5 Best Oils For Your Baby’s Skin

Soon after you have your newborn in your hands, do the other concerns and worries start pouring in. Feeding, sleeping, pooping, diapering and MASSAGING!

My son enjoyed the first ever massage of his life, when he was 4 days old and not before that. (I still remember, the day my Mom massaged him and bathed him, my baby slept like a baby – four hours straight!).

She massaged him with the regular olive oil and that is how it went on for days. A few weeks later, one of our neighbors suggested us to use coconut oil for the simple reason that it enhances the complexion of the baby (and who doesn’t want a baby with a good complexion?), so we immediately switched to coconut oil.

Since my son was born in September; December and winters along with it set in, just a few days after we started using coconut oil. My son’s great grandmother happened to call us then and proposed stopping the use of coconut oil as it is believed to be of a cold tendency, so we switched to Mustard Oil for winters, and it did not end there… the worst is yet to come!

Using mustard oil let to darkening of the baby’s skin and for one more time, we changed the massage oil and switched to Sesame oil! Sounds funny, right?

Unbelievably, that’s exactly what I went through in the past one year (talking about oils). Just to save you Mummas from the hassle of selecting the best oils for your baby, I decided to share details of all these massage oils with you.

Check them out…

1. Olive Oil

I find olive oil the best for my son’s skin and hence, it tops my list. Olive oil is known to be good for the skin since ages and so it is! It is great at keeping diaper rash at bay and makes the babies skin soft and smooth (and these are not just adjectives to beautify the expression, I am writing out of mere experience). You can use it before or after bath on the baby’s skin and it is also great at hydrating the skin, keeping all the dry patches and flaky skin away. This oil can be used in both hot and cold weather. It is slightly expensive as compared to the price of other oils, but it’s totally worth it.

Price: Rs. 115* for 100ml

2. Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil reminds me instantly of the traditional Parachute’s big blue bottle. Its smell makes me nostalgic and I just love its multi-purpose nature. It’s good for your baby’s skin, hair and even for her diaper area. It has a cooling tendency so you can derive maximum benefit from it if you use it in the summers. It is full of antibacterial and antiseptic properties and has a very natural feel to it. It softens the skin of the baby in just 3 or 4 uses. This oil is highly affordable and easily available in the market.

Price: Rs. 31* for 100ml

3. Mustard Oil

Mustard oil is largely recommended to be used during the winter season as it is considered to have a heating effect on the body and the skin. It prevents the skin from catching infections. It is also said to darken the skin of the baby and thus should be used if you are not too worried about the baby’s complexion. The flip side of it is, that it can even lead to darker hair in babies and thus proves to be a good hair oil for babies who have light color hair!

Price: Rs.123* for 100ml

4. Sesame Oil

Sesame oil has a very subtle smell to it and is very light in touch. In Ayurveda, it is considered to have a warming effect on the body and is good to be used during the cold months of the year. It is also known as the ‘King of Oils’ and is said to promote the bone density and improve the overall bone health in babies. It nourishes the baby’s skin and imparts a healthy glow to it.

Price: Rs 62* for 100ml

5. Almond Oil

Almond oil is considered great for baby’s skin and massage. It has a light scent and contains many vitamins and fats that nourish the skin deeply. This oil can be safely used in both, hot and cold months of the year. Almond oil is said to prevent indigestion in babies, if used over the stomach area. It leaves the skin soft, smooth and supple. Not to mention, it is not recommended for babies who have a nut allergy or babies whose parents have ever had a nut allergy.

Price: Rs.132* for 100ml

These are the oils I have tried on my baby’s skin (due to lack of knowledge of the right oil for my baby). To avoid getting into my shoes, I would advise you to consult your baby’s healthcare adviser and choose one oil out of the many available today and most importantly, stick to it if it suits your baby well.

There are also other oils available in the market by brands like Johnsons & Johnsons, Himalaya Herbals etc., but I personally do not prefer using them and prefer using natural oils over them. Also, keep in mind the weather, month of the year and your baby’s reaction to the oil before settling down with a particular oil.

I hope this post of mine will help you choose the right oil for your baby and get you through the ‘which-oil-is-best-for-my-baby’ dilemma!

*Prices may vary depending upon brand and availability