The insights of La Saponaria

Children’s massage: the perfect guide for a peaceful massage

Written by Simona | Nov 25, 2025 12:55:52 PM

The massage of your child is immediately one of the many important moments in the life of a parent, especially if you are a beginner. To build from this moment an unforgettable memory, to sweep away doubts and perplexities, it is important to know how to perform it correctly, what products to prefer for our child, what ingredients, and why. 

In this article you will find out everything there is to know to make the best massage to the newborn; here you will learn why it is important to massage the baby and, taking into account his sensitive skin, You will discover what ingredients you can consider your allies to defeat the clouds of anxiety and make the sun shine of carefree. You’ll see, so you’ll both live an unforgettable moment! 

Index:

When is it appropriate to start giving massages to children? 

We can annihilate an anxiety right away: there is no wrong time to do the massage to your child.

The massage can be done from the first days of the child’s life, up to twelve months and even more; in fact, the massage changes depending on the various stages of the child’s development to grow together with him. 

As the baby becomes older and more lively from the motor point of view, the execution of the massage adapts to the needs and, consequently, becomes less laborious.

What are the benefits of massage to the newborn? All you need to know

The massage of the child guarantees many benefits for children but also for older people. 
Several scientific researches have confirmed the numerous benefits of the massage for the development and maturation of the newborn and the child; firstly on a physical level, from a psychological and emotional point of view of your baby and, even, on the relationship that will then establish with parents. 
Do not forget that performing the massage gives the parent a tool to talk deeply with his child, making physical contact with the child’s skin and gentle caresses take the place of words, communicating to the child what is not voiced. 
In fact, through the gentle touch of the baby’s skin, the right pressure exerted and the regulation of the breath in a quiet way, the child perceives deep in the emotions of the parent who massages him and his temperament. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt a calm, serene and calm behavior.

How do I do it? 

All moms and dads know that their babies need to be held, cuddled, rocked and touched lovingly. Through physical contact, the parent is able to understand the language of the child and react accordingly by listening with respect to his needs, what he appreciates and what annoys him.

Precautions before the massage: the choice of place and a sweet approach

Before you start massaging the baby, it is important to observe some tricks. 
First, it is essential to choose an indicated, orderly environment, free of dangers and edges; above all, it is important to opt for a peaceful place and protected from annoying external noise, otherwise the child may get scared or even angry.
In addition, it is better to prefer a bright environment so that the baby can clearly see the person at his side and not be alarmed; you will see, in this way the baby will be able to relax among the cuddles of his beloved parents!

To establish a serene beginning of the massage, it is recommended to establish a first approach with the baby: you can look him in the eyes, taking care to gently wrap a small part of his body, perhaps gently rubbing his hands in front of his face; this way allows you to respect the space and timing of the child by asking him, caress after caress, permission to massage him.
This is a fundamental step to involve the child, make the massage an agreed moment of closeness and not a passive act. With these small initial measures, as they say, those who start well are already half the work. 

What time of day is the best for baby massage?

One thing is certain: there is no universally ideal or equal moment for everyone. In fact, it will be the parent to evaluate which moment is the best and the most favorable during the day. 
In general, it is not recommended to perform the massage close to meals when the stomach is full, for example after an abundant feeding, otherwise the baby may feel sick. In addition, it is good to avoid the idea of doing the massage to the baby during the moment of nap, or the baby will wake up from his necessary sweet sleep; similarly, it is better to avoid the lasting moments when the child is hungry, sleepy, cold or crying.

Is there an ideal duration for massage? 

It is difficult to determine a priori how long the massage will last. It will be the child, together with the parent, to decide how much he will want to be massaged that day, as well as which part of the body will prefer to be massaged quietly. In fact, we must remember that the moment of the massage requires the parent to learn to observe, recognize and respond to the needs of his child with care and attention.

During the baby massage: where to start?

As for the areas from which to start surely it is better to start from the feet: who does not love a foot massage? Even our little ones will definitely appreciate it and then, when we are sure that they are relaxing and want to receive our massage, we can proceed with the legs. At this point you can switch to the hands, arms and abdomen: it is important to remember that not all children like to get massaged the belly and if we see that our baby is impatient, better avoid this area.

What products to choose? Your and her new best friends

Regardless of the numerous alternatives regarding the place and time of the massage, what is certain is that appropriate products and specific ingredients must be used. 
It is better to use oils or creams that do not have too strong scents that could irritate the child and instead choose simple ingredients, such as the most classic, almond oil. Be careful in this case that it is organic and without special additions.

Olio di mandorle dolci bio

Our organic sweet almond oil has a specific emollient and softening function. It’s a cold pressed oil from organic almonds and can be used as a massage oil on all skin types, even the most delicate, like that of children.

