Massage Your Baby with Aromatherapy Oils

The use of plant extracts, which is the essence of aromatherapy, has existed in many alternative systems of healing all across the world. American Indians have used it for long. The popular south Asian system of Ayurveda is based on the use of a variety of medicinal oils prepared by boiling natural herbs in it. These systems have used it for babies as well and so does aromatherapy. Aromatherapy essential oils are a completely pure and natural product that is absolutely safe for a baby. This makes baby aromatherapy an important aspect of aromatherapy.

As aromatherapy is used to control post partum depression among new mothers, their babies also indirectly benefit from aromatherapy. Besides that, aromatherapy is used directly for babies to contain heat rashes and diaper rash. Under the guidance of an experienced aromatherapist, the essential oils can be mixed in the necessary proportions and can be massaged on the baby’s body. Aromatherapy oils can also be used in the baby’s room in aromatherapy diffusers. Since babies react more strongly to the sense of smell than adults, baby aromatherapy is very effective. A lot of data has been collected on the importance of sense of smell in babies by the researches conducted by Davis and Porter during the period of 1991 to 2000.

Massaging baby with aromatic oils was an important item of baby care in many conventional societies. This is the basic principle of aromatherapy as well. Besides that, baby aromatherapy is effective in minimizing the child’s skin irritation, teething problems, anxiety, earache, cold and colic.

Though it has never been known by the name aromatherapy massage, oil massage, preferably with scented oils, was almost a ritualistic aspect of bringing up babies in many Asian and African countries. In many societies oil massage was even carried on to adulthood and old age, an elaborate Sunday oil bath being an important holiday ritual for many. These were all various incarnations of aromatherapy massage.

Aromatherapy massage, or baby aromatherapy, is believed to enhance the mental and physical development of a child. Physical strengthening is obvious enough, because the muscles are continuously stretched and pulled, and fed by the scented oils. Besides that, aromatherapy massage is believed to provide the child with a sense of security, a bonding to the massager who is mostly a parent, and a sense of emotional well-being. Aromatherapy massage also heals the skin, aids digestion, clears chest and nasal congestion, and thereby stimulates the respiratory system.

Babies who are subjected to aromatherapy massage have better immune systems, better muscular movement, more flexible joints, and greater coordination. Aromatherapy essential oils that should preferably be used in baby aromatherapy are chamomile and lavender. These should ideally be applied in a lotion till the age of two. After that, a child’s skin can stand oils better and so they may be applied using carrier oils.

The best essential oils for baby aromatherapy are lavender, chamomile, grapefruit, mandarin, lemon, geranium, sweet orange etc. They would keep its skin soft, supple, and fragrant.