Baby massage
What is Baby Massage?
Baby Massage is when a caring adult, often mum, places their hands on baby’s body to connect through movement and touch. As we become attuned to baby’s communication and feelings, we are able to provide baby with the type of touch and care she or he needs. When this happens, baby massage is a beautiful experience for everyone involved.
When to do baby Massage
Baby massage is easy to learn and simple to implement. It can be incorporated into everyday activities including bath-time, nappy changes, getting dressed, or play. Some families find small moments here and there for baby massage. Others set aside dedicated time to do baby massage as a separate activity each day. Baby massage can be done at a time and in a way that best suits your family.
Some families prefer to provide baby massage as a special treat while attending our face-to-face workshops. Many continue massage well after they have finished the workshops.
Who can do baby Massage?
Baby massage is for primary caregivers and can also be learnt by other family and close friends who love your baby.
Baby massage and wellbeing for little ones
Baby massage is a chance to dedicate time to delighting in your little one. Baby massage benefits baby’s wellbeing through responsive touch and movement, sensory stimulation, eye contact (known as mutual gaze), heightened awareness of baby’s needs and wants, playful anticipation of touch and other sensations, and two-way learning between baby and caregiver.
The benefits of baby massage, as suggested by high level research, include
Enhanced social development
Improved sleep
Shorter periods of crying and fussing (colic)
Increased growth (weight, length and head circumference)
Support for motor development such as rolling, sitting, crawling, reaching, holding, turning head and looking.
Baby massage might also boost the immune system, support neurological development, enhance circulation and support a healthy hormonal system. It can relieve gas and colic, help with constipation and relieve muscle tension.
Baby massage is a useful way to begin to teach your baby about regulating her emotions and behavior. This might help with hyperactivity and learning to manage emotional responses as baby grows up. For example, baby will learn about taking deep breaths and what it feels like to be relaxed. Baby will connect with caregiver who helps him or her to navigate the world and how she responds to things that happen. Baby will experience a pleasant and calm sensory experience that sets him up for processing new experiences to engage with and learning about the world.
The sensory input provided during baby massage also helps baby learn about her body. Feeling each part of the body and hearing a caregiver we label body parts as they are massaged increases baby’s body awareness.
Baby massage is also good for mothers. It can boost confidence, reduce stress and create closeness with baby.
Using baby massage to consciously reconnect with baby can be a gentle and calming experience for mum and baby as he grows up and begins to explore the world more independently. Amidst busy days looking after a family and being a responsible adult with commitments to the outside world, finding a few minutes to enjoy baby through massage can be restorative. This should be after making sure baby’s needs for milk, food, sleep, nappy changes and cuddles are met. For example, a little leg massage or a gentle head and face massage might be just what baby needs on days when baby spends time playing while chores are being done; practicing crawling away and exploring spending long periods of time in car seats and prams; going on new outings or having new experiences; attending social events that might require mum to be busy with others or might be overwhelming for baby; or when baby is looked after by babysitters, nannies, crèche, daycare, friends or family.
References
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Bennett, C., Underdown, A. and Barlow, J. 2013: Massage for promoting mental and physical health in typically developing infants under the age of six months. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 4, Art. No.: CD005038. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005038.pub3.
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