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more planned and coming soon...
Dislaimer
AV Baby content is for information only. If you are at all worried about your
baby, please seek the advice of your midwife, doctor or paediatrician.
How To Massage Your Baby
Baby Massage is an age-old practice that is now gaining popularity in the
West. It is said to have many benefits, including improved communication between
you and your baby, improving your baby’s sleep and play, and alleviating
symptoms of colic. The techniques of baby massage are simple to learn, but it is
worth bearing in mind that babies should always be handled with a gentle touch,
and never continue with the massage if they clearly are not enjoying it.
If possible take a class or course in baby massage to learn the techniques from
a qualified instructor. The International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM)
can put you in touch with an instructor in your area. Most courses last from
four to six weeks, and include a bottle of massage lotion which is right for
your baby’s skin type.
Here is a guide to a basic massage for you to try with your baby at home.
Preparation
Choose a time to massage your baby when he is not hungry or too tired. Many
parents give the massage after bath-time, but initially it may be better to give
it after one of your baby’s daytime naps. Although massage is relaxing in the
long-term, many young babies will find it fairly stimulating to begin with until
they learn to wind-down and relax with the sense of touch. So don’t be surprised
if your baby seems more alert after the massage than before!
Lay your baby somewhere soft and warm, either on his changing table or on a mat
on the floor. Lay your baby on his back and smile and talk gently while you give
the massage. Baby massage instructors recommend asking your baby’s permission to
give them a massage. This may seem odd, but as your baby grows it sends a
message that you are respecting their body and their privacy.
It is better to use a massage oil specially prepared for babies as this will
cause less friction and be safe should any get into baby’s mouth or eyes. You
may want to open the diaper a little while you massage the legs and stomach, and
then replace it to prevent any accidents!
Giving the massage
Start by warming some of the oil in your hands. If your hands are very dry
they may absorb most of the oil, so add a little more; you don’t want to drag
your baby’s skin. Hold one leg firmly (if you appear confident, your baby will
feel confident in you) and then begin to massage with long, gentle strokes. You
can massage up towards the feet, and then down again. Move on to the feet and
toes, taking time to relax and massage each area. Then repeat on the other leg.
Gently bend the legs towards the stomach to help release trapped gas.
Next, move up to the stomach area and massage gently in circles – always in a
clockwise direction. If you left the diaper on, remove it now to expose the
stomach and then replace it before you begin the chest. The chest should be
massage in gentle strokes across from the shoulder in a diagonal direction.
Massage your baby’s arms in a similar way to the legs, taking care not to put
too much oil onto his hands. Once you finish, turn your baby over and gently
massage his back, taking care not to press the spine. If your baby doesn’t like
lying on his front yet, place him across your knees while you stroke his back.
Obviously Dads can get involved in baby massage too. In fact, this is an
excellent way to help the bonding process. Massage can be given in various forms
to infants and children right up to the time when they think it is really
‘un-cool’, so start now to make it a regular part of your routine.
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