Giving your baby a massage is beneficial in all levels. It relaxes the baby, reduces crying while it improves the immune system. The sense of touch strengthens the bond between you and your baby. The best time for you to massage you baby is usually before bathing him/her at least half an hour after he/she has eaten.
During the massage make your strokes gentle but not ticklish. Begin on the baby’s head then move on to the face, shoulders, arms, hands, chest, stomach and down to the legs, feet and toes. A massage can last from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the mood of the baby. While you massage the baby, don’t forget to softly hum, sing him/her a song or play some gentle music. An eye to eye contact can be very beneficial to the both you.
Use the pad of your fingers with a very light pressure; begin the strokes on the forehead starting from the brow line going to the top of the head.
From the shoulders make a smooth strokes down to the hands, let the baby hold your fingers. Hold the arm with your thumb and index finger and gently glide the arm, be cautious with the sensitive areas like the armpit and the elbow.
On the center of the baby’s chest make smooth movements towards the shoulders, to the collar bones until you reach the stomach. To make the “ I love you” stroke, begin the I by starting under the ribs on your right side make a down stroke. Under the ribs on the other side stroke across and down to form the L. The U will start on the lower belly on your left, move up, under and over the ribs then down on the right side again. You can then repeat the process several times.
On the legs and feet, make gentle strokes from the thigh to the ankle, roll the leg back and forth. Repeat the steps several times. Squeeze the toes and massage the soles of each foot.
Gently roll the baby on to his stomach so you can start stroking the head down to the neck then the back, over the leg and the feet. Avoid pressure on the spinal cord and the genital area.
Always make it a habit to give your baby a massage. The activity is never time consuming, thus, it enables you to bond with your baby, likewise gives to the opportunity to examine any skin problems the baby may have. The massage session should be a delightful experience for you and the baby, that will be cherish until the baby grows older.
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