The technique of massaging the baby is quite simple. In fact, it is instinctive to some mothers and for others; it is not difficult to learn the technique. Baby massage has been practised for generations, in many different countries. Skin contact makes your baby feel safe and secure and is a simple way of showing affection. There are various ways to do the massage, none of them right or wrong unless your baby indicates them to be so. Use strokes with imagination, keeping in mind the muscular structure of the body. The guidelines given here are basic, you can alter them to suit your individual needs in tandem with that of your baby.
How do you Start?
Choose a moment, in which you and your child are relaxed and calm. A half hour after the baby has eaten is recommended.
Be sure that the room temperature is warm (78 degrees Fahrenheit). Undress the baby completely, if the weather is cold or, humid cover the areas of the baby’s body that are not being massaged.
Put the baby on a soft surface, so your baby will feel comfortable and secure. Keep some little pillows handy.
It is a good idea to put some cream on your hands and rub them together so they will be soft and warm. This is especially important, when the weather is cold. You wouldn’t want to be touched by ice-cold hands on your bare body, nor would your baby.
Basically, the massage flows from the head to the toes. With soft and gentle touches you will work on the head, face, shoulders, arms, chest, stomach and legs. But a lot of people go from the feet upwards.
While you massage your baby, look tenderly at him/her. Doing this you stimulate all the senses of the baby and establish a more intense visual and tactile communication.
Feel free to speak to your baby because that completes the bonding process. Many mothers use the massage time to baby talk with their infant, conveying their love and concern for the baby’s comfort or, discomfort. Do not inhibit yourself or, get distracted. It is an emotional and physical bonding that your are targeting.
Remember that your touches should be tender, so do not make mechanical motions. Try to be flexible by not keeping a rigid routine.
If the baby wants to change position let him do so. Do not force your baby to hold on to a single position, you can go back to these areas later on.
You could start by massaging the legs and feet, as this is the least vulnerable area. If you are unsure about the technique and are doing it for the first time, it is always a good idea to start with the foot because you can’t go wrong. As you move upwards, you will become more confident and sure.
Massage each leg in turn using gentle strokes from hip to ankle. Massage the foot with the thumb, stroking heel to toe.
The Technique
Pressure to Use : Close your eyes and press your eyelids. The pressure you should use is the same as pressing your eyelids without any discomfort.
In the small areas use your fingertips. In bigger areas use the palm of your hand. “Little strokes” mean to touch your baby’s skin gently and “massage” is to softly move the muscles under the skin.
Legs : Caress each leg with your whole hand, and press gently on the thighs. Slightly flex the legs and knees pressing the thighs gently against the body.
Massaging the Foot : A foot massage is very relaxing. Begin by putting a soft pressure on each toe, then the foot and return to the toes again. Sometimes a foot massage can help reduce stomach pain. Caress gently all the toes. Apply circular movements at the heels.
Bottom of the Foot : Holding the foot in both of your hands, firmly stroke the bottom of the foot with your thumbs, one after the other.
Toes : Squeeze each toe with your fingertips.
Stretch : Pull back at the balls of the foot, gently stretching the top of the foot.
Pressure Points : Press in with the thumb all over the bottom of the foot. This stimulates nerve endings that connect with other areas of the body. Reflexologists say that foot massages help to correct imbalances that block the flow of energy through the body. If you find an area that is very sensitive to your baby, massage this very gently. You do not want to cause pain. If your baby has been hospitalised and had a lot of heel pricks to draw blood, massage the heel firmly. This will break up any leftover scar tissue. This will help to release any fear of having his heels touched.
Top of the Foot: Stroke the top of the foot, toes to ankle.
Circles : With your thumb and forefinger make circles around the ankle.
Rolling : Roll the leg between your hands from knee to ankle with a warming, soothing friction between the skin.Squeeze each toe gently with your fingertips. Stimulate nerve endings on bottom of foot. Make a circle around ankle.
Shoulders and Arms : Form a ring with your fingers and thumb around your child’s arm. Begin to caress around the armpit and then go down along the arm. Be very careful when you arrive at the elbow, it is a very sensitive region. In the wrist you can gently practise turning motions. Remember to take great care with all these motions.
Stroking from the shoulder to the alternate side may help coordination. Run your hand from the shoulder to the fingertips. Repeat several times.
Stroke the palm of your baby’s hand using your thumb.
Stomach : Massage the stomach in a circular way (the genitalia area is excluded from the massage). Caress the abdomen moving your hands clockwise beginning below the ribs.
Back : Turn your baby around.
