitis1, xerosis, and eczema-prone skin.
2.1. Mineral-Based Baby Oils
Ingredients of mineral-based baby massage oils are extremely purified. These oils are unflavored and scentless. They are dermatologically tested, officially approved, nonallergenic, hydrophobic, and contain no herbicides or pesticides.
Mineral-based baby oils are mild and not known to cause allergic reactions, although they have a synthetic element.
2.2. Vegetable Oils-Based Products
With the highest concentration of vegetable oils present in fruits and seeds, vegetable oils are produced by plants. Food-grade oils are a good option for the best baby massage oil as they are safe even if the baby licks the oil off his skin.
Organic baby oils such as cold pressed olive oil and organic coconut oil is good options for oil substitutes.
If you want to use a food-grade culinary oil such as sunflower seed oil or grapeseed oil to massage your baby, transfer it onto a suitable flip-top container instead of a greasy glass bottle.
2.3. Essential Oils for Baby Massage
These oils are primarily derived from flowers, herbs, and other plants. As essential oils and vegetable oils are sourced from plants, vegetable oils should not be confused with essential oils. Essential oils should always be mixed with carrier oils.
These oils are a good option after the baby is 3 months old.
2.3.1. Tea Tree Oil
This natural oil is generously loaded with antiseptic properties. However, a carrier oil should always be mixed with a few drops of tea tree oil before applying it to the baby’s skin.
2.3.2. Calendula Oil
Calendula oil, comprising a mild fragrance, is eminent for its ability to heal the irritated skin of small infants. It has soothing effects on the infant’s skin.
2.3.3. Chamomile Oil
Chamomile oil is a good choice for a baby’s skin, especially if they have a skin rash. This oil also helps to reduce colic symptoms and ensures peaceful sleep in infants.
3. Oils that do Wonders to the Baby’s Skin
3.1. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is the best baby massage oil for summer use, known for its cooling effect. It is light in consistency and is effortlessly soaked up into the skin, keeping the baby’s skin soft. Being anti-bacterial and anti-fungal2, you can be confident that pure coconut oil has immense goodness for your baby’s skin. Counted in cold-pressed oils, you can consider using cold-pressed virgin coconut oil. A 2020 medical study found that massaging virgin coconut oil on premature newborns strengthens their delicate skin. It also works miraculously for older babies.
3.2. Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil is filled with the goodness of antioxidants and vitamin E and is rich in nutrients. Extra-virgin olive oil is completely pure with no chemicals. It helps to repair infants’ skin damage, kills dangerous microbes, and is non-toxic for a baby’s delicate skin.
3.3. Almond Oil
Almond oil is richly filled with vitamin E, and medical research from 2020 points out that using almond oil on premature babies enhances skin firmness and thickness.
3.4. Shea Butter
Shea butter can be applied to the delicate skin of babies sans worries as it’s safe on a baby’s skin. Pure shea butter does not have added parabens, chemicals, sulfates, and preservatives.
3.5. Jojoba Oil
This oil has anti-inflammatory properties and is a non-irritating, gentle oil that does not cause skin irritation. Therefore it helps soothe various conditions of babies’ skin. It has properties that match the baby’s natural skin and has more saturated natural ingredients that make it a better choice as a moisturizer. It is safe to be used on hair as well.
3.6. Sunflower Oil
Sunflower seed oil can be used on older infants and is vital in shielding the baby’s dry skin as it acts as a lotion. It is absorbed easily into the baby’s skin without any greasy residue. With chock-full of vitamin E, this oil helps retain moisture, is fragrance-free, and is free of allergens.
4. Best Baby Massage Oil for Winters
4.1. Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is light and helps your little one acquire strong bones. It keeps your baby’s body warm in winter and protects against the harsh dry winters. It further helps reduce cold, cough, and muscle pain.
4.2. Mustard Oil
Mustard oil is very advantageous for babies during the winter months. It helps improve blood circulation, keeps the baby’s body warm, and keeps the baby’s skin soft and supple.