It has an excellent antioxidant and elasticizing action, becoming excellent for treating dry and reddened skin.

Shea Butter

A great ingredient to look for is Shea Butter. This precious ingredient with a very malleable texture is ideal for the moment of massage, but not only; it is fundamental in case of skin redness, irritation, and even burns, thanks to its soothing and healing properties. 
For this reason it is used to protect the delicate skin of newborns from possible damage caused by the diaper. In particular, our butter is sold without any impurities because it is deodorized through filters and, above all, without the use of chemicals.

Other interesting ingredients for baby massage

It is always better to prefer products containing chamomile, anti-inflammatory and soothing, as well as products based on Marigold; in fact, its extracts improve skin hydration, make the skin more elastic and resistant to irritation, at the same time performing a scar action. 
Last but not least, Sweet Almond Oil: thanks to the fact of having a composition very similar to the sebum that the skin normally produces, this oil is assimilated very well by the skin as recognized "friend"  and not a completely foreign substance; For this reason, it is suitable for sensitive skin or with problems such as redness and irritation.
To know the most surprising details of these inevitable ingredients, our Glossary very intuitive, rich in details and easy to use, is for you!

If you are looking for a routine designed with the heart for the care of your child, you can rely on the Le Albicoccole line: rich in organic products, effective and safe for the health of children. Dermatologically tested on sensitive skin, this line is formulated with natural active ingredients with nourishing, soothing and soothing properties, perfect for the delicate skin of children!

Bio crema lenitiva viso e corpo

All natural, this bio soothing face and body cream will make parents and children soft and happy ! A recipe rich in nature to take care of the delicate and sensitive skin of children and to protect their future.
It is made with a mix of emollient oils and plant extracts whose synergistic action has a nourishing, calming and protective effect.
It contains Organic Shea Butter, Apricot Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, nutrients and emollients, and organic plant extracts of Hamamelis, Chamomile and Marigold with soothing and soothing properties.
It is not irritating, dermatologically tested on sensitive skin.

how to apply it

After bathing or when needed, apply to face and body, gently massaging with circular movements until completely absorbed. Your child will appreciate this sweet (albi)coccola.

Alternative to creams: oil, but which? Not all oils are indicated!

If you are looking for an alternative solution to creamy products, with a less cumbersome application, then an oily product is for you.

Massaging the baby with oil reduces friction and helps make the movements more fluid and soft. But, be careful, not all oils are equally indicated, and it is essential to use a properly formulated oil!

In fact, all natural oils that are not specifically formulated for the skin of the child, such as the common olive oil used in the kitchen or scented essential oils, can damage the sensitive skin barrier of the child, dry his skin and damage his sense of smell. 

After the massage: changing the diaper

Once the massage has been done and the baby’s skin is soft and tender, it is equally essential to continue to take care of the baby with cuddles and caresses, so as to better deal with the time of changing the diaper. 
In particular, given the frequency with which it takes place during the day and the delicacy of the areas treated, the diaper change is a common practice to all, or almost, but not for this to be underestimated.

For this reason, the choice of a dermoaffine diaper change cream is important to strengthen the skin barrier of the baby, avoid dehydration of the skin, so as to promote the regeneration of tissues in case of irritation and redness caused by the diaper.

Bio Protective Pasta: Smiling children, protected butts and without redness!

Our bio protective paste is a cream rich in nature, perfect for the most sensitive and delicate skin. 

Contains Shea Butter, Apricot Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil to soften and nourish the skin. In addition to this, the soothing and emollient properties of Marigold, Chamomile and Vitamin E, combined with zinc oxide, provide protection to the softer areas of the body, protecting the baby from diaper stress thanks to its barrier effect.

You can use it with every diaper change: just spread a thin layer of diaper change paste on dry skin, gently massage and last but not least,  fill your baby with kisses!

The skin of a newborn is incredibly soft and warm, but above all sensitive; being five times thinner than the skin of an adult, it does not have a layer of protective fat, and therefore is more vulnerable. All this is to keep in mind even during the moment of the bath, certainly remembering to use appropriate products. 
Oils or detergents that are not aggressive, foamy or with too strong scents that otherwise could irritate and dry the skin of the child. To learn more and face this moment at its best, read on here: https://blog.lasaponaria.it/primo-bagnetto-per-il-tuo-neonato-tutto-quello-che-ti-serve-sapere-per-affrontarlo-al-meglio

Instead, to protect the skin of children from the sun’s rays, you might be interested: https://blog.lasaponaria.it/come-proteggere-neonati-e-bambini-al-mare-o-in-montagna-la-crema-solare-bio-per-i-piccoli
https://blog.lasaponaria.it/la-pelle-delicata-dei-bimbi-la-routine-per-proteggerla-da-freddo-vento-e-raggi-uv