Joys and Benefits of Infant Massage
From ParentHood.com: There is no substitute for a parent’s loving touch. Through touch, babies first learn the comfort and security of loving and of being loved.
Numerous studies have found that massage plays a significant role in promoting the proper growth and healthy development of infants. Physically, massage stimulates the nerves, increases blood flow and strengthens the immune system. It can relieve a host of childhood complaints from colic to constipation. A daily rubdown on a baby’s belly, for example, helps work out gas and regulates digestion. Massaging the chest may ease congestion. Gently stroking an infant’s face can improve her ability to suck. Most of all, massage is good for parent-child bonding.
The best time to massage your baby is at bath time or bedtime – massaged babies fall asleep right away, so it’s better not to massage immediately after a feeding or when a baby is hungry.
- Choose a room that is warm and draft-free
where you can sit on the floor or a bed with the baby in front of you on a
padded pillow or blanket.
- Take a few deep breaths to relax
before you begin. Stretch and shake the tension from your body.
- Make sure your hands are clean and warm,
remove jewelry and be sure to rub in a way that your nails don’t scratch the
baby’s skin.
- Use some cold-pressed, natural oil – such as coconut or canola oil – [Rick: I prefer
Jojoba Oil] to prevent friction and to allow for deeper stroking. Refrain
from using mineral oil, which clogs the pores, and nut oils, in case of
allergies. Choosing something unscented lets your baby bond with your scent
first. Keep your hands well-oiled throughout.
- Begin with the legs and feet using slow, gentle strokes.
Babies are delicate, but too light a touch can be ticklish and aggravating,
advises Karen Wright, a certified infant massage instructor. If your baby splays
her fingers or toes, or avoids your gaze and looks away, she’s telling you that
she’s stressed or that you’re using too much pressure, Wright says. If your baby
clenches her fists in front of her chest, don’t try to pull her arms apart. This
is a stance that the baby isn’t ready to be touched there. Some infants are
extremely sensitive and can’t deal with a lot of touching at first. Maintain eye
contact and observe your baby’s body language.
- Massage your baby for about 15 minutes,
stroking both sides of his body symmetrically. Think of the massage as a gentle,
warm communication. Go slowly at the beginning so your baby can get used to the
new sensations gradually.
- Stop if your baby cries. You cannot force a baby to relax. Try again when the baby is more receptive.
“There are no mistakes in terms of technique,” says Wright. “Follow your baby’s
cues. Massage is supposed to be enjoyable for both of you.”
Massage Methods
Try these different strokes with your baby and talk to him lovingly as you rub:
- Milking –
Support your baby’s foot with one hand and grasp the top of the thigh with your
other hand. Stroke from buttock to heel squeezing the leg in a milking motion.
Reverse the motion going from the heel toward the buttock.
- I Love You –
Make a single “I”-shaped stroke with your right hand on the left side of your
baby’s belly. Then, make a backward, sideways “L” going from your left to right.
Make an upside down “U,” going from your left to right. (This is one of the
trickier strokes to master, but the idea is to follow the direction of the colon
and large intestine, and to move clockwise.)
- Open Book – With both hands together at the center of your baby’s chest, push out to the
sides, following the rib cage, as if smoothing out the pages of a book. Without
lifting your hands from your baby’s body, bring them around in a heart-shaped
motion to the center again.
- Get Cheeky – With your thumbs, stroke across the upper lip and then across the lower lip and into the cheek as if drawing a smile on your baby’s face. This helps soothe the muscles used for sucking.