Before babies are able to understand language, we often communicate and comfort them through touch. If a baby cries, for example, parents will hold, cuddle or stroke them. Baby massage is part of this natural impulse.
Benefits for Parents:
1. Caregivers report feeling more comfortable and confident in their ability to care for baby.
2. Parents learn to understand and respond to baby’s cues.
3. Parents learn techniques to soothe and comfort their babies.
4. Provides an additional avenue for close & nurturing contact.
* Infant Massage is one of the most natural and pleasant methods of providing this important early nurturing and an amazing tool for helping parents become closer to their babies.
Infant Massage has been demonstrated to be beneficial in the following areas:
* Helps Relieve Discomfort from Gas, Colic, and Constipation
* Improves Blood Circulation
* Aids in Digestion
* Can Aid in the Relief of Pain Due to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
* Enhanced Development of the Nervous System
* Stimulates Neurological Development
* Increases Alertness/Heightened Awareness
* Reduces Stress Hormones
* Improves Immune Function
* The Release of Oxytocin, the Nurturing Hormone
* Relaxes & Soothes
* Nurturing Touch is a Naturally Rewarding way to relieve stress for you and your baby.
* Deepens Bonding
* Essential one-on-one time that will enhance your intimacy, understanding and ability to nurture.
* Improves Communication
* Increases your confidence and sensitivity to your baby’s cues.
* Contributes to Development
* Stimulates growth and healthy development of your baby’s body, mind and spirit.
* Empowers
* Enhances your ability to understand your baby’s special needs.
* Helps Baby Sleep Better!
* Helping your baby release stress which builds daily from new experiences means more rest for baby and you; everyone feels better!
Getting ready to massage your baby
Here are some tips to help you try baby massage at home:
- Choose a time when your baby is content and alert, not tired or hungry, and interested in what’s going on around them. This makes it more likely that they’ll be ready to interact with you.
- Try sitting on the floor, bed or sofa, with your baby safely on a towel in front of you.
- Find a position that’s comfortable, gives you good eye contact with no overhead lights and where your baby is warm.
- It’s up to you whether your child is nappy-free, but it can help to at least loosen their nappy when massaging the tummy.
- It can be a nice idea to introduce a massage after bath and before bed as part of a bedtime wind-down.
- Use a good quality cold pressed oil with no additives or fragrances.
What is baby massage?
Baby massage is the gentle, rhythmic stroking of your baby’s body using your hands. As part of a massage routine, you might gently manipulate your baby’s ankles, wrists and fingers.
“You might also talk softly, hum or sing to them while massaging to create a sense of calm and reassurance for your baby”.
When can I start baby massage?
There are no set guidelines regarding the minimum age for when to start baby massage. Although nurturing touch can be given from birth, some babies may find formal, structured massage too stimulating in the very early weeks.
When it comes to baby massage classes, some babies may find a formal class overwhelming in the early weeks. It can also be hard for parents to make it to a class on time or consistently with a newborn. As a result, many parents prefer to wait until their baby is about six weeks old when their routine is more settled and their behaviour is sometimes more predictable.
Getting ready to massage your baby
Here are some tips to help you try baby massage at home:
- Choose a time when your baby is content and alert, not tired or hungry, and interested in what’s going on around them. This makes it more likely that they’ll be ready to interact with you.
- Try sitting on the floor, bed or sofa, with your baby safely on a towel in front of you.
- Find a position that’s comfortable, gives you good eye contact with no overhead lights and where your baby is warm.
- It’s up to you whether your child is nappy-free, but it can help to at least loosen their nappy when massaging the tummy.
- It can be a nice idea to introduce a massage after bath and before bed as part of a bedtime wind-down.
How to give your baby a massage
Before beginning ‘ask permission’ by rubbing a little oil between your hands near your baby’s ears, and ask ‘can I give you a massage?’ This may sound a little strange but your child will become familiar with this cue and know that massage is about to start. It also gives your baby a chance to let you know if they don’t feel like a massage.
It’s great to massage the whole of your child’s body using a range of techniques. To get you started, we describe some strokes below for the legs and feet.
- Once you have ‘asked permission’, gently hold one of your baby’s legs between your palms.
- Then, with one hand, hold your baby’s ankle securely. Mould your other hand around the top of your child’s thigh, then slide it down the leg towards the ankle.
- Swap hands and repeat. Always keep your child’s ankle supported and use slow, flowing strokes.
- Next, cradle your child’s foot in your hands and use your thumbs to stroke over the sole of the foot from heel to toes, one thumb after another. Hold your fingers in a tripod grip and gently tug each toe between thumb and finger.
- Holding your child’s foot in your hands, walk the thumbs across the middle third of the foot from one side to the other like a little caterpillar crawling on a leaf.
- You could also do circles on the palms of their hands singing ‘Round and round the garden like a teddy bear’. Continue with finger and thumb tugs.
- Finish by repeating the stroking action in the opposite direction, i.e. from ankle to thigh.
- You can repeat each stroke a few times, always responding to what your child seems to enjoy.
Safety tips for baby massage
Here are some tips to help you massage your baby safely:
• Make sure you use oil that is safe for your baby’s skin and if it was to get into their mouth.
• When massaging your child’s arms or legs, always support the ankle or wrist with one hand.
• When massaging your child’s tummy with a circular motion, go clockwise rather than anti-clockwise.
• If your child becomes upset or falls asleep, stop massaging.
Enjoy baby massage
If your baby doesn’t seem to enjoy massage right away, don’t worry. It’s a new experience for you both and it can take a bit of getting used to. Try a few minutes the first time and build up as your child gets more used to it.
If you want help or more information, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I believe this connection through touch with your baby is so important, I would love to be of service.
