Massage Your Baby

Infant massage is a great way to form intimate bonds with a baby. It can help improve sleeping and eating habits; aids a colicky baby; and enhances communication. It’s something that anyone can learn to do. It’s a positive shared experience.There are just a few basic massage techniques. It’s most important to get comfortable, breathe calmly, and honor the baby’s sense of security. Every baby is unique - so make eye contact with the baby and relax.

You both Benefit

The many benefits of Baby Massage include:

• Bonding between parents and baby – especially valuable with postnatal depression and where parents return to work, also with premature and special needs babies
• Helping to relieve colic
• Reducing restlessness and helping with sleep
• Stimulating and strengthening primary systems (respiratory, circulatory and nervous)
• Massage releases both oxytocin and endorphins and therefore can assist in relieving discomfort from teething, congestion, colic and emotional stress.
• Improves sleeping and eating
• Enhances communication
• Promotes healthy beginnings
• Positive shared experience

Preparation

• Warm room to 75 - 80 degrees
• Have a pillow for your lap or cushioned table at a comfortable height
• Natural Massage Oil - grapeseed or almond - perhaps with vitaim E added.
• Towels to wrap the baby
• Extra diapers

To Begin

• Breathe deep calming breathes
• Get comfortable
• Look at baby - make eye contact
• If baby cries, it’s okay to pick up and comfort. Always respect the baby’s wishes.

Massage Techniques:

The first technique works the legs and lower extremities. Massaging this area aids in circulation and digestion as well as starts the relaxation process

Milking Strokes - gently twist and pull towards the baby’s foot.

Sweeping Strokes - cross thumbs in a cross over movement.

Stroke the babies feet up and down and then gently bring the knees to the chest.

Lastly - moving to the chest, Use fingertips to stimulate lymph to fight congestion

Considerations:

Never massage a baby with 101 degree fever or higher; with skin irritations or systematic disease or infections.

General Techniques

Milking Strokes - gently twist and pull towards the baby’s foot.

Sweeping Strokes - cross thumbs in a cross over movement.

Stroke the babies feet up and down and then gently bring the knees to the chest.

Lastly - moving to the chest, Use fingertips to stimulate lymph to fight congestion.