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Most mums see baby skin care is an important part of caring for baby’s health but did you know that baby massage can play an integral role in keeping your baby healthy and happy too?
Baby massage has been used in other cultures for centuries, but it’s only in recent years that’s it’s become popular in Australia. It can be great for the parent and child bond, but that’s far from the only benefit.
It’s also believed to stimulate the immune system, improve circulation and digestion, aid the development of movement and coordination, reduce colic, promote better sleep, reduce colic and even stimulate growth in premature babies.
How do I massage?
Put aside the fantastic wealth of research on infant massage and as a mother you can instinctively find your own natural abilities to massage your baby.
Making your baby feeling cared for and caressed is only natural and is a wonderful way to make your little one feel loved and nurtured.
Generally, there are no special techniques. It’s just a question to adapt a massage to fit you and your baby, making sure that baby is comfortable and enjoying the experience.
The main trick is to find the areas of the body which your child likes best, which will come to you intuitively after practice.
My top 10 expert tips:
- Massage after a bath when your baby is already undressed
- Make sure you’re in a warm room, with no drafts, bright lights, or excessive noise
- Have an organic oil or massage lotion ready in a plastic bowl beside you, so that you can dip into it without fiddling
- Place baby on a thick towel or blanket
- Rub your hands vigorously to warm the massage oil or lotion before applying to the skin
- Keep your massage sequence short until you establish what parts your baby enjoys
- Be prepared for interruptions – a little baby may want to turn over. Just bear with them and continue with your technique where you left off.
- You can put baby on your lap, belly down, or resting on your shoulder if it’s easier
- Keep other children away from baby – give them their own doll to massage
- Always stop if the child shows signs of distress
In all aspects of the massage, be guided by your baby’s reaction. If they start to become upset, try softening the strokes (not so soft as to tickle) or try a different spot. Being physically gentle is vital but it’s also important not to use a product that could irritate their beautiful skin, so choose an organic product which will not cause any harm when absorbed by the skin.
Get the ambience right with a little soothing music and soft lighting, and you might find that baby massage is relaxing and beneficial for tired, stressed mums too!
Try the Little Innoscents Massage Oil to massage your baby.
About the Author: Antonette Golikidis has studied Natural Health Science at the Australian College of Natural Medicine and is qualified in Remedial Massage Therapy and Aromatherapy. Currently she lectures in Remedial Massage at a tertiary level. The greatest effort has gone into ensuring the information on this page is valid, however if you are concerned about the health of your child; please visit your healthcare professional.
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*While the greatest effort has been invested to ensure the validity of this information, the advice therein is set as a ‘general’ guide only, and your individual needs may require a different method to the one shown. Little Innoscents would like to encourage you to see your regular healthcare professional, should you be concerned for you or your baby’s wellbeing.
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