4.3. Wheatgerm Oil
Wheatgerm oil is filled with vitamin E and moisturizes the baby’s skin while shielding it from dryness. Wheat germ oil is an elixir for the skin’s well-being. It effectually cures dryness, dark spots, acne, scars, and eczema-prone skin.
5. Questions that might Arise While Choosing the Best Oil
Many questions might flash in your mind and make you feel daunted about the baby oil, such as which oil is safe, which is the best baby massage oil, whether it has the right ingredients, and whether it will suit your baby’s soft skin or not. As anything constantly used on a baby’s skin should be pure.
6. How to Choose the Best Baby Oils
Buying baby oils and the massage process should not be stressful activities for your infant. The markets are jam-packed with various pretty and pricey products for baby care. So, choosing the best baby massage oil might be a demanding process.
As said earlier, it is always best to consult your pediatrician about which oil best suits your baby’s skin type and is formulated specifically for your baby. Products formulated for adults are unadvisable to be used on babies as they will harm your baby’s delicate skin. Using potent fragrance oil is also not advisable.
If you notice that the baby suddenly feels uncomfortable after using baby oil, discontinue its application immediately and consult your doctor promptly.
Always check the ingredients thoroughly before purchasing the best baby massage oil for your baby. They should be free from strong fragrances, parabens, harmful chemicals, phthalates, and synthetic colors.
7. 23 Best Baby Massage Oil Brands
Here are 23 of the best baby massage oil brands known worldwide for their properties.
7.1. Johnson’s Creamy Baby Oil
This oil comes with a creamy texture and bursts with the goodness of vitamin E and aloe.
7.2. Johnsons’s Baby Oil Gel
Johnson’s baby oil is prepared from mineral oil and is Johnson’s brand’s most traditional baby oil. It moisturizes a baby’s dry and sensitive skin making it wholesomely nourished.
7.3. Solimo Baby Oil
This oil comes with the goodness of aloe vera and vitamin E and comprises every little ingredient that a baby oil requires.
7.4. The Moms Co Natural Baby Massage Oil
This oil nourishes, lights up, and strengthens the baby’s muscles and bones with regular massages. It is a toxin-free amalgamation of 10 powerfully effective oils like avocado, organic chamomile, organic almond, sesame, organic jojoba, and natural vitamin E that stretches its best to give your little one natural protection. It is a 100% natural Australia-certified baby care product.
7.5. Himalaya Nourishing Baby Oil
It is an everyday massage oil with sweet almond and sesame oil as its prime ingredients. Rich in vitamin K, iron, and fatty acids, it gives a natural glow to the baby’s skin and fosters the growth and development of muscles in newborns. It’s generously filled with the goodness of olive oil and lavender oil which nourish, soften, and protect the baby’s sensitive skin. Also, this oil with soothing properties has winter cherry that rejuvenates the skin.
7.6. Motherlove Birth & Baby Oil
It is a premium quality vegan oil, a Non-GMO Project Verified, and certified cruelty free by Leaping Bunny. It is only prepared with USDA-certified organic herbs. Formulated in the USA with imported ingredients and produced in a zero-waste facility, Motherlove is a product of the Women-Owned B Corp that concentrates on eco-friendly and social sustainability.
7.7. Evereden Soothing Organic Baby Oil
This is a quick-absorbing oil with all-natural and organic constituents that comprises sunflower seeds, grape seed oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil. It gently moisturizes the baby’s skin and is lightweight. Its protecting and intensely hydrating blend pacifies the tiny baby’s delicate skin. Fast absorbing and non-greasy, it is a USA product that is pediatrician-formed and dermatologist verified, making it clean and non-toxic.
7.8. Shoosha Baby Massage Oil
This oil is USDA-certified organic food-grade oil and is so safe and pure that you could eat it. It’s a Canadian product recommended by doctors for sensitive skin that contains no chemical elements.
