Touch is one of the best ways to bond with your little one. A baby’s sense of touch is well developed from birth, and all babies love to be touched because it helps them thrive. It’s been seen that touch is important for both their emotional and physical wellbeing. Even though it’s been practiced since ancient times in some cultures, baby massage is becoming more popular all over the world due to the numerous benefits. It can be started in the early weeks of your child’s life, and can be done alone with your baby, or in a group with other parents and their babies.
The soothing and relaxing effect reduces stress in both parents and baby. Baby massage can also relieve gas, colic, constipation, and teething discomfort in babies, and has been touted as an immunity booster. It is also known to improve circulation and promote a better sleeping pattern in babies. In addition to this, research shows that massaging premature and low birth weight babies might be especially helpful for their growth and development.
What’s more? There are extra benefits for parents or caregivers. Massaging your baby helps build your confidence in your parenting skills. You are better able to understand your baby by learning and responding to his cues. Studies have shown that women with postnatal depression benefit from baby massage, because their emotional wellbeing and mother-child relationship is improved.
Baby massage is recommended to be a daily routine, best done at the same time everyday. However, it’s important to note that there are times when it’s best not to massage your baby: immediately after feeding, baby’s cord has not healed, baby has a broken skin or skin infection, baby is ill, baby has diarrhea, baby has a fever or baby received a vaccination less than a week ago. Under these circumstances, it’s ideal to wait until your baby feels better before massage, so as to make it a wholesome and enjoyable experience.
How to get on with baby massage
First, wash your hands, and then find a warm and quiet room. Play a low soothing music, or your baby’s favourite tune. Ensure there are no distractions and lay your baby on a soft towel or blanket. Generously lubricate your palms with an edible oil such as coconut oil or olive oil or almond oil, or even baby lotion; this is to reduce the friction between your hands and the baby’s body. Olive oil is best avoided if your baby’s skin is sensitive to it. Be sure to use slow, gentle and rhythmical movements to stroke or knead your baby’s skin; this is to avoid injuries.
For the legs: Usually a good starting point. Cup one leg with your palms, and start from the top of the thighs to stroke and gently squeeze the muscles as you go downwards to the ankle using your thumbs. Then, gently massage the soles of the feet and toes with your thumb, stroking each toe individually. Repeat for the other leg.
For the tummy: With your fingertips or palms placed flat against your baby’s tummy, go in a clockwise motion round his belly button. This clockwise motion follows the natural direction of his large intestine and is especially good for relieving excess gas, colic and constipation.
For the chest: With both your palms placed flat against the center of his chest, follow the direction of the ribs and stroke in a downward and outward direction.
For the arms: Start from the shoulder to stroke and gently squeeze the muscles as you go downwards to the finger tips. Then using your thumbs, massage the wrist, palms, back of the hand and his fingertips. Repeat for the other arm.
For the head and face: It’s best not to use oil to massage the head and face. Gently stroke around the sides of the head using your fingers or palms, then go down the sides of the face using your fingertips. Gently stoke outwards from the center of the face, then using your thumbs, stroke from eyebrows to temple, nose to ears , chin to ears, behind ears. All these motions are to be done only once as the head and face are very sensitive. Finally, glide down from ears to the shoulders to the upper chest.
For the back, with your palms placed flat against his back, stroke from side to side across the entire back, and then run your palms from neck down to the buttocks with your palms. Next, use your fingertips to draw circles on either side of his spine.
That’s it, you are done. The whole process should take about 20 minutes or less.
Finally, cuddle your little munchkin and dress him up.
