Baby Massage
Human touch is very important for growth and development. It gives a sense of well-being and comfort, it stimulates the immune system, and assists with healing.
For a special bonding experience with your baby, try baby massage. This has proven health rewards and is a different way to bond with your baby, encouraging emotional growth through touch.
Essentially the massage flows from the head to the toes. With soft, gentle and soothing strokes you will work on baby's head, face, shoulders, chest, stomach, arms, legs and feet. To measure the pressure to use on baby close your eyes and touch your eyelids. This is the level of pressure you should use when massaging your baby.
Getting started
Put baby on a soft and comfortable surface and ensure that the room isn't too cold. Baby should be in a receptive mood and be relaxed and calm. Use a small amount of pure or baby oil or alternatively, use cream and rub it between your hands to warm before starting.
Start slowly
Gently, make small circles with your thumbs and tips of your fingers on baby's temples, forehead and the base of the cranium. You can also place your fingertips either side of baby's mouth to make a smile and move your fingers down to make a frown. Be very gentle when massaging your baby's jaw by making small strokes down the posterior part of the neck to the shoulders, in the direction of the chest.
Gentle pressure
Place both hands together, palm-down, at the centre of the chest and gently push out to the sides, following the natural curve of your baby's ribs.
Tummy rub
You can massage baby's tummy by using the outside of your hand and making paddling motions on the baby's tummy with one hand, following the other from top to bottom. This has been proven to help relieve wind and constipation. When massaging your baby's tummy, you can also make circular motions with your hands around baby's tummy - up and down and left to right. You can also walk your fingers across baby's tummy. Expect a few giggles from baby as they may be ticklish.
The backstroke
Turn your baby over and begin with slow and sweeping movements from the top of baby's back down to the base. Do not massage over baby's spine. Simply put your hands over it so baby can feel the warmth of your touch. Give your baby soft strokes on the shoulders and back with your fingertips, one side at a time, in slow circular movements.
Gently does it
Form a ring around your baby's arm with your thumb and fingers and begin at the base near the armpit. With a slow, light caress, move down your baby's arm to the wrist. You can gently practise turning motions but remember to be very gentle with these movements, especially near the elbow which is particularly sensitive. Repeat on the other arm.
Feeling good
Hold your baby's leg up and place both of your hands on either side at the knee. Gently roll your baby's leg between your hands with gentle motion down to the ankle and back up; again, remember to be extremely gentle. You can also repeat the same massage technique for the legs as was used on baby's arms in the previous step, by going from the top of the thigh to the ankle.
Tip to Toe
A foot massage is very relaxing and can also assist in relieving stomach pain. Begin by putting soft pressure on the underside of each toe with your fingertips and move down to the foot and heel and back up again. Caress all of the toes gently with circular movements, finishing with light circular motion on the heels.
Your baby should now feel calm, relaxed and more loved than ever! Repeat these steps whenever you want to enjoy a great bonding experience with your baby.