Infant massage involving tactile and proprioceptive stimulation has been the most popular form of supplemental sensory stimulation with newborns since the mid - 1980s. Benefits claimed to be associated with massage of preterm or low birth weight infants include reduced length of NICU stay, and enhanced mother infant communication and interaction. Benefits of increased weight and decreased complications at 4 6 months corrected age have also been reported. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that low birth neonates weighing 2500 - 1500gm show better weight gain when massaged with Olive oil/Coconut Oil or no massage.

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Lecturer,MSc RN Child Health Nursing.