Coconut Oil for Baby Massage
Massaging your baby with healthy massage oil is a great way to nourish their delicate skin, improve the blood circulation in their body, and strengthen their bones. If you do it correctly, it can become a very enjoyable activity for your child as well. However, not every type of oil is suitable for baby massage and there are certain oils that you should never use for baby massage.
In this article, we will discuss the benefits of using coconut baby massage oil, the different types of coconut oil, which coconut oil to choose, and how to properly massage your baby with coconut oil.
Primarily, there are two types of coconut oil available on the market — refined coconut oil and virgin coconut oil. Refined coconut oil is extracted from dried coconut kernel or copra and goes through chemical bleaching and deodorization. Its high smoke point and mild flavour make it ideal for cooking or baking.
However, when it comes to skin and hair care, virgin coconut oil is recommended since it is derived from fresh, dried-up coconut meat and doesn’t go through any chemical process like bleaching or deodorizing. Virgin coconut oil is one of the best oils to use for baby massage since it is filled with healthy antioxidants and is absorbed easily through the skin.
Which oil is best for baby massage?
Extra virgin coconut oil acts as a natural sunscreen and helps to protect the screen from the harsh rays of the sun. Plus, its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties protect the skin from dryness and helps to lighten the skin tone to make it look fairer. With regular application, you can expect to witness a positive difference within 30 days.
Thus, for a baby, coconut massage oil is one of the best products you can use. Also, it comes with a wide range of health benefits and helps to protect the skin naturally.
Benefits of coconut massage oil for baby
Extra virgin coconut oil is rich in antioxidants and also has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Thus, it offers many health benefits when used as a topical ingredient. A few benefits of using coconut baby massage oil is listed below:
It helps to soothe eczema - The skin of a baby is extra sensitive and may dry out quickly if not properly moisturized. Sometimes, it can take a turn for the worse and develop into a condition known as eczema which causes itching too. Applying extra virgin coconut oil on a baby’s skin helps to moisturize it and keep it hydrated. With regular use, it can slowly make the symptoms of eczema fade away.
It works as a body lotion - Extra virgin coconut oil can be used as a substitute for body lotion due to its antimicrobial and emollient properties.
It helps to soothe cradle cap - Newborn babies often suffer from cradle cap, which is a condition that causes their scalp to reddened and flak. Extra virgin coconut oil can help alleviate the condition up to a certain extent.
It may soothe diaper rash - The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of extra virgin coconut oil helps to relieve diaper rash discomfort in babies.
It can be used as a chest rub for cold - Extra virgin coconut oil can be combined with garlic or camphor to be used as a chest rub that helps to provide relief from colds.
How to massage a baby with coconut oil?
Before you get started, you have to ensure that your baby doesn’t have any kind of allergic reaction to coconut oil to make sure you don’t accidentally cause them any harm or discomfort.
Although it's very rare to be allergic to coconut oil, you cannot be extra safe when it comes to your baby’s health. To do the allergy test, simply rub a little amount over their stomach or on the inside of their elbow and check the area after an hour or more to see if there is any redding of the skin or adverse reaction. If everything is okay, you may follow the steps listed below to give your baby a soothing massage using extra virgin coconut oil:
Undress your baby to their diapers and lay them on a warm, soft surface facing towards you.
Apply some extra virgin coconut oil to your fingertips and warm it up by rubbing your hands together. You may need to heat the oil a little during the winter.
Place your hands on their chest or tummy and gently start to massage the area with circular, clockwise motions. It is recommended that you talk to them to hold their attention and make the activity more fun for them.
Slowly, move on to the other parts of their body including their arms, legs, face, head, neck, and back. Make sure to support their limbs by holding firmly to their wrist or ankles since the oil would make their body slippery.
When massaging the delicate regions of their body such as the head, face, and neck, you should only use your fingertips in gentle strokes.
When massaging their back, maintain an upward, circular motion to improve the blood circulation.
Make sure you don’t get any oil near their eyes, ears, nose, or navel to reduce the chance of any infection or fungal growth due to excess oil accumulation.
Stop the massage session once you have massaged all the regions of their body. Alternatively, you may end it when they fall asleep or start to get upset.
Allow their body to absorb the coconut oil for some time and then dress them back.
Massaging your baby is not only a healthy activity but also a great way to bond and form a deep connection with them. It also allows parents to communicate their love with their babies. Thus, you must make the massaging experience as comfortable and enjoyable as possible for your baby.
Extra virgin coconut oil from Coconutty is made from high-grade coconut milk that is 100% fresh and rich in antioxidants. Its non-greasy texture allows it to be absorbed faster by the skin and makes it a great baby massage oil.