Baby Massage
History of Baby Massage:
Historians have found evidence of baby massage dating back over 3000 years and in regions as geographically diverse as India, Africa, Asia, New Zealand and the Caribbean. Since the mid to late 1990's baby massage has become increasingly popular in the UK with far more emphasis placed on the bonding and attachment between parent and child
The Key Benefits of Baby Massage
Touch. Sight. Sound. Smell.
Baby Massage is much more than simply a method to relax baby. It is a means of communication, drawing on the senses.
Touch: The central element of massage. The strokes are designed to relax baby's muscles, stimulate the immune system and calm the nervous system. The importance of touch for wellbeing has been well documented. Touch is the first sense to be developed in the womb. Studies have shown that holding and touch contact with a baby are the most important factors responsible for social and mental development in infants. Massage stimulates the production of the hormone oxytocin, which has a calming and pain relieving effect. It lowers stress, can help improve sleep and promote a healthy immune system.
Sight: Maintaining eye contact and giving baby your full attention allows parents to develop an understanding of the many subtle cues and communication their baby makes. This will help to connect parent and child on a personal level, enabling them to get to know each other on a deeper level.
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Sound: Using a soothing voice throughout the massage lets baby feel nurtured and relaxed. Rhymes and songs are also sometimes used during classes which can help aid early language development.
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Smell: Young babies are very sensitive to the smell of their principle carers. Smell is an important part of the bonding process which provides great comfort for babies. I would only recommend unperfumed oils to be used during massage.
"It is through our hands that we speak to the child. That we communicate. Touch is the child's first language, understanding comes long after feeling"
Frederick Leboyer, M.D & author
What is Baby Massage:
Baby massage is the gentle, rhythmic stroking of your baby's body using your hands. As part of a massage routine, you might gently manipulate your baby's ankles, wrists and fingers. It usually inlvoves using oil, a soothing voice and music.
Baby Cues:
In massage it is very important for parents to try to be aware of their babies’ cues and listen. Baby massage is always baby led so parents need to be able to interpret how their infant is responding to certain strokes in massage. Engagement cues are a way of a baby telling a parent that he/she is happy or that they are enjoying whatever it is that they/or the parent are doing. These cues can include: eyes becoming wide and bright whilst the baby focuses on the parent/carer; an alert or animated face sometimes accompanied by a mouth shape which looks like pursed lips saying ‘ooh..’; hand-to-mouth activity and rooting; smiling (once a baby has reached this milestone, normally at around 6 weeks old); turning their head or body towards someone who is talking; their face and body will be relaxed and they will use smooth body movements.
The four main categories for babies resulting from massage are: Interaction, Stimulation, Relief and Relaxation.
Key Benefits:
Baby massage has been recognised in helping to ease key baby ailments or issues including wind/colic, teething discomfort, muscular tension, sensitivity to touch, general digestion and growing pains. Newborn babies struggle with expelling wind and digesting milk. Certain strokes within baby massage are aimed at relieving some of these symptoms and specific routines can be taught to parents which can be used daily to maximise any beneficial effects. Colic is when an otherwise healthy baby becomes very agitated and upset for a number of hours, normally in the evening, it would normally disappear by the time the baby reaches three or four months of age. Parents can also be taught a specific teething routine in order to help ease any pain from teething, these would include various facial strokes, in and around the jaw. Although tiny babies may not experience growing pains as such, massage will help relieve any stiffness in their muscles and as the child gets older. Parents can continue to offer massage to help relieve any growing pains as these tend to be located in the muscles, rather than the joints.
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Tips for baby massage:
*Just as skin-to-skin reinforces the bond between baby and parent, eye contact throughout the massage will also enhance your connection
* Make sure you use oil that is safe for your baby’s skin and if it was to get into their mouth
* When massaging your child's arms or legs, make sure you always support the ankle or wrist with one hand.
* It is important to go in a clockwise, rather than anticlockwise, direction when massaging baby's tummy
* If your baby becomes upset or falls asleep, stop massaging them