Massaging and oil bath for new born.

Oil bath is very important for new born babies from  day 10 onwards. It makes the baby sleep well. Babies who get proper sleep show a healthy growth.
Newborn may need 15 to 20 hours of sleep. Every sleep may last for 3 to 4 hours. Breast fed babies need to be fed every 2 hours. Babies should not be let to sleep for long hours with out feeding.

 Oil massage:

Coconut oil can be used for massaging initially for 2 or 3 days. Then half a litre of gingely oil should be heated adding 50 gms of ajwain(omam). This can be stored and used for massaging.

Oil bath should be given alternate days for the first 3 months. and every two other days till 6 months and then onwards twice a week through out the life.Oil massage not only helps the baby to get good sleep and growth but also it cools the body and gives a shining skin.

It is better to lay the baby on your foot. You should sit on a raised platform. If you are not comfortable with that you can use nappy table for massaging and use the bathing seat to give the bath.

1. Leg massage:

For massaging start from the legs of the baby. Apply  handful of oil on both the legs and massaging by stretching the legs from knees to ankles.  repeat it from thighs to knees. Massage the feet holding the leg in left hand and massaging it with right hand. Massage the fingers too.

2. Chest and stomach massage:

Apply oil on the chest and massage with your thumb by proceeding from the top of the chest below the neck to the sides along the ribcage. Massage the stomach around the naval in clockwise and anti clockwise. This induces digestion.

3. Hand massage:

 start from the shoulders. Massage clockwise and anti clock wise direction around the shoulders and hold the palm in one hand massage with all of your fingers from top to palm. Massage clock and anti clock wise at the elbows. Massage the fingers too.

4. Neck, back and head massage:

Apply oil around the neck and put the baby on its belly and apply oil on the back and massage well with correct pressure. Now apply oil on the head liberally and massage well, this helps the baby to get good blood circulation for the brain . This also helps the baby to get proper head shape in future.Massage the ears too.

5.Face massage:

Now have the baby on its back and start applying oil slowly on the face. Massage the nose well to get the sharp nose, massage the fore head and checks. Lastly just move your fingers over the eye lids slowly.

Bathing the baby 

Use channa dal powder for the head and moongdal powder for the head. Make it a paste before using to avoid clogging.
A lot of water should be used. Water should be hotter than we (adults) use. A lot of water should be used before cleaning the oil. Pouring water on the oily body simultaneously massaging the body will remove most of the oil. Get help from someone to pour water, while you massage the baby.

1.First pour water on the legs and massage well then slowly pour on the hands keep both the hands on the belly of the baby and massage the hands.
2. Now pour water over the belly and the neck. For the boy babies, for the first 2 or 3 days, nipples should be pressed to remove the liquid locked. It will help the boy to get a proper chest when he grows into an adult.
3. Now have the baby on its belly and pour water on the back and massage well. Then pour water on the head and massage well.
4. Now apply moong dal powder paste and remove the oil from the body and clean it. Now use channadal powder paste and remove the oil from the head. If it is a baby girl, use kasthuri manjal powder and apply all over the body and then pour water to remove.
5. Use a soft cotton cloth to remove the water from the head. Before getting up, clean the head with the cloth and then wrap the baby in the towel and hand it over to some one to dry the baby completely.
6. Dry the head thoroughly. Clean the ears and nose using baby buds or roll the end of a towel or a cloth like a bud which is very safe for the tender skin.
7.Apply baby powder or moisturizer all over the body after a bath or sponge bath. Especially the areas like arm pit, between the folds of skin etc., where air circulation is limited.

Note: Always use thin cotton old clean clothes for all the purposes, to wrap or to cushion the baby.