Massage for Your Baby

Massage is an age old method of calming, and is still used as part of routine baby care in many cultures. ; One of the most obvious reasons for using massage is to promote relaxation, but there are many other benefits which I have observed and experienced during my years as a specialist in this area. ; Massage techniques can vary and include gentle stroking right through to strong stretches and kneading of the more “chubby” parts. ; Massage can include oil, and this can be beneficial for young, dry skin; nourishing and replenishing where moisture has been lost through washing in our harsh water, or exposure to airborne pollutants. ;

It is lovely to spend time stroking and exploring your newborn baby’s body, as a way of communicating your love, and getting to know them. ; This exploration can be further developed, as your baby grows, to include massage strokes along the limbs, back and torso. ; Oil also helps to ensure a smooth flow, and enables greater flexibility with t he strokes, without “dragging” skin as you go. ; Initially, it is good to find your own way, by “reading” your baby’s body, using intuitive techniques and following baby’s cues. ; Many parents inadvertently use massage to help their baby to sleep, or when soothing pains. ; Indeed, small children often ask if you can “rub the hurt better”!

If parents wish to learn more, there are many helpful books, and better still, courses run, which enable groups of babies and their carers to carry out safe, effective and nurturing massage in a friendly atmosphere. ; Here are a few little anecdotes to whet your appetite, and encourage you to start massaging your babies, whatever their age!

Intuition
In massage, this is a vital ingredient, and ensures you are responding well to your baby’s needs. ; When you relax and begin to explore your baby’s body, your natural ability to be intuitive simply grows. ; Using massage also enhances your intuitive skills, and you soon learn to apply what you already know, through gut instinct, to all aspects of baby care. ; Many people tell me they do massage on their babies, but it isn’t “real” massage. ; It is real massage, and this intuitive style of massage is an excellent way to discover your own innate skills.

Play, Intelligence and Keeping Calm
Many mothers have told me that they really enjoy some of the techniques we learn, because they are fun and give them another way to “play” with their baby. ; The more playful activities, which accompany the gentle massage strokes, include leg movements to relieve tummy problems. ; These can be bicycling, circling knees into the tummy, touching opposite hand and foot then doing a diagonal stretch. ; Legs can be wobbled, feet pulled up to shoulders, arms stretched out sideways and lots of gymnastic, yoga and brain gym movements can add to the massage experience. ; Where there is the use of opposite sides of the body, there can be stimulation of both sides of the brain, thus maximizing intelligence from brain gym activity.
Having a light-hearted approach is wonderful, but we don’t always feel this way. ; Massage can help to calm the person carrying it out. ; If feeling angry, upset or out of sorts, then some gentle massage for your baby can help to soothe you too! ; This can be particularly helpful if you are wakened in the middle of the night. ;

Detecting Injury
Birth isn’t a particularly smooth business and there are some instances when obvious injury occurs to the baby. ; These often include hips or shoulders and massage techniques can be vital in ensuring recovery of muscular tissues associated with the injury. ; Quite frequently, it is only the mechanical function which is treated medically and a weakness can remain without some massage. ; Some body imbalances can also be attributed to positioning in utero if the baby had little room to mover, or just remained in a cramped position. ; This could lead to muscular problems, which can be addressed through massage.

One of my favourite discoveries is that mothers are finding “stiffness” in parts of the baby’s body and helping to “loosen” up the areas. ; This prevents problems further down the line when these babies become adults. ; Another source of injury can be needle insertion and if your baby has reason to be injected at any time, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the area where the needle went in. ; Scar tissue can form in the muscle and this can be prevented by gentle kneading and stroking of the area four to seven days after the event or when soreness has gone. ; It is possible to feel a little lump, which can be smoothed away.

Tummy Time
With parents being encouraged to change baby’s sleeping position to the back, even in those babies who prefer their tummy there has been a worry about missing out the crawling stage. ; This is important for brain development but also for development of the optic muscles, so that the eyes can focus well from looking down to looking up. ; Massage is s great opportunity to have baby on her tummy and encourage that head lift for the optic muscles! ; Babies do stay on their tummy longer I f they are being regularly massaged. ; This is good news for crawling and even if this stage is missed out, some of the movements of crawling can be mimicked within a massage routine. ;

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Bonding
This word went out of fashion for a while, but for me, it sums up what develops between mothers and their babies, and in other relationships. ; Bonding can be further enhanced through massage. ; I had one client who was brave enough to admit that she wasn’t bonding with her baby. ; At her first baby massage class, she went through the motions and was very careful to follow instructions. ; She continued to practice the techniques at home and by week three she had eyes for nobody else in the class. ; She was totally focused on her little baby and was following her intuition about massage and not following my routine at all!

This “bonding” can continue throughout life, with massage. ; Touch is very important in conveying our feelings to our children. ; My ten year old daughter talks about bonding and this often includes “pamper” sessions as well as cooking or craft! ; Older children can still respond well to massage and many families spend time grooming, stroking and carrying out massage on each other.

Fathers use massage too! ; When mum is breastfeeding and being the main carer for baby it can be an excellent way for Dad to get special time too. ; My favourite part is that Dad’s learn massage techniques and these can be transferred to that postnatal Mum!

Going Back to Work
Some mothers frantically plan their return to work, and panic about whether they ar being a “good” mother or not. ; Massage can be a great way to wind down and reconnect with baby on a more spiritual level and help to alleviate some of the worry. ; This can then be a continued aspect of the relationship as work patterns become established. ; A regular massage can be beneficial to all concerned.

Second Child
Women often attend classes with a second or subsequent child, and use massage as a means of giving that child the chance to have them all to themselves! ; One on one with children seems to be a popular means of giving them special attention. ; Massage for a baby is an excellent way of achieving this. ; Mothers tend to be more relaxed with second and subsequent babies and the quality of massage is really enhanced. ; I often talk to adults from big families, who experienced some special kind of “touch” experience form their mothers when children. ; It stays in the memory as a positive feeling and massage enhances these moments inducing pleasure and good relations.

My own personal experience with my children, who are now aged ten and fifteen, has meant that touch is an important part of how we all relate. ; Both children still enjoy touch and as for massage. ; They know when part of their body need healing and have great body awareness. ; The main benefit is that they have become excellent massage therapists and offer exchanges! ; It is worth bringing them up with massage just to find yourself on the receiving end one day; even if you have to go through the foot massage stage which really tickles!

Something else to look out for is family traits in massage. ; Many mothers who love foot massage, find that this is their baby’s favourite part. ; I have two adult clients who regularly carry out foot rubs on their pre-schoolers! ; Some mums have found that their babies can go to sleep with massage – just like their Dads! ; It is a wonderful way to explore baby and find out what he likes and even dislikes, adjusting the massage accordingly. ; This may also change with age, so be continually inventive and intuitive – they’ll love it!