A Guide To Baby Massage
Baby massage is a great way to bond with your baby and has many proven health benefits.
Massage has been proven to help improve and stimulate baby’s digestion, circulation, muscle tone and communication especially in the first 3 months.
Making eye contact is important during the massage and communicating to your baby what you are doing. For example “Mummy is rubbing your feet, does that feel good?” Your baby will be soothed by your voice and touch and it will start the learning process of connecting words.
How to massage your baby
The best place to start the massage is the feet and working your way to the upper body. This will help with circulation and encouraging blood flow to the heart.
The best time of the day is just before bedtime at night. Massage will help to relax your baby and will help them have a more restful sleep.
Step One: Use organic baby massage oil or edible oil such as olive or almond oil.
Step Two: Start at the feet using firm but gentle strokes from the heel to the toe. Repeat 5-7 times and move to the leg.
Step Three: Massage the leg with your whole hand moving from the ankle to the thigh and hip area. Repeat 5-7 times. Move to the next foot and then follow on to the leg.
Step Four: Now it’s time to massage the upper body. Place both hands on babies shoulder, stroke downwards and into the centre of the chest with both hands simultaneously. Repeat 5-7 times.
Step Five: Continue to the babies arms. Stroke from the shoulders down to the wrists avoiding the hands. Repeat 5-7 times.
Step Six: Next massage babies tummy area. This may be sensitive so a few strokes is all that is needed. Massage in a circular motion and if this upsets baby stop.
Step Seven: If you like you can massage babies face. Start at the centre of the forehead using two fingers on each hand and stroke down the side of babies face towards the cheek. Repeat 3-4 times.
Step Eight: Finish by turning baby onto their tummy. Stroke babies back from the top of the shoulders to the lower back using long strokes.
The thing to remember during the massage is it is only beneficial if baby is relaxed and happy. If baby is upset at any stage stop and don’t stress baby by continuing if they don’t want to.
Massage has been proven to help improve and stimulate baby’s digestion, circulation, muscle tone and communication especially in the first 3 months.
Making eye contact is important during the massage and communicating to your baby what you are doing. For example “Mummy is rubbing your feet, does that feel good?” Your baby will be soothed by your voice and touch and it will start the learning process of connecting words.
How to massage your baby
The best place to start the massage is the feet and working your way to the upper body. This will help with circulation and encouraging blood flow to the heart.
The best time of the day is just before bedtime at night. Massage will help to relax your baby and will help them have a more restful sleep.
Step One: Use organic baby massage oil or edible oil such as olive or almond oil.
Step Two: Start at the feet using firm but gentle strokes from the heel to the toe. Repeat 5-7 times and move to the leg.
Step Three: Massage the leg with your whole hand moving from the ankle to the thigh and hip area. Repeat 5-7 times. Move to the next foot and then follow on to the leg.
Step Four: Now it’s time to massage the upper body. Place both hands on babies shoulder, stroke downwards and into the centre of the chest with both hands simultaneously. Repeat 5-7 times.
Step Five: Continue to the babies arms. Stroke from the shoulders down to the wrists avoiding the hands. Repeat 5-7 times.
Step Six: Next massage babies tummy area. This may be sensitive so a few strokes is all that is needed. Massage in a circular motion and if this upsets baby stop.
Step Seven: If you like you can massage babies face. Start at the centre of the forehead using two fingers on each hand and stroke down the side of babies face towards the cheek. Repeat 3-4 times.
Step Eight: Finish by turning baby onto their tummy. Stroke babies back from the top of the shoulders to the lower back using long strokes.
The thing to remember during the massage is it is only beneficial if baby is relaxed and happy. If baby is upset at any stage stop and don’t stress baby by continuing if they don’t want to.
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