Body massage helps to stimulate the body’s circulatory, immune and muscular system and it also calms the nervous system, helping the baby sleep better and enhances a feeling of being loved an secured. It is through the conscious, attentive form of touch that babies develop their first language.
Body massages improve digestion, weight gain, relieves symptoms of colic, gas and constipation. In older babies and toddlers, a body massage is an effective way to sooth a fretful baby and help an over excited toddler to relax.
A body massage does not only help the baby but also the parent too. Regular massages help an anxious mother to gain confidence when handling her fragile new baby, especially for first-time mothers, and it also enhances communication, bonding and an understanding to the baby’s non-verbal language.
When getting started for a baby massage, ensure the baby is neither hungry nor tired and it should be done in a warm and comfortable place. Warm your hands before you touch the baby and lay the baby on a warm and soft towel and massage with baby oil.
Head and face: Massage lightly the crown of the head in circular motion, ending with down strokes to the sides of the face. Massage the centre of the forehead while moving outwards. Then massage the eyebrows, eye sockets, over the cheeks and around the ears. Finally, gently stoke the neck from the ears to shoulders, chin to chest and stoke the shoulders from the neck outwards.
Legs: Squeeze gently from the thighs to the knees, shins, calves, around the ankles, feet, heels up to the toes and toes should each be stoked individually.
Stomach: In circular motions, massage the abdomen while working outwards from around the navel, using the fingertips and the palm. This stroking of the tummy helps to relieve the body of gas and constipation.
Chest: With the hands flat and held next to each other at the centre of the baby’s chest, push out to the sides over the rib cage as if you were flattening the pages of a book. Without lifting your hands, bring them round in a heart-shaped motion back to the centre. Ensure to smile to your baby and maintain eye contact.
Arms and hands: Gently squeeze the arms from top to bottom and stroke down to the fingers and thumb. Massage the wrist and hand, stroke each finger with your fingertips and thumb and finally, hold the hands and circle the palm with your fingers.
The back: move your hands back and forth from the top of your baby’s spine down to the buttocks.
You can always increase the pressure steadily if you realise your baby is liking it and always maintain contact with on hand to reduce risks of the baby falling.