7.9. Coco & Co. Organic Pure Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
This oil is prepared specifically for thicker, fuller hair and radiant & supple skin. It is an extraordinarily high-grade extra virgin coconut oil that is good for a baby’s skin, nails, and hair. This clean, extra virgin organic coconut oil does not clog pores and can be applied to the body, skin, hair, and baby’s scalp. It overflows with all crucial nutrients and vitamins for the skin and hair and is anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. It can be used on pets, cooking, as a carrier oil, and as therapy for damaged skin and hair. Also, it helps treat eczema and wrinkles.3
7.10. Blue Nectar Ayurvedic Baby Massage Oil
It is ideal for a baby’s sensitive skin and is an ayurvedic best baby oil that comes in almond fragrance. It contains chamomile oil, sunflower oil, lavender oil, vegetable oil, and many other natural ingredients that are ideal for delicate baby skin without causing skin irritations.
7.11. Brooklyn Botany Grapeseed Oil
This oil is fragrance-free and rich in vitamins. It is a great choice as a moisturizer with no skin irritations. It comes in pure, undiluted form and belongs to the cold pressed oils category.
7.12. Sebamed Baby Massage Oil
This oil contains a high content of important fatty acids in soy oil and assures optimum tolerability for the infant’s skin. A gentle massage with it leaves the baby’s body smooth, supple, and soft without an oily film. The application of Sebamed baby massage oil requires putting 2 to 3 ml of oil on your palm with the help of an exclusive pump applicator that comes in handy with the brand’s packing. It is a German product whose main constituents are 95% soy oil and 5% wheat germ oil.
7.13. Mamaearth Soothing Massage Oil
This oil has a natural combination of sesame, sweet almonds, jojoba, and olive oils. Sesame helps in the therapeutic and resistance-building aspects. The oil does not contain harmful chemicals like lipids, sulfates, parabens, mineral oil, phthalates, petroleum, artificial fragrances, or dyes. It has a unique natural fragrance from a mild natural aroma of essential oil. The oil comes in a 100ml container.
7.14. Dabur Lal Ayurvedic Baby Massage Oil
It is a specifically manufactured, ayurvedic baby massage oil created with time-tested components. It has several confirmed benefits for babies and is known to be one of the best baby oils. Dabur Lal Tail consists of Ratyanjot, which benefits and safeguards a baby’s soft skin. The goodness of camphor contributes to better blood circulation, and Shankhpushpi is useful for skin health and helps to relieve pale feebleness. Urad in it helps to foster healthy bones and muscles. Consistent massaging with Dabur Lal Tail helps eliminate colic and digestive difficulties, thereby developing sleep patterns in babies and accelerating blood circulation.
7.15. Cetaphil Baby Massage Oil
This oil helps lock moisture in the skin and protect the baby’s skin and scalp from external factors, giving healthy growth and development to the babies. It comprises a triple blend of sunflower seed oil, shea butter, and soybean oil that keeps the natural moisture intact in the baby’s skin. And organic calendula ensures the skin’s protection from the external environment. This mineral oil is hypoallergenic and devised for newborns’ gentle skin. It contains no harmful chemicals, is PAMAS-free, and is dermatologically tested. Its forte lies in being recommended by pediatricians and dermatologists.
7.16. Little Ritual Black Sesame Oil
This oil is 100% organic, cold-pressed, and the best baby massage oil in the ayurvedic scriptures. It is dermatologist tested and safe for use on children. Appropriate for all skin types, Little Ritual Black Sesame Oil is filled with antioxidants and is recommended for babies sensitive skin. Formulated with a high linoleic acid content, it contains anti-bacterial properties. The additional plant actives in the oil are sourced from Switzerland and benefit the infant’s skin by giving it health and nourishment.
7.17. Burt’s Bees Baby Nourishing Baby Oil
This award-winning baby oil checks all the requirements of being 100% natural. Super nourishing for your baby’s skin, this pediatrician-tested oil can be added to the baby’s bath or massaged into the baby’s skin after the bath.
7.18. Zee Lab Baby Massage Oil
This oil brims with the goodness of vitamins A, D, and E and olive oil. Made with natural ingredients, this one is a pure massage oil giving comprehensive nutrition to your child’s skin.
