In this modern age, many of us are not practising our traditional roots and practices when it comes to clothing, food, cultures, and some rituals.

However, for many Malaysian Indians, the traditional way of bathing a baby is still being practised up till today.

Yes, it is common in most Indian households particularly in rural areas or small towns in Malaysia, where one or two ladies in their community would help out families with newborns for the first few months.

 

 

The traditional Indian way of bathing newborns includes oil massages, which are normally done an hour or thirty minutes before the actual bath, once or twice in a month or it can be done weekly too.

Massaging is a rewarding exercise that not only increases the bond between the mother and her baby but helps in improving blood circulations, helps the baby to gain weight, and sleep better as well.

 

 

Normally, coconut or mustard oil would be used to apply on the baby’s body from front to the back.

The massages should be done gently in a circular motion.

Taking an oil bath will also help to reduce heat, besides improving and maintaining good health.

The traditional bathing can be divided into two steps.

First, the bathing methods then followed by the drying part.

Check these out!

 

Traditional Indian Bathing Method

 

 

 

1) Sit on the floor with legs stretched out in front of you to receive baby.

 

 

 

2) Face baby down and then start pouring warm water over baby’s body to wash off the oil with a mixture of baby body wash. Next, flip baby deftly from his front to his back. Repeat the same action. Always begin washing with the upper body, then arms and legs, the face, and finally the head. 

 

 

 

3) Washing their hair is the tricky part, especially with newborns as their neck is not strong yet and needs to be supported. Therefore, its important to use our forefinger secured in the crook of our palm between the thumb and forefinger of our right hand and then pour water on the baby head.

 

 

As a final act, scoop up a container full of water, move arms around in a circular motion in front of the baby three times and pour the water to the floor, to ward off the evil eye.

 

 

Drying Baby’s Body

 

 

1) Once baby is dapped dry with a towel, dry the baby’s body and hair with powdered ‘sambhrani’ or incense. “Sambhrani” is a fragrant material when burnt on coal gives off an aromatic smoke. The incense holder would go over a plate of burning coal with the ‘sambhrani’ powder sprinkled on top.

 

 

 

2) Let the warm smoke swirl around baby’s body and hair, drying up any remaining dampness. 

 

 

 

 

3) Finally, a clean fragrant baby would be extremely sleepy and ready to be laid off to sleep.

 

 

 

For some, baby bathing is more like a ritual than a normal bath – it is one of the long-held traditions treasured and passed down through hundreds of generations.

While some first-time parents might be confused about adopting the traditional or modern ways of childcare, rest assured the traditional Indian style of baby bathing is a safe and fun way to bathe a baby.