Infant Oat Mylk Bath

Akin to the Vata imbalance present in mothers in early postpartum, Ayurveda understands newborn babies to experience heightened Vata Dosha post birth. 
Whilst Vata is a natural occurrence in newborn babies, an imbalance of Vata can lead to difficulties often expressed in baby as gas, bloating, dandruff and dry skin. 

Preparing an oat mylk bath for a newborn baby is a beautiful means of addressing and soothing dryness of skin caused by Vata imbalance. Oats hold Vata pacifying properties when applied topically, making an oat mylk bath a soothing remedy for delicate newborn skin.

When preparing an oat mylk bath for newborns during postpartum home visits, I place organic rolled oats in a cotton sachet and leave it to soak in a bowl/ tub of warm water. I then squeeze the water from the sachet, leaving a pool of oat mylk. Warm water is added to fill the vessel, before gently bathing baby. 

Shishu Abhyanga (Ayurvedic infant massage) using homemade ghee is a potent accompanyment that can be given to baby before an oat mylk bath to more deeply pacify excess Vata.