Your baby can only gain from the pleasures and sensations of a loving massage.
- Your baby loves being with you, and the intimate contact of massage enhances this. He will recognize it as a clear sign of your love
- If unsettled, your baby will be calmed by the soothing strokes of your hands, which will relieve anxiety and make him feel secure
- Massage can often ease minor digestive upsets, such as gas, which may will be making your baby fretful
- Babies and touch. Research has shown that they would rather be stroked than fed.
Massage is a delightful activity that has advantages for you and your partner as well as your baby.
- Massaging your newborn helps enhance the bonding process between you and your child
- If you are anxious or have had little experience with children, massage allows you to get used to handling your new baby
- Massage is an ideal way to soothe an unsettled baby and can also help calm your nerves with its relaxing effects
- You will find that massaging your baby’s soft, smooth skin is a pleasant experience for both of you
Massage can have all the benefits for a baby that it has for an adult: it is soothing and can calm a fretful baby, and it is a marvelous way of showing love. If you massage your baby every day he will learn to recognize the routine and will show pleasure as you being. You can continue to massage your baby as he gets older; a massage is often the ideal way to calm an excited toddler.
Provide a relaxed atmosphere before you start. As this will be a new experience for you both, any distractions can spoil the mood and upset your baby, so choose a time when there is no one else around, and unplug the phone. Make sure the room is nice and warm and lay your baby on a warm towel or on your lap. Work from his head down, using light, even strokes, and ensure that both sides of his body are massaged symmetrically. Make eye contact with your baby throughout the massage and talk quietly, gently, and lovingly to him.
Head
Start off by lightly massaging the crown of your baby’s head, using a circular motion, then stroke down the sides of his face. Gently massage his forehead, working from the center out and moving over the eyebrows and cheeks to finish around his ears.
Neck and shoulders
Gently massage your baby’s neck from his ears to his shoulders and from his chin to his chest. Then stroke his shoulders from his neck outward.
Arms
Stroke down his arms to his finger-tips. Using your fingers and thumb, gently squeeze all along his arm, starting at the top.
Chest and abdomen
Gently stroke down your baby’s chest, following the delicate curves of his ribs. Rub his abdomen in a circular motion, working outward from the navel.
Feet and toes
Rub your baby’s ankles and feet, stroking from heel to toe, and then concentrate on each toe individually. End your massage with some long, light strokes along the whole length of the front of your baby’s body.
Legs
Now you can massage your baby’s legs, working from his things down to his knees. Stroke down the shins and move around to his calves and ankles. Gently squeeze all the way down.
Back
Once you have massaged your baby on the front, turn him over and work on his back.