Benefits of baby massage(II)

Head Massage
Apply some oil on your baby’s body. Then massage with fingertips in extremely gentle, circular motions all around the head.

Neck Massage
Support the head and upper body of your child on one hand. Use the other hand to massage the neck with thumb and first two fingers in gentle, circular motions.

Belly Massage
Put your hands at the navel. With your fingertips, massage in gentle yet firm circular motions over the tummy. Repeat these motions a few times.

Colic-relief Massage
After the belly-massage, bend the baby’s knees up to the tummy. Hold the position for about 30 seconds and release. Repeat 2 to 3 times. After that, put one hand’s edge on his/her belly. Start gliding downwards from the belly button in a rhythmic pattern. This will help in releasing built-up gas in the stomach.

Arm Massage
Roll the baby’s arms gently between the hands. Start from shoulders and move down towards the wrist. Repeat it twice or three times, and then focus on other arm.

Leg Massage
The movements for leg massage are similar to those used for massaging the arms. Start from the thighs and move down to the ankles. Repeat 2 to 3 times for each leg.
Some important things to take care of during infant massage have been listed below.

Regular massage schedule
Make it a routine to massage your baby at same time every day. This would make him/her expect and then enjoy the massage. Select a time when you are not in a rush to complete other household tasks. Also, make sure your child is neither too hungry nor too full before massage.

Select a good massage oil
Go for edible massage oil that is unscented. Cold-pressed vegetable or fruit oil is also a good choice. These oils aid easy gliding of hands over the baby’s body. Some of the best options include canola, coconut, corn, grape seed, olive, avocado, apricot and safflower oils. These oils get easily absorbed by the skin. Just a dab of oil is sufficient for massage. It is best to avoid mineral oils as these might lead to clogging of pores.

Be gentle
Make your movements as gentle as possible. One smart tip is to apply strokes in directions that move away from the heart. For example, from shoulder to wrist and from thigh to ankle. These movements are more relaxing and suitable for better sleep. Applying strokes towards heart are more stimulating and keep the baby active when awake.

Select a comfortable place
Find a place for massage that is comfortable for you as well as the baby. The place should also be warm enough to prevent the baby from catching a chill. Playing relaxing music in the background can enhance the effects of massage. Other ways to boost massage results include singing or talking to your baby during the process.

Notice cues offered by your infant
Just like adults, babies also don’t like to be massaged if they aren’t in a good mood. If your baby frowns, turns away or cries on being touched, postpone the massage session. Moreover, it is not necessary to massage the whole body every time. Follow the indications given by your baby. Sometimes rubbing the hand and feet is sufficient to relax and benefit your baby.
Besides the above mentioned benefits of infant massage, it has also been noted baby massage relieves postnatal depression among many women. This is because of the quality time spent together by the baby and mother. Infant massage has been known to be the most vital and dynamic interaction to lay the foundation of a unique mother-child bond.

-parentinghealthybabies.com

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