Infant Massage and Olive OilIt’s rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and things like squalene and oleocanthal, which may help repair skin damage. Olive oil is also not toxic for babies, kills dangerous microbes, and is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, which makes it a good choice for your baby’s delicate skin.
olive oil is one of the best oils to use for baby massage. It’s rich in vitamin E, antioxidants and oleocanthal, which may help repair skin damage. Olive oil is also not toxic for babies and kills dangerous microbes making it a good choice for your delicate little one’s skin.
Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and other nutrients that are good for your baby’s skin. It’s also not toxic for babies, kills dangerous microbes, and is unlikely to cause an allergic reaction, making it one of the best things you can use on your baby’s delicate skin.
We love using this simple, natural oil on our little ones. Olive oil is not toxic for babies and contains things like squalene and oleocanthal that may help to repair skin damage. It’s also rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and other healthy compounds, so it’s great for moisturizing everything from skin to hair.
Olive oil is an amazing massage oil that is good for your newborn baby and their skin, too. Olive oil is naturally anti-inflammatory and contains antioxidants that help protect the skin from damage. It also has squalene and oleocanthal, which may help repair damage from sun exposure, as well as antimicrobial properties that keep it free of dangerous microbes.
Olive oil is a good choice for your baby’s delicate skin. It has the perfect balance of fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants that help keep the skin soft, healthy, and smooth.
Which Oil is Best for Baby Massage
Massaging your little one’s delicate skin with oil is a great way to bond — and it feels good for baby and you. Using oil to massage nourishes and helps protect your baby’s soft skin.
Even before your baby was a just a twinkle in your eye, you were told natural is best, right? And it’s true: Most natural oils are a safe option for massaging your baby’s delicate skin. You can even use some food oils — without your baby smelling like a salad.
However, olive oil isn’t something that should be used regularly on your baby’s skin — or at all, if they have dry, cracked skin or eczema.
Olive oil is made up of several kinds of fats:
- omega-6 fatty acids
- omega-3 fatty acids
- linoleic acid
- oleic acid
Olive oil is definitely good for your heart health when you consume it. On the outside of the body, omega-3 fatty acids help soothe inflammation, and linoleic acid can improve the skin’s natural barrier.
However, it’s the oleic acid that makes olive oil a poor choice for skin care — for babies, children, or adults.
Benefits of baby massage
There’s no question that baby massage is beneficial. Massaging your baby helps you bond, get playful, and relax together. It also helps:
- encourage more physical interaction
- encourage more eye contact
- your little one cope with baby anxiety (it’s a real thing)
- calm down your baby’s stress hormones (yes, even babies have stress)
- your baby relax and go to sleep (sometimes)
- reduce crying (maybe)
Wait at least 45 minutes after feeding your baby. Massaging your little on a full tummy might cause them to vomit — not relaxing for baby or you!
Benefits of using olive oil specifically
It’s OK to sometimes use olive oil on your baby as long they don’t have dry or irritated skin. Along with fats, olive oil contains vitamin E and vitamin K. It’s also loaded with antioxidants, which may help calm down inflammation in the body.
One 2016 studyTrusted Source found that babies who were massaged with olive oil or sunflower oil had better moisturized skin than those who were given dry massages.
But don’t make it a regular thing: The same study found that using these oils topically broke down the natural fat barrier in the skin. And while the antioxidants can calm inflammation, oleic acid may worsen it.
Risks of using olive oil on baby’s skin
A small 2013 studyTrusted Source that looked into the effects of olive oil on the skin found that adults who used it for 4 weeks had mild redness. This might be because olive oil can thin or break down the outer layer of skin.
If olive oil can do that to adult skin, it’s definitely not a good idea to regularly use it on your baby’s soft skin. And if you have eczema, the last thing you want to do is damage the skin’s protective barrier more. Using olive oil and other natural oils with oleic acid on the skin might cause or worsen eczema.
This is important to know, because 20 percent of children under 2 years old may have baby eczema at some point.
A 2019 study showed that using oleic acid alone on the skin can make inflammation — redness and irritation — worse. Olive oil is chock full of oleic acid. In fact, it has more of this kind of fat than the heart-healthy omega kind. While it does have other components, olive oil may therefore irritate the skin.
Types of olive oil to use for baby
As we’ve already mentioned, olive oil does have benefits when consumed. So if your baby is 6 months or older and ready to taste test solid foods, it’s OK to add some to their pureed carrots. Allergies to olive oil are rare, but as with all things, try just a tiny bit first to see if your baby likes it.
Make sure you only use extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO). Extra-virgin olive oil is the purest form and isn’t made with chemicals. It also has more nutrients than other kinds of olive oil.
If you sometimes use olive oil on your baby’s skin and hair, remember to also always use extra-virgin olive oil. Try mixing olive oil with other natural oils, or using other oils alone.
If you’d like to stick to natural, there are several natural oils that are safe for your baby’s skin and yours, like:
- Virgin coconut oil. This is rich in the fatty acid monolaurin, which moisturizes and gets rid of bacteria that’s common in skin with eczema.
- Jojoba oil. This is a safe moisturizer that doesn’t thin the skin.
- Borage seed oil. This is another safe moisturizer that won’t irritate the skin.
How to massage your baby’s skin
Not all natural oils are made equal — especially when used on the skin. Olive oil is definitely good for your insides, but not for the outside for you and your baby.
Stick to natural oils that have been proven to be healthy for the skin even if you or your baby have dry, irritated skin — and especially if you have eczema.
Here’s how to safely massage your baby’s smooth, velvety skin with natural oil:
- Add a spoonful of virgin coconut oil into a small, shallow bowl (one that you can easily dip your fingers into).
