The term baby oil is regularly used these days. Of course, it has to do something with babies. However, it is a product that has to be handled with caution. There is lot of brands of baby oil available in the market. You would think that since it was made for babies the qualities of the product is more or less ensured. This is far from the truth. In this world of aggressive marketing, where the value of anything is hyped by the media it is up to us to move with utmost caution and this is especially true in the case of the neonates who do not have any means of telling their state of mind, other than through a helpless cry.

First of all what do people understand by baby oil? Some people understand by the term baby oil, an ointment for babies. As a technical product it is mineral oil or liquid petroleum a fairly cheap product with lot of industrial use. It also means a mineral oil used primarily to moisten the skin of babies after bathing. The baby oil now sold in the market is almost 100% mineral oil with different packages and slightly varying prices. Some practical minded people who know the ingredients just bought the product from a pharmacy or used petroleum jelly. In order to make the product more attractive they use fragrance which has nothing to do with the quality of the product.

The use of baby oil is rampant in the US, the UK and Canada and is perhaps a lucrative product that makes lot of bucks. We all care for our babies and would go to any extent for their well being. Due to the influence of US life style and aggressive marketing techniques of the global conglomerates the use of baby oil has spread to other parts of the world even to developing countries which cannot afford such luxuries.

The main use of baby oil is as a generic skin ointment that moisturizes the skin of the baby. It is used to alleviate the inflammation rashes caused by diaper. It can cure mild forms of baby eczema. In fact for all practical purposes this is the end of the use of baby oil for babies.

Baby oil has some more medical applications. Some people use a drop or two of baby oil in the ear to loosen the ear wax so that they can be removed very easily.