Begin with large and slow movements that include head, neck, back and legs always in one direction. Give your baby soft strokes on the shoulders and back and massaging with your fingertips with circular movements.
Do not massage the spinal cord, only put your hands over it and let the baby feel the warm sensation. You can even make small circular movements on your baby’s back. Put your hands at the top of the legs and begin gently caressing while, working your way down towards the foot.
When you arrive to the feet start again from the top. With soft and slow movements finish the massage starting once again at the head and back to the toes.
The Face : Gently turn you child over and massage the face using no extra oil. Start with the middle of the forehead using the tips of your fingers and along the eyebrows…remember to be gentle! Using your thumbs, lightly go along the bridge of the nose up to the forehead.
Jaws : The frontal part of the neck (remember to do this very gently) make small strokes and massage the posterior part of the neck with slow movements down to the shoulders. Softly put both hands on his/her shoulders. Caress the baby from the neck to the shoulders in the direction of his chest.
Remember
• Repeat these exercises, when you want to have a few special moments with your baby.
• Do them, when you have adequate time for you and your child. Do not feel impatient if the baby does not cooperate.. .simply try again, later.
What Time of the Day is Right to Massage the Baby?
Mid morning sessions are the best. A massage too close after the feed can be upsetting for the baby. Follow the massage with a warm water bath, which will relax and make the baby drowsy.
When Should One Start Massaging the Baby?
You can start massage at any age. Your child does not need to be an infant to enjoy all of the benefits of infant massage. For infants, start out massaging them about 10 minutes a day and work your way up to 30 minutes a day by the time they are a year old.
Why Learn a Particular Massage Routine?
To a baby, touch is a vital means of communication. It is the expression of loving care that he understands so well. There is a rhythm to it that is hard to duplicate in other ways. It can be a daily ritual that lets you centre yourself, and connect deeply to your baby.
Why Follow a Set Routine?
The value of doing the same thing over and over, exactly the same is that you can forget about “how” to do it and just flow with the rhythm. Following a set routine will help your baby know what to expect, and the massage will be deeply satisfying and relaxing for both of you.
All loving touch is beneficial, and you must touch your baby in new and interesting ways, too, but at times other than during the massage. There may come a time, when the child’s life is disrupted and there are changes in the lifestyle of the parents.
Even simple things like changing a residence, a move, a hospitalisation, or arrival of guests can cause some upheaval in the child’s world. You will be able to use your routine to connect with, and settle the child, while providing him with a stable factor, which is both reassuring and comforting.
Why Every Day?
A day is a very long time to a baby. Remember when you were 12, and time moved more slowly? That was because one year was 1/12th of your life experience. Have you noticed how time seems to move faster as the denominator changes? (When you are 28, a year is l/28lh of your life, for example). A baby gains a huge amount of life experience every day. To a baby, touch is important for growth, and for developing an understanding, slowly, that they have a body with arms and legs. It is also, the only time that both of you ‘connect’ without being occupied with any other distraction. It is the specific quality of time spent with the baby that will strengthen your bonding.
How Long Does it Take?
20 to 30 minutes is good enough. A baby isn’t very big; you can do a complete massage within that time. But give yourself, and your baby, a little time to learn the strokes. And finally, you and your baby, will develop your own rhythm.
If Your Baby Doesn’t Seem to Like the Massage
Most babies enjoy being massaged, it is rare to find one who doesn’t. Maybe you are not doing it the right way, or maybe the baby finds your strokes too heavy and uncomfortable. Try to be gentle and use soothing touches and then graduate to firmer strokes. Once the baby is used to your touch and strokes, it is likely to demand more of it.
You may have to be persistent to get your child into a massage rhythm with you. A baby can’t even turn over, or can’t move about as we do, if their muscles get sore and cramped. They may be uncomfortable, and at first, just as, when you get a back-rub, they become more aware of the discomfort in their body. Follow your baby’s lead, continue to offer small amounts of massage a few times a day. Make it a soothing and pleasurable routine instead of trying very hard.
What Happens, When They Get Older?
Chances are that by the time the baby is six months old, they would be hooked to the massage routine. He is not likely to want an end to the soothing therapy, but older babies are more playful and hate being tied to a routine for too long a time-period.
The two of you will modify the routine to something that works for you. The adjustment bit has to come from you, mainly. You may find as they go through important developmental stages that they won’t want a massage, as they are concentrating on, whatever task they are trying to learn.
When they have passed this particular stage, they may settle into the massage routine again. It may depend on their personality. Some children never stop once they are up and running, others will still want the bedtime routine of the massage. Toddlers like to rub themselves with lotion. Older children may want a back-rub, or leg rub as part of the goodnight routine.