Traditionally, a massage is given to the baby with the hope of strengthening her bones. It is presumed that oil will be absorbed through the skin and reach the baby’s bones & muscles, giving them extra strength. It is also thought that rubbing oil increases blood circulation, benefitting good health. 

Oil is applied to the scalp and sometimes thumped, hoping to make hair healthy and increase brain power. All of the above are only myths. Oil is not absorbed through the skin or through the scalp. If oil could go in, then inside fluids could also come out. 

Then Is massage good for the baby? 

Does oil help the baby in any way? 

In my view, massage benefits babies in three ways. 

1. Oil, when gently applied to the baby’s body with motherly love, your baby gets a feeling of being cared for.

2. The oil prevents the evaporation of water from the skin. The moisture of the skin remains in the skin. So the skin of your baby remains soft and supple. 

3. Evaporation of water from the skin leads to the cooling of skin. The oil application on the skin gives warmth by preventing the evaporation of skin water. The flowing air also takes away heat from the surface of the baby’s body. The oil checks the heat transfer from the body of the baby to the flowing air. Prevention of evaporation of skin water and direct transfer of heat to the air keeps the baby warm. 

This feeling of being loved & the warmth will definitely have some health and happiness benefits.