baby skin care: lotion vs. oil, which to use when
Jul 02, 2024
Hi, I'm Antonette Golikidis, an infant skin + baby massage expert at b.box body. I am here to share the many positive benefits of baby massage and the common differences between using body lotions + body oils for your at-home baby massage ritual.
Whether you decide to buy lotion, oil, or both together, I am here today to give you a breakdown of their unique textures and explain which ones are best for your baby's delicate skin.
But before we get into the nitty-gritty, let's review why baby massage is commonly known to be essential to a baby's overall growth and development and how it can boost our baby's overall well-being.
why baby massage is important
touch
Touch is commonly known to be one of the most essential elements to your baby's overall emotional, mental and psychological development. Babies need and desire touch, just as they require food or air to breathe. Even more than food, warmth, and shelter - babies need touch to develop their nervous systems properly.
bonding
Following on from touch lies bonding. In holding, touching, and massaging your baby, you are gifting them a loving mother/baby connection and an incredible feeling of safety. Bonding may take time, but massaging your baby will ignite the spark and enhance the bonding process.
attachment
After bonding - a sense of attachment commonly develops between Mum and Bub, and the magic begins. By massaging your baby more regularly, bubs may have more of an opportunity to connect and develop a sense of trust in you, their mother. This creates even more bonding to occur, and attachment may be reached.
Let's not forget that bonding and attachment are also commonly known to be beneficial for a new mama to heal mentally after birth. After all, motherhood, for some, can be such a challenging, demanding journey, with sleep deprivation clouding your thoughts, the challenges of first-time breastfeeding, and constantly trying to do the right thing for your baby, leaving very little time, rest, or self-care for yourself.
eye contact
Eye contact is commonly known to help mama and baby to recognise each other and may fuel unspoken communication. But it may also have the power to connect you both to a natural, first-time bonding experience. They say that their eyes are a window to the soul, and since we physically birth our babies ourselves, a natural connection is bound to occur between the eyes of a mama and her new baby!
relaxation
The relaxed and regenerative energy that massage produces is commonly known to calm and reduce stress in both a parent and baby. When under stress, our bodies are known to naturally produce cortisol, a hormone that raises our blood pressure, increases our heart rate, and prepares muscles for movement when the body is under threat.
In other words, the physical benefit of massage may be a great way to combat stress in you and your baby - by producing a hormone called 'oxytocin' - the 'feel-good hormone'. Oxytocin is commonly known to help lower stress in the body, giving mama and baby the space to bond and attach while hopefully immersing themselves in a state of relaxation!
stimulation and development
Stimulation and development of the brain are commonly known to be one of the strongest factors in why baby massage is so beneficial. It may stimulate your baby to discover its senses and power up its brain signals more efficiently, too!
choosing the right lotion or oil
When it comes to choosing the proper skin care to protect + nourish your baby's skin, it helps to be clear + realistic about their skin type and to know what kind of texture your product contains to match your baby's skin care needs.
For example, some products may have heavier textures than others or even different ratios of water vs. oil—that may not even 'scratch the surface' or be the best option for what your baby requires—especially if you start noticing skin problems like chronic dry skin, rash, or cradle cap.
Some oils may also contain hidden nasties that may irritate your baby's skin. This means your skin care choices may need to be chosen beyond their beautiful scent to provide more of a barrier for your baby's dry, flaky, chapped, or angry skin. So, you are most likely looking for chemical-free skincare that provides deep hydration and overall coverage to soothe your baby's susceptible skin issues.
moisturising with hydrate
Skin commonly needs hydration + lots of nourishment. For top-to-toe smoothness, b.box body hydrate moisturising lotion is packed with the natural botanical goodness of aloe vera, jojoba oil, + shea butter to replenish moisture and repair your baby's skin sensitivities. Free from nasties, hydrate is plant-based, vegan-friendly and dermatologically tested with nutrient-rich Kakadu plum and green tea extract – that may leave your baby's skin feeling soft and looking radiant + aromatic essentials oils of calendula + chamomile to calm the skin, soothe irritation + smell amazing!
