Baby massage
Posted 1 June 11Most people love a relaxing massage and most babies are no different! Here are some tips & techniques to try if you want to give it a go!
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MASSAGING our new baby is a great way to get to know them and to create
a loving, trusting bond between yourself and your child. Research has proven
that there are numerous benefits to regularly massaging your baby including better sleeping and settling habits. And the great news is — baby massage is simple to learn and do.
When to start
You can start to massage your baby from any age but wait until you are comfortable handling your little one and start off with small sessions with a few simple stokes, say five minutes, if they are very young and work up to longer times. Go with your baby and massage for as little or as long as they enjoy it.
Benefits of baby massage
There are many benefits to infant massage including:
- Promotes a strong bond between parent and baby
- Helps baby to feel loved and secure
- Parents start to become familiar with their baby’s visual cues
- Increases parental confidence in handling their baby
- Decreases stress and tension for parents and child
- Relaxes baby and helps with sleep and settling
- Encourages development of flexibility and co-ordination
- Promotes stimulation of immune, circulatory and digestive systems
- Can help to relieve wind, constipation and colic
Dads and massage
Massage is a great way to get dad involved in caring for his newborn. Fathers
do not get the skin-to-skin contact that mothers and babies have through breastfeeding, so this is a great way to establish a strong bond and for them to become used to handling the baby. It also helps to give mums a break.
Getting started
Importantly, make sure the time is right for both you and your baby and that you won’t be disturbed. Take the phone off the hook and never massage your little one if they are unwell, out of sorts, crying (unless from wind or constipation), have just eaten or are hungry — or if you are feeling stressed yourself. After a bath might be a good time for older babies but younger babies may be too tired and become over-stimulated. The best time to massage your baby is when they are alert and happy.
Remove all jewellery from your fingers and arms and make sure your nails are neat so they won’t scratch your little one.
Which oils/lotions?
Use pure cold pressed vegetable, nut (do not use if there are nut allergies in the family) or fruit oils. Sweet almond oil is very popular as its light, easily absorbed into the skin and has a minimal aroma. Alternatively you can use a mixture of sorbolene and glycerine. You should steer clear of scented oils.
The perfect massage environment
Go for a dimly-lit room or one filled with gentle sunlight. Make sure the room temperature is adequate, especially in colder months, and avoid areas that are draughty. You may like to try playing some smoothing music. Alternatively you can sing or talk quietly to your baby. As your baby grows you can incorporate games and rhymes into the massage.
You can massage your baby on the bed (but be sure to keep a hand on them
at all times) or the floor. Padded change mats covered with towels and blankets are great. If your baby is very small you might prefer to massage him/her on
your knee.
Learning the right techniques
Most massage experts advise that you begin by massaging the legs. This is because the legs are touched constantly while changing nappies and babies will be familiar with this type of touch. Be sure to use long firm strokes. Light, feathery touch will irritate a lot of babies; however, some newborns may prefer a lighter touch, it’s best to experiment and see. It’s very important to maintain eye contact with your baby throughout the massage. You can start by massaging with the baby’s clothes on if you wish or have the baby undressed, including their nappy.
Begin by holding your baby’s right foot in your left hand and gently stoke up the leg with your right hand. Stroke from the outside of the ankle, up over the knee to the thigh and then come down the inside of the leg, finishing at the ankle. Repeat a few times. If your baby’s okay with this, you can then do a gentle wringing action, squeezing up and down the leg finishing at the ankle. Then move over to baby’s left leg and continue using the same stokes as above.
Once you have done the legs, you can try the feet, using your thumb to do light circles across the soles of each foot and squeezing up each toe. Continue to then move upward through the body.
It’s best to avoid massaging the head and the cord area and not to place pressure on the abdomen. If you are massaging to relieve pain from colic or constipation, use a circular motion starting on your baby’s right hand side of her stomach.
The best way to learn the right massage techniques is to undertake a baby massage course. To find an instructor or course near you, contact the Infant Massage Australia Association or alternatively there are DVDs and books
that can teach you to massage.
Make it a regular thing
Research has proven that baby massage is most beneficial when it is done as part of a daily routine. You don’t have to do it every day but three to four times a week is great. A full baby massage should last about 15-20 minutes but you can work up to this over time, starting with just short, five-minute sessions.
Article source: health.ninemsn.com.au/pregnancy/parenthood/694334/baby-massage
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