What better way to interact and bond with your baby than by using the sense of touch? Touch is a form of communication,
expression, it is comforting and reassuring, it conveys love, safety, warmth, closeness.
Constant contact with your baby, including massaging, from day one will not only create and strengthen the parent/baby bond, but it will assist in baby’s emotional and physical adjustment to life outside of the womb.
Certain massage movements are soothing and they relax baby by their reflex action on the nervous system. This in turn relaxes the deeper organs in the body. Firmer, heavier massage strokes are
stimulating in that they encourage the flow of blood and oxygen throughout the body. Massage therapy produces a
therapeutic effect on the tissues of the nervous, muscular and respiratory systems of the body. It assists in relieving pain and discomfort, improves circulation and reduces swelling.
Massage enhances loving communication and nurturing parenting skills between parent and baby. It helps strengthen and regulate the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems. Using specific massage techniques, the painful symptoms of gas and colic may be relieved, normalising gastro-intestinal functioning and improving digestion.
Both parent and baby benefit by relieving the stresses that build up daily. Massaging will also help calm and settle a restless baby, encouraging improved sleep patterns, quality and duration of sleep. The parent’s sense of competence is enhanced, particularly when dealing with fussy, restless, sick, or a special-needs baby.
Massage provides a peaceful way to "reconnect" with baby after a long day at work.
Regular massage contributes to baby’s development of mental and motor skills, visual attentiveness, and physiological and emotional development. If baby is lethargic, massaging using firmer and heavier stroking, will stimulate baby as blood flow is increased.
Blocked sinuses can be relieved with gentle stroking over the area and light massage on the face and jaw can help relieve the discomfort of teething. Joints and muscles become more flexible with regular massage and stretching.
Ensure you have sufficient time to carry out a massage, unhurriedly and without interruption.
Use any surface you feel comfortable with, be it a table, bed, mat or cushion. Always make sure however that your back is as straight as possible and not hunched over, or stretched awkwardly or uncomfortably.
Check that the room you are using is comfortably warm, particularly in winter. Play soft, calming music which is soothing to both you and baby. Natural sounds such as the sounds of nature, birds, running water, soft wind, etc combined with peaceful music are very relaxing and soothing. Soft orchestral music, meditative music and “mood” music is also appropriate. The choice of music is obviously a personal one, but try not to play music that has a beat.
Natural light is best, particularly if the sun is shining into the room as it adds warmth. If you are lighting a room, be sure to use soft lighting either in the form of low wattage globes, or coloured globes. These offer a warming effect to the room, making it cosy, calm and peaceful. Candles can also be used, however be sure to choose a safe place in the room for these.
Take a moment before you begin massaging to concentrate on relaxing yourself. Use whatever technique works best for you, be it a few slow, deep breaths, closing your eyes and clearing your mind or even meditating. Take as little or as much time as you need, but ensure that your body and mind is relaxed in order that you do not pass on any tension or negative energies to baby.
You can use baby’s bath time to massage, especially if baby enjoys the water. The only draw backhere is that you are using one hand to hold or support baby therefore you only have one hand free to massage. If massaging at bath time, smother baby with aqueous cream before putting baby in the bath.
Massaging baby after bath, particularly if bath time is in the evening, may well settle baby for a sleep or even for the night. Warm the oil or cream in your hands before beginning the massage as baby’s body is warm from the water and you don’t want to shock the body with cold lotions.
Probably the best time to massage baby is prior to their routine sleep time. If massaging after a feed, ensure that at least half an hour has passed. Proceed with the massage in a dim lit room and use soft, slow strokes to send baby into dreamland.
It is not advisable to massage if baby is running a temperature, particularly if you are unaware of the cause. If baby has severe eczema, the creams and oils may irritate the skin further. For mild conditions, massage can be carried out, however, ensure that only natural oils, such as grapeseed, almond, sunflower, olive oil (not your kitchen variety) are used. Beware of broken, cracked or inflamed skin too as these areas may become infected or have a negative reaction to the creams and oils.
Ensure that baby is not hungry as a hungry baby will be restless and irritable and the massage will probably be in vain. Remember to allow at least half an hour after a feed before massaging.
Cover baby with a towel if there is a draft or if the room is cooler than is comfortable.