Holding and cuddling your little one is a wonderful experience for you and your baby. The warm touches are not only expressions of love, but medical research has also proven that they are an important aspect of your child’s emotional and physiological development.
Your touch works like magic for your baby be it feeding them, massaging them, changing their diaper, rocking them or doing the other things in their daily care routine. These are also simple ways to make your baby feel safe and calm.
Gentle, rhythmic stroking of your baby’s body with your hands is called baby massage. During the massage, you can gently manipulate your baby’s wrists, fingers and ankles. Ideally, you should start massaging your baby within the first few weeks of birth.
The best time to massage is before sleep, before or after bath and 45 minutes after feeding. You can use a comfortable bed or soft carpet on the floor to massage your baby. Using a suitable oil is essential.
Studies have revealed that baby massage has lasting benefits not only for the baby but for the parents too!
Let us look at the positive effect of massage on your baby’s physical health:
Regular baby massage can be beneficial for you too, as a parent. Here’s how:
Touch is important for all humans, especially for babies. They are wordless messages of safety, love, sympathy and much more. This unspoken language especially matters when you are bonding with your baby. Your touch is how your child associates with you and bonds with you.
Well, there’s no hard and fast rule about when to start massaging your baby. Some babies may find structured massage too stimulating in the first few weeks after they are born. Many parents wait till the infant is about six weeks old and more settled with their daily routine. Usually, your paediatrician will check your baby for any issues with development around six weeks after they are born. It is good to start the massage after this check-up.
Most importantly, we recommend getting your doctor’s approval before starting to massage your baby.
Okay, so you are ready to start massaging your baby. But how do you actually start? What do you need?
Let’s answer these questions.
You need two things to massage your baby – a towel or blanket and massage oil in a non-breakable container. Take your doctor’s opinion on the massage oil you want to use, to avoid using anything with harsh ingredients or strong fragrances that may irritate your baby. Take a little bit of oil and massage a small spot of your baby’s skin to ensure it doesn’t cause any discomfort to your little one.
Your baby should be in a quiet but alert state while being massaged. Do not massage immediately after feeding or when they are feeling sleepy.
Now, let’s talk about how to hold your baby.
Sit on the floor and form a diamond shape with your legs by touching the soles of your feet together. Put the towel or blanket over your feet. Place your child on the towel or blanket. Ensure your little one is not wearing a diaper.
Start slowly. If your child cries, gets irritable or stiffens, avoid massaging. Continue only if the child responds well.
Let’s talk about massaging techniques that you can use for various parts of your infant’s body.
It has been researched that messaging a baby’s stomach can provide relief from gastrointestinal issues such as gas and constipation, and improve digestion, and symptoms of colic and improve digestion.
Here are some of the techniques you can follow:
Back massages help your child get used to lying on their stomach. But first, ensure that they feel comfortable lying on the stomach before you start massaging them. To massage the back, place your baby on the tummy on your outstretched legs. Keep their hands in front of them, not on their side.
The common techniques followed to massage your child’s back are:
Massaging your baby’s arms improves muscle tone and coordination. It also helps to improve your child’s body awareness.
Yes, we know your child is not walking yet. But gently massaging the legs can release tension and relax your child.
Here are some leg massaging techniques that you can follow:
Massaging your child’s head and face helps improve blood circulation, release tension and improve your baby’s quality of sleep. A head massage can also promote hair growth.
Messaging should be a fun activity between you and your child. Here are some tips to keep your little one happy and safe.
Well, massaging your baby is not simply about the massage, it is a time when you develop a long-lasting bond with your child. So, don’t worry much about technique and don’t be bothered if you can’t get it right in the beginning. It is going to get better with every passing day.
It is most important for your child to enjoy the massage. Stop as soon as you find your baby is not feeling comfortable. And most importantly, contact your doctor if you feel something is wrong.
Looking for expert care or specialized treatment for your baby? Reach out to our physiotherapy department now!
Sources:
Spread the love, follow us on our social media channels