Baby care

Baby massage (malish): the tradition, done gently

4 min read · MyBloomingBelly editorial

The Indian tradition of daily malish is one our grandmothers got substantially right: research finds gentle massage supports bonding, calms babies, can improve sleep, and in premature babies is linked with better weight gain. Done softly, it is one of the loveliest rituals of the first year — a daily conversation in the language babies understand first: touch.

The evidence does update the tradition in two places. First, oil choice: coconut and sunflower oils suit newborn skin well in studies, while mustard oil — the classic choice — has been shown to disturb the skin barrier, so we suggest saving it for the kitchen. Second, pressure: the vigorous, stretching, joint-cracking style some traditional maalishwalis use is out; strokes should be slow, gentle and pleasant — you are soothing a baby, not kneading dough. No oil in the nostrils or ears, ever, and no shaping of noses or heads — features come from genes, not massage.