Infant massage- foundation for a securely connected future!
What is infant massage?
Infant massage is a way to nurture and spend time with your baby. It is a physical processes of massaging and stroking your baby in a manner that is designed for their developing body. The beauty of infant massage is in it's simplicity! Anyone can learn how to do it and it is actually incredibly intuitive!!! Obviously you want to learn the strokes and the approach from a massage therapist (to gain confidence, because caring for a newborn is overwhelming enough!) but then it's up to you to implement it with your little one at home!
The benefits of infant massage are vast:
1. Improves sleep
2. Stimulates growth hormone for weight gain and underweight babies
3. Improves overall functioning of the GI (gastrointestinal) tract
4. Relieves the pain and discomfort of teething
5. Encourages interaction between you and your baby
6. Help your baby relax and sleep
7. Positively affect infant hormones that control stress
8. Reduces crying
When is the best time to massage your baby?
* Start as early as you can! Diaper changes are the perfect time to introduce massage in the early days
* Wait about 30-45 minutes after feeding the baby to start your massage.
* When the baby is calm and alert! You want them to be able to connect with you by learning how it feels to be massaged!
* As with any new skill it will take PRACTICE! Be patient with yourself and baby, stick with it and you will be reaping the benefits of a relaxed baby and a secure bond in no time!
How do you massage your baby?
Remember this is as much about physical touch as it is about being fully present!
* Take a few deep breaths in and out slowly
* Roll your shoulders back a few times
* Clear your head of racing thoughts
Create a calm atmosphere:
* Do the massage in a warm, quiet place.
* Use a food grade oil to do the massage to not irritate the baby's skin
* Remove rings from your fingers so you don't accidentally scratch your baby
* Position baby on a blanket or towel in front of you at a place that allows you to be comfortable (on the floor, on the changing table, or even the kitchen table, just make sure you don't leave baby alone)
* Use your authentic voice, just speak slower and softer (this helps with language development)
* Let your baby know what you are doing. Talk them through your each move!
Monitor your touch:
* Use gentle, confident touch
* Refrain from tickling your baby, it can irritate them
* Use a firmer touch as baby grows
Sequencing and pacing:
Infants are small so doing a full body massage may take as little as 10 minutes. Here is an example of what it might look like:
*Place baby on their belly and massage the neck, shoulders, upper back, waist, thighs, legs and feet. *Next, place your baby on their back and spend some time gently flexing and extending baby's arms and legs
*Finally gently rub the belly in a clockwise motion to aid in healthy digestion.
Like I said above, you want to learn the techniques from a massage therapist FIRST and then use them at home as you gain confidence!
One of my biggest dreams is that every parent feels empowered to connect with their newborn baby in a way that creates a deep bond, based on authenticity, trust and respect from the very beginning. That connection then becomes a pillar of example for all other relationships in the future! I see infant massage as the very early stepping stone to creating that connection and I can't wait for you to see what it can do for you and your family as you start implementing this.
Want to learn more about infant massage and how it can help you with family bonding? Reach out via the contact form on my website and let's set up a time to connect!
Be well,
Keyu