| Baby massage has been practiced since ancient | | | | right from a young age that your baby’s |
| times. It can be as simple as a gentle rub with lotion | | | | body belongs to her. |
| after a bath or a more practiced infant massage. The | | | | Always watch your little one for signs of enjoyment |
| benefits are many for both baby and parent. | | | | (smiles, coos, relaxed posture) or dissatisfaction (turning |
| Benefits for your baby | | | | away, fussing, closing arms, crawling away), and stop if |
| Helps your baby relax | | | | she seems uncomfortable or restless. If your baby is |
| Stimulates circulation, digestion and neurological | | | | having a colic episode, then attempt to calm him with |
| development | | | | massage before judging his response to the massage. |
| Promotes more restful sleep | | | | Sometimes babies take a few minutes to adjust, or |
| Improves the efficiency of your baby’s | | | | they may like the massage at first but then have had |
| immune system | | | | enough and would like to stop. Respect your |
| Stimulates your baby’s developing nervous | | | | baby’s signals. |
| system | | | | Put a bit of oil or lotion on your hands and rub them |
| Helps relieve pain of colic, gas, illness and teething | | | | together. Never pour anything directly onto your baby. |
| Promotes healthy weight gain | | | | Use warm hands when touching your baby. |
| Enhances sensory awareness | | | | Use a gentle touch, but not so light that it tickles your |
| Stimulates growth-promoting hormones | | | | baby — about the same pressure you would |
| Provides baby with much-loved touch and connection | | | | use on your eyelids without causing any discomfort. |
| Increases bonding and attachment between baby and | | | | On small areas of your baby’s body, use |
| parent | | | | your fingertips; on larger areas like his back, use the |
| Provides premature and special needs babies with | | | | palms of your hands. |
| immense physiological benefits | | | | As a general rule, strokes should move from the |
| Benefits for parents | | | | center of your baby’s body outward; for |
| Builds your confidence in baby handling | | | | example, when massaging arms, go from shoulders |
| Provides you with an opportunity to become more | | | | out to hands. |
| competent in reading your baby’s cues | | | | Keep your movements balanced; if you massage the |
| Gives you a special, focused time with your baby | | | | left arm, then also do the right arm. |
| Deepens the bond between you and your baby | | | | If your baby is a newborn, don’t massage |
| Provides you with a tool for calming and settling your | | | | near the umbilical cord or the circumcision site (if your |
| baby | | | | baby has been circumcised). |
| Gives parents of premature babies or babies with | | | | Don’t forget to massage those teeny feet |
| special needs a way to bond with and help their baby | | | | — a delightful experience for any parent! |
| Provides parents with an effective way to settle a | | | | Start with a short session at first, no more than about |
| fussy or colicky baby | | | | five minutes. Over time, lengthen your massage |
| Gives parents a loving way to introduce a sibling to a | | | | sessions to 20 or 30 minutes, basing the length of time |
| new baby | | | | on your baby’s signals of enjoyment. |
| Allows you to enjoy the feel of your baby’s | | | | Don’t massage your baby if she has a |
| miraculous little body | | | | fever, has just had an immunization or is ill. |
| It’s massage time! | | | | Read your baby’s signals |
| You can massage your baby at any time and in any | | | | Very young babies or those who are new to |
| place. Most babies love to be touched — and | | | | massage are often uncertain about it. Vary the |
| most parents love to touch their babies — so | | | | pressure and location of your touch depending on your |
| anytime you feel like rubbing your baby, you should. In | | | | baby’s reactions. Watch your |
| addition to casual touches, you can also plan for a | | | | baby’s face and body language for |
| more organized massage as well. A massage is a | | | | feedback. This is a learning experience for both of you |
| wonderful way to end a bathing session, begin or end | | | | What about siblings? |
| the bedtime ritual or start the day. | | | | Here’s a wonderful experience for your |
| Here are some guidelines to prepare for a peaceful | | | | older child and baby alike: Teach big brother or sister |
| baby massage: | | | | how to massage the baby. This can create a special |
| Choose a time when you won’t be | | | | bond between them and can promote soft and gentle |
| interrupted or rushed. | | | | touches. Massage time for your baby is often a |
| Make sure that your baby isn’t too hungry | | | | perfect time to massage your older child, too. As your |
| (or too full). | | | | baby gets a little older, he’ll probably want his |
| If your baby is colicky, choose the time just before | | | | turn at massaging his older sibling. Few things are more |
| crying usually begins. | | | | special for a parent than watching siblings treat each |
| Choose a warm room (at least 75ºF/ | | | | other with gentle loving care, and this kind of ritual is |
| 23.9ºC) without any drafts. Depending on how | | | | perfect for encouraging sibling attachment. |
| warm the room is, you may want to keep your baby | | | | At what age should massage begin? |
| covered with a small blanket during the massage, | | | | You can, and should, massage a child of any age from |
| leaving out the body parts that you are massaging. | | | | newborn to adulthood. Children learn much about the |
| Leave your baby in as little clothing as conditions | | | | power of gentle touch. My son David knows how |
| permit — a diaper or nothing at all. (Keep | | | | wonderful a massage can be, and when he was eight |
| something handy to cover up that diaper area fast, | | | | years old, he gave me a nightly back massage |
| just in case!) | | | | throughout my pregnancy with his baby brother. (Yes, |
| If you and your baby would enjoy it, play some soft | | | | every night — isn’t that sweet?) All |
| music, or use the time to talk to and sing to your baby. | | | | of my older children love to be rubbed; |
| Lay your baby on a soft towel or blanket on the floor | | | | there’s something very special about |
| or on a bed. A small baby can lie skin-to-skin on your | | | | spending a little time giving your teenager a backrub or |
| stomach or across your legs. | | | | foot massage. It maintains a beautiful parent-child |
| Have warm baby lotion or oil ready, if you wish to use | | | | connection throughout a lifetime. |
| one of these. Choose oils made especially for babies, | | | | What about baby massage classes? |
| when possible. Avoid nut-based oils, like peanut and | | | | Many hospitals and private organizations offer baby |
| almond, to avoid the risk of allergic reactions. And | | | | massage classes. These are beneficial because a |
| avoid having oils on or next to your baby’s | | | | certified infant massage instructor can show you all |
| face and hands (since they may likely find their way to | | | | the how-to’s, step by step. An instructor can |
| your baby’s mouth). | | | | give you a hands-on demonstration and answer your |
| Here are a few tips on making the massage a | | | | questions to help you feel confident in this very gentle |
| pleasant experience: | | | | and soothing art. Remember that massage and touch |
| Tell your baby what you are doing and ask for | | | | is an experience that is exclusive between the parent |
| permission: “Would you like Mommy to give | | | | and baby; the instructor will help you learn how to read |
| you a massage?†This sends a message | | | | your baby and how to use the art of massage. |