Baby Massage
Benefits of Infant Massage
- Prevents and relieves colic, constipation, and painful gas.
- Assists with reflux.
- Helps overcome post-natal depression.
- Can increase periods of deep sleep.
- Enhances the bonding process.
- Strengthens the immune system.
- Aids and stimulates digestion.
- Provides relaxation and stimulation.
- Relief of discomfort.
- Improves body awareness.
- Helps tone muscles and aids growth.
Before you start….
- It is important that your baby is happy and you are relaxed.
- Remove all jewellery that might scratch or irritate your baby.
- Check nail length and ensure that your hands are warm and clean.
- Position your baby safely.
A small baby covered in oil, your oil-covered hands, and high surfaces make for a potentially dangerous combination.
The safest place to massage baby is on a comfortable surface (blanket, sheepskin, etc.) on the floor.
Use good quality oil….
- Look for natural oil, which is pure cold pressed and organic.
- This can be over-stimulating. Instead, massage your baby after night-time sleep, or following a day-time nap. If your baby likes to be fed directly after sleep you can still massage at this time; simply avoid the abdominal massage.
Always stop massaging whenever baby indicates that he/she have had enough …..
- This will prevent over-stimulation and also help to teach infants that they are in charge of their own body.
How to begin…
- Rub your hands together to warm the oil, then using long firm strokes, massage from your baby’s hip to ankle, alternating hands for each stroke to massage both sides of each leg.
- Cup your hands under the buttocks and massage in a circular motion using the pads of your fingers.
- Warm the abdomen by stoking from side to side across baby’s tummy to spread the oil. Massage from baby’s right to left in the shape of a lower case “n” with gentle pressure.
- Using long, firm strokes, massage from your baby’s shoulder to wrist, alternating hands for each stroke as with the legs.
- Using your fingertips, make gentle circles on baby’s head.
- With your hand placed in a horizontal position, massage from the shoulder to the buttocks.
- Finish the massage with some long, firm strokes beginning at the head, and going all the way down to the toes.