7.19. Goodnessme Organic Coconut Massage Oil
It is a purely plant-based product that is paraben-free, toxin-free, cruelty-free, petroleum, and alcohol-free with no artificial fragrances. This cold-pressed oil does not have minerals, silicones, or phthalates and is safe for consumption. A 100% organic and natural origin oil, this is also certified by Ecocert Greenlife as per the COSMOS standard.
7.20. Earth Mama Baby Oil
This baby oil contains jojoba oil4, calendula oil, and grapeseed oil which is suitable for a newborn’s delicate skin. It nourishes and moisturizes a baby’s dry skin and can also be used on the scalp. It contains no harmful ingredients, such as mineral oils, petroleum, or parabens.
7.21. One Zero Eight Earth Baby Massage Oil
It is 100% organic oil with natural ingredients. It is a powerful blend of multipurpose oils and is free from harmful chemicals. It efficiently assists in child development and has no artificial colors. Its forte lies in the oil being vegan, paraben-free, GMO-free, and cruelty-free.
7.22. Sofidew Baby Massage Oil
This oil is made from 100% pure mineral oils, and its quick-absorbing formula eliminates any stickiness in the baby’s skin. The ingredients are apricot kernels, sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, sweet almond extract, lavender flower extract, rosemary leaf extract, geranium flower extract, and eucalyptus leaf extract. The sweet almond oil that comprehensively moisturizes the baby’s skin is its most healthsome and invigorating constituent. It brims with the goodness of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants.5 It is advised to apply the massage oil in sufficient quantity to palms and hands and bring it to the body temperature before its application.
7.23. Baby Mantra Calming Massage Oil
It emphasizes its products being vegan and gluten-free. The packaging states that it is free of parabens, sulfates, dyes, phthalates, or synthetic fragrances. It’s verified by the EWG, which suggests it avoids EWG ingredients of concern, follows good manufacturing practices, and provides transparency of its ingredients.
8. Baby Massaging Advice
- Opting for a patch test before using any baby products is always advisable.
- You should start massaging your baby after the baby is four weeks old.
- You should be aware of the several options for the best baby massage oil before the purchase.
- Visit a pediatrician before the massaging process or any other issues regarding the baby products.
9. The Most Appropriate Time for Your Baby’s Massage
Massaging babies is important every day, but there is no specific number of times. It should be just how you and your baby are contented and comfortable.
When the baby’s skin is moist, it absorbs vitamins and goodness of oils at maximum. This is a beneficial time for all-over application of the best baby massage oil as the oil on the moist skin will lock moisture which will help keep skin soft. Therefore, a massage can be given after a bath in the morning and another in the evening before the baby’s nap time, as babies tend to fall asleep after a massage. Read about the ways to help babies sleep better.
10. Last Words
There are many options to choose from when looking for the best baby massage oil. The best baby massage oil should be safe for babies’ skin and should have the quality of being absorbed nicely into their skin to bring the overall blossom of babies.
However, it is best to get the product approved by your pediatrician or dermatologist before you use the best baby massage oil6.
Also check out Is Baby Oil Good for Your Hair.
- Spergel, Jonathan M., and Amy S. Paller. “Atopic dermatitis and the atopic march.” Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology 112.6 (2003): S118-S127. ↩︎
- Al Aboody, Mohammed Saleh, and Suresh Mickymaray. “Anti-fungal efficacy and mechanisms of flavonoids.” Antibiotics 9.2 (2020): 45. ↩︎
- Nazarko, Linda. “Eczema and the older person.” British Journal of Community Nursing 25.9 (2020): 451-459. ↩︎
- Sánchez, Marcos, et al. “Jojoba oil: A state of the art review and future prospects.” Energy Conversion and Management 129 (2016): 293-304. ↩︎
- Mattill, H. A. “Antioxidants.” Annual review of biochemistry 16.1 (1947): 177-192. ↩︎
- Agarwal, K. N., et al. “Effects of massage & use of oil on growth, blood flow & Sleep.” Indian J Med Res 112 (2000): 2. ↩︎
Last Updated on by NamitaSoren