A 2005 study reported in the scientific journal the Lancet found that massaging premature babies with sunflower seed oil helped them fight infections.

Premature babies are at risk for skin infections because they are born before their skin is fully developed. Their skin does not provide the same level of barrier protection that it does for full-term babies.

The research reported that sunflower seed oil performed better than Aquaphor, which is commercially marketed skin ointment.

Sunflower seed oil is less expensive and may be a better alternative, especially for poorer countries where premature births are high.

There are specific techniques to performing this type of massage appropriately for these babies. Care-giver hand hygiene is extremely important.

But given the emotional and physical benefits of massage for babies, skin protection is just one more reason to consider it.