Baby Massage - Bonding Through Gentle Touch
In many parts of the world – especially in Asia and Africa – it is an integral part of (daily) baby care: baby massage. It is a wonderful method to strengthen the bond between you and your baby while also promoting your child's health and well-being. In this article, we will tell you more about the benefits of baby massage, what you should keep in mind, and which oil is best suited for it.
Learn all about baby massage
How beneficial is baby massage?
Baby massage can have a positive effect on the growth and development of babies. Various studies show that regular full-body massages in the first months of life can promote the baby's body weight and height growth. The baby's skin also benefits, as the gentle touch and use of baby oil stimulate blood circulation, which contributes to optimal nutrient supply to the skin.
What are its advantages?
Touch is an essential element of baby massage and plays a crucial role in promoting the emotional bond – the so-called bonding – between you and your baby. This intimate time of care strengthens your child's trust and security and can also improve your own emotional satisfaction and well-being. These conscious moments of relaxation also help you to calm down and give your body time to regenerate.
When can you start baby massage?
A recent study examined the effects of baby massages on newborns aged between 6 weeks and 6 months. It concludes that you can start a baby massage already in these first weeks of life. In this early stage of life, baby massage already has positive effects on the baby's growth and the mother-child bond. Important: If you want to massage your baby's tummy, you should wait until the navel is completely healed.
How long does a baby massage last?
Depending on the day, your baby might only want to be massaged for 5 minutes, but enjoy the massage for a full 20 minutes on another day.
When should you stop baby massage?
To find out, you should observe your baby's reactions and respect them: If your baby signals that it’s had enough, you should stop the massage. Signals can be, for example, becoming restless or crying. Also respect if your baby generally does not want to be massaged. If your baby is sick, hungry, sleepy, has been fed only 1 to 2 hours ago, or if you yourself are stressed, you should not massage them.
How often should I do a baby massage?
Basically, you can give the baby massage as often as your baby enjoys it. The same applies here: pay close attention to your baby's reactions and signals. The baby massage can be a lovely regular ritual for both of you and a meaningful addition to daily baby care.
What should be considered when giving baby massages?
Basically, the room where you massage your baby should be comfortably warm. Experts recommend a room temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius. Take enough time for the massage and only massage your baby when you feel relaxed and not stressed yourself. Because your baby will sense your mood. Your baby should be awake, full, and content during the massage. Have everything you need within easy reach beforehand. This way, there are no interruptions, and you can closely observe what your baby likes and what they don’t. Make sure your hands are clean and warm, your fingernails are trimmed and filed, and remove your jewelry so you don’t accidentally scratch your baby’s delicate skin.
Baby massage made easy: Practical tips for a gentle start
What do you need for baby massage?
- Enough time and peace (for the actual massage, you should plan 15-30 minutes without interruption)
- A soft towel or blanket
- A soft surface to sit on (e.g., a cushion)
Highly recommended: special baby oil.
A baby massage can be done with or without baby oil.
Why should I use oil for baby massage?
This has several advantages: On the one hand, the oil supports pleasant, flowing movements and reduces friction during the massage. In addition, oil protects the delicate baby skin from drying out. Particularly interesting: research has shown that babies massaged with oil showed fewer signs of stress and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol than babies massaged without oil. So a massage has a calming effect on babies, especially when oil is used.
If you use an oil, please note the following
Important: If your baby is younger than one month, you should avoid using any oil for their massage
- Test the product on a small patch of skin 24 to 48 hours before the massage to see if your baby reacts to it. If your baby's skin shows redness, itching, or swelling, you should not use the oil.
- Use a towel and preferably massage your baby lying on it on the floor. This is for safety, as the oil can make your baby's skin slippery.
- It is best to always rub a small amount of the oil in your palms first and warm it up this way
Which oil is suitable for baby massage?
Since the skin of newborns is very permeable, it can absorb applied cosmetics very quickly. Due to the not yet fully developed lipid film and its lower content of natural moisture binders, baby skin can lose moisture quickly. Dry baby skin can be the result. And due to dry skin conditions, baby skin also tends to be more prone to inflammation and irritation and can be very sensitive overall. Therefore, it is important to choose a suitable oil for baby massage.
For the care of newborns, natural plant oils have been preferred for hundreds of years. Among other reasons, because they have a lower risk of causing a skin reaction. We recommend the new lavera Baby Care Oil for baby massage. It intensely cares for delicate baby skin and protects it from drying out. The included organic almond oil has a soothing effect, strengthens the skin barrier, is described as hypoallergenic, and is therefore ideal for sensitive baby skin. Organic jojoba oil binds moisture, preserves the skin’s natural moisture balance, and is also considered hypoallergenic. Also included in this formula is organic evening primrose oil, which is generally recommended for babies and children. It helps to soothe dry and irritated skin and retain moisture. Plant-based squalane ensures good spreadability, good absorption, and retains moisture in baby skin.
How exactly can lavera Baby Care Oil help with dry baby skin?
The Baby Care Oil from lavera helps with dry baby skin thanks to its natural formula, which contains organic almond oil and organic jojoba oil. Organic almond oil is especially rich in fatty acids, such as oleic acid and linoleic acid, which ensure smooth, soft baby skin. Organic almond oil soothes the skin and strengthens the skin barrier, while organic jojoba oil preserves the skin’s natural moisture balance.
Did you know? Organic jojoba oil is rich in vitamin E, can support water absorption in the upper skin layers, and forms a protective barrier on the skin surface that prevents moisture loss.
These particularly mild and compatible ingredients protect delicate baby skin from drying out.
NOTE: The content presented here is solely for neutral information and general education. This text does not replace professional advice from a (pediatric) doctor, pharmacist, or midwife and must not be used as a basis for self-diagnosis or for starting, changing, or stopping treatment of illnesses. Always consult the (pediatric) doctor or midwife you trust if you have health questions or concerns! We strive to update the information regularly but do not guarantee its completeness or accuracy. Health information can vary individually, and the information provided here may not apply to everyone.