How to Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil on a Baby's Skin

Massage or touch therapy has several benefits for a baby, including positive weight gain, decreased anxiety and improved motor development. The use of extra virgin olive oil for baby massage has become increasingly popular. Sutter Health, a hospital in Sacramento, California, says that olive oil, along with canola and grapeseed oils are popular choices for your baby's skin.

Diaper rash and cradle cap also respond well to extra virgin olive oil. Although the oil is often used for baby skin, check with your doctor to make sure that it is suitable for your own baby.

Massage Therapy and Moisturizer After Bath

Fill the baby tub with warm water. Place the baby in the baby tub and wash him. Wash his hair with warm water and massage his scalp. Stroke his skin gently with a towel until he is dry.

Place her face down on a flat surface. Pour a little extra virgin olive oil in your hands and rub it in the palm of your hands until it warms up. Massage it on her feet and legs. Massage in a circular motion and make sure all of the dry spots are covered.

Move up to his buttocks and upper back while massaging gently. Refill your palm with olive oil as necessary. Rub the oil into his upper back and on his buttocks until the oil disappears.

Turn her on her back so that her front side is facing you. Massage her chest, arms and face with some extra virgin olive oil. Do not put too much olive oil on her face.

Pour some more olive oil into your hands. Rub your hands together vigorously and rub the oil into his hair. Add as much or as little oil as needed for the texture of his hair. Comb the oil through each strand of hair, and style it as you normally would.

Soothe Diaper Rash

...

Home Remedies for a Toddler With a Dry Scalp

Learn More

Mix an olive oil emulsion. Pour 2 tbsp. of olive oil and 1 tbsp. of water into a container. Shake the mixture briskly to form a white, almost milky emulsion.

Remove the soiled diaper from the baby. Make sure you handle soiled diapers with care to limit the spread of germs and bacteria. Immediately wrap and dispose of the soiled diaper.

Wipe his bottom well with a baby wipe. Get inside the crevices and folds of the skin. Wipe his bottom again with a warm, wet cloth to remove any residue left from the baby wipes. Dry his skin with a clean towel.

Wash your hands thoroughly before applying the emulsion. Pour the emulsion of extra virgin olive oil and water into the palm of your hands. Rub it vigorously until it is warm. Spread the olive oil over her genitals and buttocks.

Place a new diaper on the baby. Be sure the diaper fits snug enough to stay on but that it is not on too tight. Finish dressing him.

Cradle Cap

Pour a small amount of olive oil into the palm of your hands. Rub your palms together until the olive oil is warm.

Massage the olive oil into her scalp. Cover her whole scalp, even those areas not affected by cradle cap. Leave the oil on her entire scalp for 10 to 20 minutes and allow the oil to soak into the crust overnight if the crust is thick, advises the Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota

Wash his scalp thoroughly using a mild baby shampoo. Remove the crust that has been loosened from your infant's scalp with a comb. Do not apply pressure to his scalp with the comb. Wash his hair a second and a third time to ensure removal of all of the olive oil.

Dry her hair with a clean towel. Comb her hair and style it in your usual fashion. Wash any towels and washcloths used immediately in hot water. Disinfect both the bathtub and the baby's bathtub.

Warnings

Be careful not to get the olive oil into baby's mouth while washing her hair.

Do not press on the baby's scalp when trying to remove the cradle cap with a comb.

Massage your baby on a secure surface to prevent her from falling.

×