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Baby massage Baby massage has been practiced since ancient times. It can be as simple as a gentle rub Here are a few tips on making the massage a with lotion after a bath or a more practiced pleasant  experience: infant massage. The benefits are many for both  baby  and  parent. Tell your baby what you are doing and ask for permission: “Would you like Mommy to Benefits  for  your  baby give you a massage?” This sends a message right from a young age that your Helps  your  baby  relax baby’s  body  belongs  to  her. Stimulates circulation, digestion and Always watch your little one for signs of neurological  development enjoyment (smiles, coos, relaxed posture) or dissatisfaction (turning away, fussing, Promotes  more  restful  sleep closing arms, crawling away), and stop if she seems uncomfortable or restless. If your baby Improves the efficiency of your baby’s is having a colic episode, then attempt to immune  system calm him with massage before judging his response to the massage. Sometimes babies Stimulates your baby’s developing take a few minutes to adjust, or they may nervous  system like the massage at first but then have had enough and would like to stop. Respect your Helps relieve pain of colic, gas, illness and baby’s  signals. teething Put a bit of oil or lotion on your hands and Promotes  healthy  weight  gain rub them together. Never pour anything directly  onto  your  baby. Enhances  sensory  awareness Use  warm  hands  when  touching  your  baby. Stimulates  growth-promoting  hormones Use a gentle touch, but not so light that it Provides baby with much-loved touch and tickles your baby — about the same connection pressure you would use on your eyelids without causing any discomfort. On small Increases bonding and attachment between baby areas of your baby’s body, use your and  parent fingertips; on larger areas like his back, use  the  palms  of  your  hands. Provides premature and special needs babies with  immense  physiological  benefits As a general rule, strokes should move from the center of your baby’s body Benefits  for  parents outward; for example, when massaging arms, go from  shoulders  out  to  hands. Builds  your  confidence  in  baby  handling Keep your movements balanced; if you massage Provides you with an opportunity to become the  left  arm,  then  also do the right arm. more competent in reading your baby’s cues If your baby is a newborn, don’t massage near the umbilical cord or the Gives you a special, focused time with your circumcision site (if your baby has been baby circumcised). Deepens  the  bond  between you and your baby Don’t forget to massage those teeny feet — a delightful experience for any Provides you with a tool for calming and parent! settling  your  baby Start with a short session at first, no more Gives parents of premature babies or babies than about five minutes. Over time, lengthen with special needs a way to bond with and your massage sessions to 20 or 30 minutes, help  their  baby basing the length of time on your baby’s  signals  of  enjoyment. Provides parents with an effective way to settle  a  fussy  or  colicky  baby Don’t massage your baby if she has a fever, has just had an immunization or is Gives parents a loving way to introduce a ill. sibling  to  a  new  baby Read  your  baby’s  signals Allows you to enjoy the feel of your baby’s  miraculous  little  body Very young babies or those who are new to massage are often uncertain about it. Vary It’s  massage  time! the pressure and location of your touch depending on your baby’s reactions. You can massage your baby at any time and in Watch your baby’s face and body any place. Most babies love to be touched language for feedback. This is a learning — and most parents love to touch their experience  for  both  of  you babies — so anytime you feel like rubbing your baby, you should. In addition to What  about  siblings? casual touches, you can also plan for a more organized massage as well. A massage is a Here’s a wonderful experience for your wonderful way to end a bathing session, begin older child and baby alike: Teach big brother or  end  the bedtime ritual or start the day. or sister how to massage the baby. This can create a special bond between them and can Here are some guidelines to prepare for a promote soft and gentle touches. Massage time peaceful  baby  massage: for your baby is often a perfect time to massage your older child, too. As your baby Choose a time when you won’t be gets a little older, he’ll probably interrupted  or  rushed. want his turn at massaging his older sibling. Few things are more special for a parent than Make sure that your baby isn’t too watching siblings treat each other with hungry  (or  too  full). gentle loving care, and this kind of ritual is perfect for encouraging sibling If your baby is colicky, choose the time just attachment. before  crying  usually  begins. At  what  age  should  massage  begin? Choose a warm room (at least 75ºF/ 23.9ºC) without any drafts. Depending on You can, and should, massage a child of any how warm the room is, you may want to keep age from newborn to adulthood. Children learn your baby covered with a small blanket during much about the power of gentle touch. My son the massage, leaving out the body parts that David knows how wonderful a massage can be, you  are  massaging. and when he was eight years old, he gave me a nightly back massage throughout my pregnancy Leave your baby in as little clothing as with his baby brother. (Yes, every night conditions permit — a diaper or — isn’t that sweet?) All of my nothing at all. (Keep something handy to older children love to be rubbed; cover up that diaper area fast, just in there’s something very special about case!) spending a little time giving your teenager a backrub or foot massage. It maintains a If you and your baby would enjoy it, play beautiful parent-child connection throughout some soft music, or use the time to talk to a  lifetime. and  sing  to  your  baby. What  about  baby  massage  classes? Lay your baby on a soft towel or blanket on the floor or on a bed. A small baby can lie Many hospitals and private organizations skin-to-skin on your stomach or across your offer baby massage classes. These are legs. beneficial because a certified infant massage instructor can show you all the Have warm baby lotion or oil ready, if you how-to’s, step by step. An instructor wish to use one of these. Choose oils made can give you a hands-on demonstration and especially for babies, when possible. Avoid answer your questions to help you feel nut-based oils, like peanut and almond, to confident in this very gentle and soothing avoid the risk of allergic reactions. And art. Remember that massage and touch is an avoid having oils on or next to your experience that is exclusive between the baby’s face and hands (since they may parent and baby; the instructor will help you likely find their way to your baby’s learn how to read your baby and how to use mouth). the art of massage. 1 A B C 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 65 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 94 95 96 97 98 99 100