Benefits Of Baby Massage

Baby massage is a hugely beneficial tool for parents and carers to use as a natural and instinctive way of relieving tension, pain or discomfort. And actually, it is natural and instinctive comforting. Have you ever had a child in pain from constipation and rubbed their back or belly? That’s instinctively trying to provide pain relief.

1. Start by connecting with the baby through hands on contact and a few deep breaths and full body strokes.

2. Then focus on the chest area, performing various ‘moves’ in clockwise and anticlockwise directions and pitter pattering on the chest to loosen mucous and help with congestion in lungs.

3. Move down to the stomach and with a series of nine clockwise strokes, help move the wind along the digestive tract. Sometimes they’ll be really farty – which at that age is very cute!

4. Leg massages are wonderful, especially for newborns who still need to unfold from the fetal position, as well as toddlers experiencing growing pains. The leg massage movements encourage circulation in the legs, which also encourages muscle development.

5. The foot massage is a simplified form of reflexology, which stimulates all the internal organs. Depending on which parts of the foot are worked on.

6. Massaging the arms and hands in newborn babies encourages the opening of the arms, and increases circulation and blood flow. It also introduces babies to the concept of rolling and stretching and in newborns, encourages the opening of their hands.

7. Back massage is as useful in the treatment of colic and constipation as belly massage is. Not only does the act of resting their weight on the belly help shift trapped wind, and strengthening the neck muscles if they raise their heads, but it also stimulates the muscles on either side of the spine, encouraging vital nerve development.

8. The final body part to be massaged, the face and scalp, is again a relaxing and sleep inducing treatment. It is also useful during times of teething which can also lead little ones to being highly congested.

Source: diaryofafirstchild.com