Infant Massage

In enhancing your infant’s immune system, motor skills and intellectual development, infant massages play an important role for your baby’s well being. It also lessens tension, irritability and provides relief from gas by improving his/her digestion.

You may begin by GENTLY massaging your infant’s body, section by section, starting with the tummy, at the base of the ribcage, in a paddle-wheel-like motion. Massage the abdomen in a circular clockwise motion then trace your fingers clockwise around the navel. To help release gas, hold your infant’s knees and feet together and gently press knees up towards the abdomen, then rotate baby’s hips. Try rocking your hand on baby’s tummy from side to side, but try to avoid this massage if the umbilical cord hasn’t completely healed.

Firm and gentle, you may move on towards your baby’s face and head. Massage scalp with your fingertips, avoiding the fontanel. Move slowly towards the ears then place your thumbs between your baby’s eyebrows (this sometimes makes them feel more relaxed and enables them to fall asleep). Stroke from the bridge of the nose then massage the jaw in circles.

By trying not to tickle your baby, you can move on towards the chest then stroke outward towards the shoulders. Massage in an in-out motion. This can sometimes make your baby laugh out loud!

The arms are an important body part to massage and you can begin by relaxing the arm by tapping it gently. Slowly hold your baby’s wrist, then stoke. Massage the palm, then thumb and the fingers. Then move on towards the rest of the arms.

Putting your baby on his/her tummy for a back massage, ensure that your little one is in a comfortable position by keeping the hands in front, not on the sides. Move your hands, starting from the neck all the way down to the buttocks but avoid pressing directly onto the spine. My tip is to do the massage in small circular motions, or whatever works best for your baby.

Your baby’s legs are the last to massage. Lift the legs by the ankle and let them relax. This procedure is similar to massaging the arms, but by pulling each toe gently. Then roll your baby’s leg between your hands. Your baby will signal when it is time to stop or he/she may even ask for more.

Always test the oil or lotion on a small area on your baby’s skin to ensure that no irritation appears. The best time to give your infant a massage is when he/she is quiet, but in an alert state (not when the infant is full from a meal or sleepy). Helpful to your baby’s sleep, a soothing massage normally lasts between 10 and 30 minutes. As infant massages helps to lessen stress and increases bonding with your baby, you as a parent may even benefit from it.

Helpful resources:

www.parents.com

www.childbirth.org