“Massaging your baby is a very special way to let them know they are safe, loved, and understood. A daily massage lays the foundation for a lifetime of self esteem for your baby and good communication between the two of you.” -Vilma McClure Founder, The International Association of Infant Massage Instructors.
The first communication your baby receives is through the skin. Baby massage is one of the most nurturing things you can do for your baby and the results will benefit both you and your baby for years to come. It is such a simple way of bonding and setting a foundation for trust, yet that skin on skin contact is often taken for granted!
As a certified Baby’s First Massage Instructor, a pediatric occupational therapist, and a mom, I have found the benefits of baby massage to be invaluable. In just ten minutes a day baby massage improves immunity, blood flow, and bonding with the caregiver. It helps to relieve colic, and it relaxes the baby, causing deeper, more restful sleep. Studies show that premature babies who are massaged show greater weight gain and less post-natal complications than babies who are not massaged. Because all of the strokes in Baby’s First Massage are done from head to toe, the same directions that the nervous system is developing, massage helps with motor skills and coordination. By loving, soothing touch, we can actually help our babies reach important developmental milestones. Along with that comes a whole host of good things including body awareness, motor skills, balance, and sensory processing.
Massaging a baby is so simple! All you need is clean hands, a warm blanket, and a baby. Lotion is optional. I prefer lotion over oils on a baby and I always recommend a lotion that has been used on the baby before so you know it won’t irritate their skin.
Learn the strokes from these video clips:
References:
Research says massage may help infants sleep more, cry less, and be less stressed. (2006). Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/56230.php
The science of mother love. (2011). Mothering; The Home for Natural Family Living. http://www.mothering.com/articles/the-science-of-mother-love/
Baby’s First Massage. (2018). https://babysfirstmassage.com