Both babies and parents benefit from baby massage.
The Benefits To The Baby:
- Massage will help to relax baby and relieve pent up tension
and frustration. - Massage has been shown to provide relief from
colic and other problems related to digestion. - It improves
circulation and boosts the immune system by moving the lymph
around. - Its therapeutic benefits help relieve the pain of
teething. - Babies who are regularly massaged are more friendly
and alert when awake and are more receptive to hugs and cuddles
in later years.
Premature Babies particularly will benefit from massage. -
Premature babies who receive massage whilst in hospital are
allowed home on average 6 days earlier than non-massaged babies.
- When premature babies receive standard hospital care they
appear stressed, their pulse rates increase and their oxygen
levels fall; however, when they are massaged, the opposite
happens, pulse rates fall and oxygen levels rise. - Massage is
used in many special care baby units.
The Benefits To The Parent: - Massaging baby will aid
bonding. - Studies have shown that parents experience a fall in
stress levels when they regularly massage their babies. -
Working parents who are able to massage baby soon after they
return home from work will enjoy quality time with their little
one which helps them 'switch off' from work, relax and reconnect
with their family.
Where And When To Massage You need a warm room, minimum
temperature 25 C. Babies lose heat quickly when uncovered.
Choose a room on your own away from distractions like the
television and other people.
Don't massage when baby is tired or has just had a feed. Wait
until at least one hour following a feed otherwise you could
cause baby to bring up her food. However, don't wait until just
before a feed is due either as she could be too hungry to enjoy
the experience.
You can begin massaging as soon as you like after baby's birth,
but don't massage around the navel area until the umbilical cord
stump has fallen off - normally four to seven days after birth.
How Long Should A Massage Take? About 20-30 minutes. A
baby is not very big so half an hour will be enough to
completely massage baby.
If possible, include a massage in baby's daily routine. If this
is not possible, even three times each week will be beneficial.
The Oils To Use Oil will help your hands move gently over
baby's body without causing friction.
Use natural oils such as extra virgin olive oil, almond oil or
grape-seed oil as these are easily absorped by the skin. The use
of essential oils (aromatherapy oils) is not recommended unless
directed by a trained aromatherapist.
Massage Pressure Babies are fragile! As a guide, close
your eyes and rub your eyelid. This is the maximum pressure you
should use when massaging baby.
Other Points - Baby will become very slippery when
massaged, so be very careful when picking her up afterwards. It
will be rather like picking up a piece of wet soap! - Do not
massage baby if she has a temperature. - If you suspect baby has
a nut allergy, use an oil that is free from nut products.
What Next? There are a number of books and videos that
show you how to massage baby, or some clinics have classes in
baby massage. Our site also has a step by step description of
how to massage. It is not possible to show this here as it
involves images.
About the author:
Tony and Katy Luck run a site with advice
about babies. The site includes the famous
Chinese
Pregnancy chart which forecasts whether the baby you are
expecting will be a girl or a boy.
About the author:
Tony and Katy Luck run a site with advice about babies. The site
includes the famous
Chinese
Preganancy chart which forecasts whether the baby you are
expecting will be a girl or a boy.
