Baby massage: beautiful (and healthy) communication
The art of touch, which was long taboo in Western countries, is thankfully now widely recognized. You can massage your baby from the time he’s born to communicate with him, make him feel safe and improve his motor skills and skin tone.
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As touching is one of baby’s chief means of communication, massage can legitimately be regarded as a form of body language. It makes a baby, who just transitioned from the warmth of the maternal womb to the outer world, feel secure and enables apprehensive parents to feel comforted as they come into contact with their child.
The virtues of massage
Massage promotes relaxation and provides wellbeing by loosening muscles, stimulating blood and lymphatic circulation, sometimes even soothing pain through stimulation of bowel movement. Massage also contributes to the development of your baby by preparing his or her body, still curled up in a foetal position, for the sitting then standing positions.
General baby massage recommendations
In order to perform this massage, you’ll need to pick a time of day when you and your baby are relaxed (right after his bath for instance). Settle into a calm, well-heated room (26°C), preferably alone with your baby. Take up one of the following three positions and make sure you keep your back straight:
- Standing, with your child on the baby-changing table;
- Sitting on the floor with your child on a bath towel in front of you;
- Sitting on your bed with your baby on a bath towel in front of you.
Undress your child (more or less so depending on what kind of massage you wish to perform) and make certain he doesn’t feel cold. Proceed slowly and massage your child for a couple of minutes. If you sense that your baby’s reticent, do one part of his body only. Over time, your child will come to appreciate and grow accustomed to the pleasure you’ll give him. By and by, you’ll achieve a full-body massage in 30 minutes or so. If your child is sick or agitated, or if you’re not in the mood for a baby massage yourself, don’t hesitate to put it off for a day or two.
Massage should provide shared pleasure. Just be yourself: tickle, kiss, sing and talk to him if you feel like it. Instead of making mechanic gestures, let your instincts and your child’s reactions guide you.
A few techniques for your baby’s beautiful and healthy massage
- Coat your hands with oil (sweet almond oil, or coconut oil for example) or a natural baby cream and rub them warm;
- Play with your child, talk to him during the massage;
- Touch him lightly with the palms of your hands flat, then apply pressure on his shoulders and back with the outer edges of your thumbs;
- Gently move your child into a different position to massage his chest and stomach;
- Run your hands smoothly along his arms and legs, lift them up, knead and stretch them;
- Massage his hands and feet, then squeeze and stretch each finger or toe slightly between your thumb and index finger;
- For a facial and head massage, gently run your fingers in small circles upon the top of his head, on his forehead, temples, the base of his nose and knead his neck gently.
Don’t worry if, around 9-12 months, your child shows impatience. He may just want to move around and explore the world surrounding him. Rest assured that, in moments of fatigue and tension, your baby will love having his head, feet and back massaged. And you’ll enjoy it, too!
Copyright © 2009 Doctissimo
Posted 08.09.2010
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