- Microwave the coconut oil for about 10 to 15 seconds. It should be slightly warm and softly melted, but not fully melted to a liquid.
- Wash your hands carefully with warm water and soap.
- Test the temperature of the coconut oil by dipping your finger into it and rubbing some onto the inside or your wrist. The oil should be slightly warm and turn into a liquid as you spread it on the skin.
- Make sure you are in a warm room. Undress your baby and lay them down on a soft surface so they’re facing you. You can use a thick towel or blanket to cushion them.
- Rub your hands together to warm them up. If you have dry or rough hands, moisturize your hands to soften them.
- Tell your baby it’s massage time. Give them a tickle to warm them up.
- Place a small amount of coconut oil onto your fingers and palm and rub your hands together.
- Beginning at the stomach and chest area, slowly massage, stroke, and knead your baby’s skin.
- Spend about 30 seconds to a minute on each area before moving on to the next.
- Continue massaging your baby’s shoulders, arms, neck, legs, and feet.
- Turn your baby onto their tummy and repeat the massage on their back.
- Talk to your baby or sing a lullaby to keep them calm during the massage.
- If doing this as part of a bedtime ritual, cross your fingers that by the end, sleepiness is taking over.
The takeaway
You’ve been told again and again that natural is always best. And yes, olive oil is a healthy oil — when it comes to cooking and food. But new research shows that olive oil isn’t the best for your baby’s skin or your own.
Use olive oil sparingly on your little one’s skin — and not at all if they have dry skin or eczema. Save the olive oil for the salad dressing, and ask your pediatrician what the best natural oil is for your baby’s skin.
Olive Oil For Baby Massage in Summer
Plenty of praises have been sung about massages for babies and their various benefits. Baby massages are a delightful way to boost your baby’s development! They have been popular for decades; only the choice of oil used has changed over time. While traditional natural oils may dominate the popular notion of what’s best for babies, care is being taken that these oils are made more gentle. Why? Well, you want your baby’s skin to stay soft, supple, clear of skin problems, and not have her fall prey to colds because of having used the wrong massage oil, don’t you? And that’s where olive oil comes to the rescue!
Read on for benefits of using olive oil for babies.
7 Benefits of Olive Oil for Baby Massage
Apart from being one of the healthiest and yummiest cooking oils, olive oil is also used for skin care and cosmetic purposes. This makes it an easy choice for your baby’s massage, although it’s extremely important that you choose a good product.
Note: If your baby’s skin is damaged or is prone to eczema, olive oil may not be the best choice for the baby’s massage. Consult with your doctor before using olive oil to massage your baby.
1. All-weather Massage Oil
This is definitely an advantage all moms can get on board with! There are certain oils that are restricted to summer or winter seasons because using them during any other time can affect your baby’s health. But that’s not the case with olive oil. The only thing you need to consider is the quantity you’ll be using to massage your baby. Use a generous amount during winter months when the skin tends to dry out more and use a smaller amount during summers. Remember, olive oil can be pretty heavy on the skin that requires less moisture. Therefore, adjust the quantity accordingly.
2. Has Moisturising Properties
Protect your little one’s soft baby skin with the moisturising properties of olive oil. A gentle, soothing olive oil massage can leave your child’s skin smoother and softer than it already was! Olive oil contains squalene which is a hydrating agent, that permeates your baby’s skin, making it baby-soft!
3. Helps Loosen the Cradle Cap Scales
Cradle cap is a skin condition that leads to dry and flaky layers on the baby’s scalp. It doesn’t usually cause much discomfort to the baby, although the sight of it isn’t very pleasant. Olive oil is helpful in loosening the scales formed due to cradle cap. Simply massage the baby’s head with some olive oil and leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes. Wash and rinse the oil off with a mild shampoo and use a comb to remove the loosened bits and flakes. You’ll see favourable results in just a couple of uses!
4. Provides Symptomatic Relief in Cold-Cough
With winter approaching, the dreaded colds and coughs that plague your baby are underway as well! Massaging your baby’s chest with a mixture of eucalyptus radiata oil and a few drops of good olive oil could provide some symptomatic relief in cold, cough and respiratory congestion. You can also rub the oil on your little one’s palms or the soles of her feet to provide more relief.
5. Prevents and Cures Diaper Rashes
Yet another common condition that presents both moms and babies with nightmares, diaper rashes can be quite distressing to deal with. Prevent these rashes by massaging your baby’s diaper area with some lukewarm olive oil.
6. Promotes Sleep
Olive oil has relaxing properties that can soothe and lull your baby to sleep. Rub the soles of your baby’s feet with a few drops of olive oil and massage him till he gently drifts in deep slumber.
7. Good for Hair Health
Olive oil strengthens your baby’s hair and softens it if it’s rough or coarse. It is also a good source of Vitamin E, which can enhance the texture of the hair and moisturise it well.
Although olive oil has several benefits, you need to practice caution when using it.
Precautions to Be Taken When Using Olive Oil for Baby Massage
These precautionary measures will help you take complete care of your little one’s skin.
- Don’t apply if your baby has skin allergies/eczema.
- Stop using it if the baby has developed a rash after using it.
- Avoid olive oil with preservatives, sometimes also known as routine olive oil, as it may be harmful to the baby’s soft skin.
While massaging your baby, you want to ensure that it benefits her right from top-to-toe! An olive oil massage for your baby is great for all seasons as it nourishes the skin and hair, among other advantages that it provides. Ensure that you choose a quality extra virgin olive oil that is trusted by other moms as well, and your baby’s beautiful skin will soon be thanking you!