1.2 Oil massage

In our culture, almost all the babies are given oil massage daily. Some parents massage the baby 2 to 3 times a day. They believe that the baby’s skin will become better with the massage and the baby will become stronger. Little bit of oil that is massaged on the skin can get absorbed, however it is not necessary for the baby’s well being, as the baby will get its full nutrition from the breast milk or the formula milk that the mother gives to her baby. Usually oil massage is followed by passive exercise and then the baby is kept in the sunshine for 10 to 15 minutes, followed by a bath. This is certainly good for the baby as the exercise will make her muscles stronger, build up an appetite and sunshine will give her vitamin D. However if you cannot do this do not worry too much, as your baby will get enough vitamins from the milk and baby’s muscles will become stronger by the normal movements of her legs and arms. If you are doing passive exercises, be very careful that you do not use any force while doing the exercises, as this can produce fractures of the baby’s bones. Also, when you keep the baby in the sunshine, be careful that the sun is not too hot and there is no strong wind. Keep the baby in the sunshine for a very short time and cover the eyes as too much light can damage the eyes.