Can you think of anything better than being in a warm room, gazing into your baby’s eyes? Being a new mum can sometimes seem an endless cycle of feeding and changing nappies. Massaging your baby gives you a time when you can relax and be together and it can have lots of wonderful benefits too. Did you know, for example, that baby massage can help if you’re suffering from postnatal depression?
Thanks to its recognised benefits - research has shown massage reduces stress hormones and alleviates depression - baby massage has become more and more popular over recent years.
Why baby massage?
Baby massage can be relaxing for mum and baby. Yes, babies get stressed too being in new environments and they also pick up on your stress. Taking time out together for a massage teaches baby how to relax, and you will relax too.
Massage has lots of physical benefits and for babies can play a vital role in circulation, digestion and growth. Using simple techniques you can ease the symptoms of colds, colic and teething. Massage can help babies who are premature and those with disabilities too, improving muscle tone and stimulating growth hormones.
Baby massage and bonding
Bonding with your baby can take time and doesn’t always happen easily. The bonding experience can be encouraged through touch, through spending quality time together and through eye-to-eye contact with you baby. Baby massage can play a vital role in this process particulalrly if you’ve struggled due to postnatal depression, an early baby or medical problems. It’s a great thing for dad to learn too, especially if mum is breast feeding and he feels left out.
Baby Massage at Home
Some massage techniques shouldn’t be used until after baby has had the eight-week check as they involve moving the hips around but a simple stroking massage is safe. Here is a brief outline of how you can do a basic massage at home, put together by an approved baby massage instructor:
Choose a time of day when you’re both relaxed and baby isn’t too tired. Wait for about half an hour after feeding. The room should be warm, the lights dimmed and you could maybe put on some Qur’an recitation.
Choose a massage oil that has very little fragrance and avoid nut oils (e.g. almond oil). Grapeseed oil is a good choice.
Lie baby on a towel on top of his/her changing mat (in case of spills). Take off his/her clothes and nappy and talk to baby softly as you prepare yourself.
Get yourself into a comfortable position, remove any rings/bracelets and pour some oil into your hand and then rub your hands together to warm the oil.
Start by placing your relaxed hands on baby’s shoulders and gently stroke down from baby’s shoulders to the feet. Pressure should be light but try to make sure that the whole of your hand and fingers comes in to contact with baby’s body as this feels better. Do this stroke about 6 times.
Now place your hands flat at the top of baby’s chest and stroke upwards and outwards going over the collarbone, shoulders and then down the arms. Repeat this six times. Stroke down baby’s body again from shoulders to feet 6 times. Very lightly circle your fingertips over baby’s tummy in a clockwise direction. Then massage the side of the belly by stroking hand over hand first from one side to the belly button and then from the other side to the belly button.
Stroke down baby’s body again from shoulders to feet 6 times.
Add some more oil to your hands if you need to then hold one of baby’s legs at the top of the thigh and move your hand slowly down to the foot. Just as you’re about to let go place the other hand at the top of the same thigh and start to move down the leg. This is a nice rhythmic technique but remember to keep it slow, smooth and gentle. Repeat several times and then move onto the other leg.
Stroke down baby’s body again from shoulders to feet 6 times.
If baby will tolerate it, turn him/her over onto the tummy and and stroke down the back and the backs of the legs with alternate horizontal hands.
Finish the massage either on the front or back by holding your hands warmly on either the base of the back or the shoulders for a few seconds and then remove gently.
Wrap baby in the towel to absorb any excess oil before putting a nappy and clothes on.
The session should only take around 10 minutes but if baby starts to cry then do stop and try again another day.