Parents from my classes have noticed benefits including: “Definitely helps with relaxation. The stomach/ colic massage helps a lot with wind. Face massage helped with nasal congestion.” “Lovely way to interact – this has coincided with Mac becoming more interactive.” “More relaxed. He’s quite a tense baby.”
Research studies also show many benefits from Infant Massage Neonatal Units In Neonatal Intensive Care Units there is evidence that infant massage has beneficial effects on preterm infants in the NICU, including shorter length of stay; reduced pain; and improved weight gain, feeding tolerance, and neurodevelopment. For infants who experience painful procedures, are exposed to the stressful NICU environment, and are separated from their parents, infant massage has been promoted
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kiwiparent
as a method to reduce stress and promote bonding.
gradually develop a nurturing routine that will last a lifetime.
Great for partners
Follow your baby’s cues. Look for signs that your baby is in the “quiet alert state” to massage him/ her. Your baby will look calm, gaze at you, be happy to lay still, have open body posture, or reach out towards you. As you learn your baby’s cues, you will know when it is the right time.
Infants were given massages by their fathers for 15 minutes prior to their daily bedtime for one month. By the end of the study, the fathers who massaged their infants were more expressive and showed more enjoyment and more warmth during floor-play interactions with their infants.
Settling to sleep Infants and toddlers with sleep onset problems were given daily massages by their parents for 15 minutes prior to bedtime for one month. Based on parent diaries, the massaged versus the control children (who were read bedtime stories) showed fewer sleep delay behaviours and had a shorter latency to sleep onset by the end of the study. Forty-fiveminute behaviour observations by an independent observer also revealed more time awake, alert and active and more positive affect in the massaged children by the end of the study.
Infant massage can be very helpful for babies who have experienced challenges in their lives. It is a wonderful way to strengthen the communication between parents and their children. It’s also never too late to start.
When and how often should I massage my baby?
When can I begin massaging my baby?
It is wonderful to have massage be part of your daily family routine. Depending on your baby, they may be receptive in the morning, after a bath or before bedtime. Or they may be only open to accepting massage on her legs at one session, may like tummy massage during a nappy change, and like the whole body at bath time.
You can begin massage during the first few weeks after birth and then
Many of the benefits are increased with regular daily massages.