Mistakes You Should Always Avoid While Massaging Your Little One's Body

Babies and oil massages go hand-in-hand. According to experts, an oil massage is an excellent way for the mother and baby to bond. Even our nanis and dadis rave about the benefits of a massage. Add to this the fact that oil massages are beneficial for:

• Strengthening bones and muscles
• Increasing immunity
• Fighting infection
• Soothing a baby’s muscles
• Nourishing its skin and clearing its complexion

Mistakes you must avoid

• Do not massage them immediately after or before meal time of the baby. There should be a gap of at least 45 minutes between the two to avoid indigestion and vomiting.
• Ensure that you do not apply too much pressure while massaging the baby. Also, be careful so that the oil does not enter the mouth, ears, or eyes of the baby.
• When you are applying the oil, make the baby sit or lie down on a mat or a towel on the floor. This will reduce the chances of the baby slipping out of your hands and falling. Similarly, keep a few things around to allow the baby to play for 15 minutes after the massage. Do not allow it to crawl around as it can slip, fall, and hurt itself.
• Ensure that the temperature of the oil and the water that you use for the baby is neither hot nor cold. It should be lukewarm.

Apart from learning the correct way to massage a baby, it is also essential to choose the correct oil for the baby.

The best oil for the baby would be a composition of Ayurvedic ingredients proven for their effectiveness in a baby’s development. Such oil would include ingredients like

• Turmeric, for its healing properties
• Ashwagandha, to rejuvenate and revitalize the young bones
• Sesame or castor oil, for deep moisturization
• Cow ghee, for its anti-oxidants
• Curd water, for its ability to improve digestion and as a natural probiotic
• Deodar and dill extract, for building immunity against cold and cough

These ingredients can be mixed with other oils to make a combination that works well for babies.