Benefits of Baby Massage
The practice of baby massage has been carried out in some cultures for
generations but it is, by comparison, a fairly recent thing in our society.
Baby massage can take many forms and can be done at varying times in your day
depending on you and your child but the benefits of this time together are
enormous to both parent and child.
It is important to remember that baby massage should be an enjoyable
experience for both parties and as such, will benefit both parent and child
greatly.
The Benefits:
- Promotes bonding between parent and child.
- Provides the opportunity for dad to participate and spend special
moments with his child
- Stimulates baby's body systems
- Digestive system
- Immune System
- Circulatory and Lymphatic System
- Stimulates communication between parent and baby - both non verbal and
verbal
- Increases the feeling of security and love
- Reduces stress and tension and encourages relaxation
- Develops trust and respect and helps the parent to understand the
child's behavior and non verbal signs
- Encourages baby's co ordination and movement
Massage Time
This will vary greatly from family to family depending on your routine. Some
families prefer to massage straight after a bath while others will pick another
quiet time during the day. Do not try to massage if baby is upset or straight
after a feed (allow 20 - 30 minutes for feed to settle).
Choose a warm draft free room. Undress baby and put him / her on some soft towels.
Use baby oil or an essential oil blend (see below)
How to Massage
There are many forms of baby massage and any one will do as long as it is
enjoyable for both baby and parent. Use firm but gentle slow movements to relax
baby. Speak gently and soothingly. You might like to play some relaxing music.
So where does one start?
- Place baby on tummy
- Start at the back of baby's head drawing circles on the crown with one
hand
- With both hands use the thumbs in a circular motion moving from the neck
to the arms
- Move down the back, using circular motions on both sides of the spine
all the way down to the buttocks and down the back of the legs
- Turn baby over onto back
- Lightly stroke forehead, temples, cheeks, nose and mouth - use soft
circular motions
- Move down neck to shoulders and down the arms. Massage wrists and
hands.(wipe any oil from hands before baby puts them in his mouth
- Move from shoulders to groin over chest and abdomen. using circular
movements with both hands
- Stroke down each leg from the hip ending with the ankle and foot
- Complete massage with long gentle body strokes
- Dress baby in a relaxed and gentle way
- If baby appears distressed or unsettled at any time discontinue massage
and try again at another time
Aromatherapy Blends for your baby
According to Aromatherapist Debbie Quan essential oils are a
great way of relaxing your baby at night.
These can be used by adding them to
the baby's bath, placing them in a bowl under the baby's cot or by baby massage.
Some suggestions for blends are listed below:
Bath Blend
This depends on the bath size. For a baby bath use 1 drop of lavender oil
added to
1 teaspoon of full cream milk then add to bath water.
Bedtime Blend
To help with those restless nights a
add 1 drop of lavender and 1 drop of geranium
to
a
bowl of hot water and place
this under the cot.
This helps to induce a peaceful sleep.
A beautiful blend for Baby Massage:
80ml Sweet Almond oil
10ml Avocado oil
10ml Jojoba oil
1 drop Geranium oil
2 drops Lavender oil
2 drops Mandarin oil
Massaging after the nightly bath will induce a very peaceful nights sleep.
Massaged babies are happy babies!
|