Massage the hydrate gently and slowly into the skin for good absorption without any white ghosting. This will leave the baby feeling perfectly moisturised! It is ideal for baby massage.
Here’s a bit of detail about hydrate’s key ingredients
aloe vera:
• known to nourish, protect + heal the skin for optimal rejuvenation.
• it's soothing for mum after a long day out with the kids!
shea butter:
• extremely moisturising + hydrating and helps to keep skin soft and smooth for pregnancy, bubs and the whole family.
all about oil
common ingredients in baby oil
Baby oil is often used for baby massage and is commonly known as an emollient. It locks moisture into human skin by creating a barrier on the surface to protect it from water loss. Body oil can often be found in moisturisers, such as Jojoba or almond oil. It mimics our natural lipids, the fatty substances inside our skin that make it feel smooth. So, using body oil is ideal for restoring and improving the surface of your baby's skin.
pros & cons
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pros: • known to work best on slightly dampened skin, so ideal after bath time • multiple uses: to remove cradle cap, soften the skin in the bath or for baby massage • commonly has a handful of easy-to-name ingredients • known to lock in moisture quickly + effectively, without greasiness • known to provide baby's skin with deep restorative hydration |
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cons: • ideally used after the baby is one month old, as oil does not absorb as well on newborn skin • it can clog pores if overused or used on very oily skin. If used sparingly and for dry skin concerns, this isn't usually an issue. |
which oil can I use to massage baby?
A quality oil infused with the right botanicals is a great starting point for DIY baby massage. Our skin-loving nourish oil is formulated with plant-friendly, cruelty-free, skin-nurturing goodness..
introducing nourish
b.box body nourish bath + massage oil may help improve a baby's skin's elasticity by softening, nourishing, and reconditioning their delicate skin. Enriched with a deeply hydrating + moisture-intensive carrier oil base, our aromatic nourish bath + massage oil may not only gently leave your baby's skin feeling hydrated, silky smooth and smelling beautiful, but it is made from botanical elements of coconut, sunflower + Jojoba to hydrate and replenish their skin's natural barrier commonly. This includes the essential oils of mandarin + chamomile that may offer nourishing properties to sensitive skin prone to dryness or irritation.
To use, massage nourish into your baby's skin for a relaxing + hydrating experience and an extra nourishing boost.
Here’s a bit of detail about nourish’s key ingredients:
coconut
• may help smooth skin + works as an antioxidant
• made of natural extracts
• The oily liquid is commonly separated through a tiny chemical process so that a 'pure' version can be added to skincare products.
chamomile:
• commonly known for its soothing + skin softening benefits
• non-irritating, and boosts anti-inflammatory + antibacterial properties
• a great ingredient to commonly soothe sensitive skin.
sunflower:
• may decrease inflammation, replenish the skin's barrier, + improve hair loss
• a contains Vitamin E.
hydrate & nourish - are they safe to use?
Generally, body creams + oils are safe for most parents to use. However, there may be some exceptions.
Ingredients like dyes, fragrances, or alcohol are commonly known to dry and irritate a baby's skin and potentially be a hazard to their sensitive skin issues. So, feel free to seek alternatives, such as chemical-free products that are plant-based and made of natural, nourishing properties that are commonly known to support sensitive skin issues.
And always remember: if your baby has sensitive skin and you aren't sure which product to use when testing it, do a patch test or get guidance from a dermatologist or other healthcare professional before using any skin care product on your baby.
At the end of the day, both oil and cream serve the same basic purpose—helping keep your baby's skin hydrated. Choosing between one or the other simply comes down to your baby's specific skin needs and preferences.
written by: by Antonette Golikidis
Award-winning skincare expert, mum, and formulations queen behind b.box body - the new all-natural, baby and family skincare collection from b.box. Antonette holds a Diploma in Health Science and Personal Care Formulation, and a Certificate IV in Aromatherapy + infant massage; and brings more than 15 years’ experience in cosmetic product development, alternative therapies, scent science and baby massage to the team. Her in-depth research and study of skin care and cosmetics ignited her passion for working with natural ingredients to create unique, quality products that not only smell delicious, but capture the therapeutic benefits of those ingredients.