How To Care For Your Baby’s Skin With An Oil Massage?

As per Ayurveda, taking the right steps early on for your baby’s tender skin and soft hair includes ensuring ample care with baby safe products that will have long term results. This is because, during the infant stage the skin is in a transition period, until it matures by the time the child turns one year of age. A newborn’s skin is prone to dryness due to a dominance of the “Vata Dosha”. During this period, gentle and baby safe products that balance the pH of skin, keep it soft and well hydrated are much recommended.

How can I take care of my Baby’s skin?

Oil Massage For Babies

Ayurveda advocates the use of Sesame oil from as early as two weeks since birth and using the purest combination like Cow’s Ghee with Sea Salt (Sendha Namak) to cleanse the skin post birth. These practices are described in the age-old texts as safe for babies and also hold true today as research suggests that massage helps the baby relax, produce sound sleep and also reduce crying. This oil massage is known as Snehan and post massage use of fragrant, anti-bacterial dry powdered herbs known as Ubtan are used to cleanse the skin.

At Forest Essentials, we recommend using the Dasapushpadi Baby Body Massage Serum, which is formulated for the baby’s delicate skin. You can also use the Tejasvi Ubtan, a baby safe product made with hand pounded dry fruits and Cow’s Milk, which can then be mixed with whole milk to make a paste and gently massaged onto the baby’s body. The ritual is completed with a bath in lukewarm water, heated with a coin of pure gold as it has immunomodulation properties which sift into this water. Furthermore, one can also use Neem leaves infused in water for the baby’s bath, as this has strong antibacterial properties.

Pat dry the baby’s skin and finish off with dusting a talc free powder such as Forest Essentials Dashapushpadi Dusting Powder in areas including the baby’s neck, armpit and nappy area which are prone to rashes.

Is it good to apply oil on baby’s head?

The growing baby’s skeletal structures and brain muscles develop rapidly until 3 years of age. During this period too, special care must be taken to nourish and supplement this growth. Acharya Sushruta, the Father of Ayurveda, had written in the ancient scriptures the incorporation of a cotton ball soaked in medicated oil to be placed on the head in the “Fontanelle area” that is a soft spot on the head. This practise is known to help in optimum brain development.

Forest Essential Baby Head Massage Oil is highly effective as a complete haircare oil for babies, as it is prepared using a blend of natural, gentle yet effective herbs infused in cold pressed virgin Coconut Oil. Other boosting herbs such as Brahmi and Shankhapushpi are also incorporated with the therapeutic infusions of flowers and soothing herbs.

Is Coconut oil good for my baby?

According to Ayurveda, Coconut oil is known as “Keshya” that is a hair growth booster. It has essential fats which are soothing and the oil, especially if it is a coldpressed oil, is cooling in nature. Research suggests that Coconut oil is a baby safe product due to its hydrating and antibacterial properties. The application of virgin coldpressed Coconut oil post bath is not only good for moisturizing but it also protects the skin from harmful UV rays, making it a natural safe sunscreen for children.

Coconut oil can be used therapeutically to treat “cradle cap”, which is a common skincare rash in children which develops due to excess dryness and results in flakiness on the scalp. You may apply the Forest Essentials Coconut oil on the baby’s dry scalp and use a soft brush to lightly comb through the hair. This is safe for the babies and can be incorporated on a daily basis as an essential for Baby skin care.

For more personalized inputs in regards to baby skin and hair care we recommend you chat with our Ayurvedic Doctor online or you may connect with our customer care team who will further put you in touch with our Ayurveda Doctor.

Dr Nikhita Shere
Ayurveda Expert, For Forest Essentials