Baby · 2 min read
How to touch a newborn's scalp
Pressure, direction and timing — the small mechanics nobody tells first-time parents.
Pressure
Fingertips, flat, no nails. The pressure you'd use to check whether a peach is ripe is roughly right.
Slow circles for about a minute is a full massage at this age. Longer isn't better.
The soft spot
You can wash and oil over the soft spot with a flat, gentle hand — you don't need to avoid the whole crown. Just skip anything that pokes, scrubs or presses.
Timing
Do it when they're already calm: after a feed, before bath, or during a sleepy evening cuddle.
Stop if they're upset. A minute tomorrow beats five minutes fought for today.