The Unbelievable Nurturing Effects of Baby Massage
When my baby girl was born she had beautifully long fingers and toes. “Little monkey feet”, daddy would call them. (Actually, he still does.) They are just the sweetest feet! (Is it me, or all mamas who adore excessively over their newborns new little feet and hands? Every single one of us I’m sure!)
Baby girl has since grown into those “monkey toes”, and as Granny calls them, “perfect gymnastics hands”. But we have all heard it from other parents many, many times, “they grow so fast”. So to have quite time daily, nurturing each itsy-bitsy new body part, will always be very cherished moments for me. It is so special to know that at this moment, during this massage, she is the smallest she’ll be from here on out. Having this closeness with her I could pick her little feet out of a million baby feet, I could pick out her knees and elbows too. Now I find myself saying it too, “it happens so fast”. These quiet times, make time sweetly stop, if just for moments.
Of the many benefits of infant massage, there is one for me that outshines all the others. It is the magic of unspoken communication that creates a loving bond within the family, and benefits the baby for years on end.
Miracles of Infant Massage
How can infant massage so profoundly offer gifts to our babies that will carry through into adulthood? It can teach our baby that her body is a temple to be honored and respected. It can teach our babies that what they feel and need is of great importance. Infant massage gifts our babies with a touch that lets them feel that they are completely cared for and cherished. It is a shared experience, between caregiver and baby, that should be respected and appreciated.
Begin baby’s massage by asking for permission to touch them. We can verbalize to them what we are going to do, what we are doing, and ask them how it feels. They will communicate back to us. And it is in tuning into this unspoken language that we begin to intimately know our babies needs, likes, and bond in the most special of ways.What a great way to get to know our babies and to let them know how truly special they are. Trust that you will know what your baby is telling you, and each day you connect with your baby during infant massage, you will begin to fine tune your own skills as well. If your baby cries, pulls away, or looks away this is a sign that baby is not ready to be touched. Be aware of the pressure you are giving. Too little may be uncomfortable, like a tickle, yet at the same time remember that babies skin is very delicate. When the touch is appropriate for your baby, you may also feel your baby settle, bring her gaze to yours, and relax more deeply into her natural breath. Also, keeping eye contact and speaking softly and sweetly to your baby will enhance the experience for you both!
Baby Massage Techniques and Routines
I am the type of person who is comfortable with, and loves massage. So for me, making up my own massage routine was easy. If being creative in this way isn’t your thing, or if you haven’t given many massages, a wonderful video for baby massage is Baby Tata.
It will give you many ideas, make it very fun, and there are other baby games in there as well.
Suzanne P. Reese, a certified instructor with the International Association of Infant Massage and author of Baby Massage: Soothing Strokes for Healthy Growth says, “the approach is more important than the strokes”. So please remember to take care in your touch and create a nurturing space before you begin. Some factors to think about for creating this nurturing space are:
- Find a time that your baby will come to expect that it is massage time. Creating a routine is great and will be the most beneficial. I have a friend who massaged her baby boy every night, just after his bath and just before bed. The baby came to know this routine and loved it (wouldn’t you!).
- Make the room a comfortable temperature. I use to love massaging my baby in front of our fireplace when we lived in Oregon!
- Baby will more than likely be putting their little hands (maybe even feet) into their mouths, so use only edible oils (cold-pressed are the best). A few examples are almond oil, coconut oil, and safflower oil. You may also want to check for any allergy to certain nut oils before doing a full massage. Edible oil is a safe alternative from mineral oil/baby oil which is produced as a byproduct of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil and is a foreign substance to the human body.
It is a good practice to always keep one hand on your baby at all times. Benefits of infant massage will reap wonderful results in just 15 minutes per day, so begin in the experience, and see where it takes you.
The Loving Exchange Through Infant Massage
When I asked Donna A. Barclay, Certified Massage Therapist and 2nd Degree Reiki healer, who works globally and lives in Ventura County, if she could share in a personal experience with infant massage, she said:
“From my personal experience, I have seen unbelievable benefits for infants, as well as their parents during the exchange of loving, tender, massage. Massage can stimulate or calm down an infant depending on the location and movement of the stroke. For parents who want to experience the joy and experience I offer different massage techniques, I love to teach. Sometimes the infant ends up being the teacher. When you touch a specific spot, i.e. the center of the hand…..depending on whether it is a stroke, a tap, a rub, counter clockwise, clockwise, an infant’s nervous system as well as breath, can be positively affected. Since the child comes from the parents, when you observe your child’s response to your touch, also try the same techniques on your partner, or self the same way and in the same location, and you will see what your child has to teach you as well”.
If you would like information on learning infant massage in the Ventura area, Donna can be reached at donnareal2001@yahoo.com. To find classes outside of Ventura, across the USA, visit infantmassageusa.org.
More Benefits of Infant and Baby Massage
As if just this wasn’t enough information to start infant massage with your baby today, here are a few more wonderful benefits:
- The Touch Research Institute (TRI) of the University of Miami School of Medicine found that massaged preemies, on average, gained 21-47% more weight than those not massaged.
- TRI also did a study showing infant massage strengthens the immune system.
- Helps some infants sleep deeper and longer.
- Improves brain-body communication.
- Relieves discomfort.
As you will see, the offering of infant massage will be a gift to both you and your baby. I hope that your family experiences the wonderful connection that is shared in infant massage!
Recommended Safe and Non-toxic Massage Oils for Babies and Toddlers
Please visit our Safbaby.com Store to view all the safe and non-toxic massage oils for babies and toddlers.
Book recommendations:
Baby Massage: Soothing Strokes for Healthy Growth by Suzanne Reeze
Baby Massage: The Calming Power of Touch by Alan Heath
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