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Touch is your baby’s first language and infant massage is one of the most natural and pleasant methods of providing this early nurturing contact
Before babies are able to understand language, we often communicate and comfort them through touch. If a baby cries, for example, parents will hold, cuddle, or stroke them. Baby massage is part of this natural impulse.
What is baby massage?
In, HEALTH AND SKINCARE/ BEAUTY THERAPY/ SOMATOLOGY/MASSAGE THERAPY baby massage is a gentle, rhythmic stroking of your baby’s body with your hands. The soothing strokes of your hands stimulate the production of the feel-good hormone oxytocin in you, your baby. Oxytocin is the hormone that gives you that warm, loving feeling when you hold your baby close or breastfeed her.
Baby massages are a great way to bring you and your little one closer. Trust and communication development as you interact with your baby. Your calming touch will make your baby feel loved and cared for. Your baby will also feel relaxed during a massage
This treatment is a great experience for both the baby as well as the parent. The massage therapist can show the mother how this massage is done so that the mother can perform the treatment at a time that is pleasant/favorable for the baby, for example, after bathing the baby. This will be of utmost benefit to a massage therapists in order to grow their revenue.
You can use oils or a moisturizer to help your hands to glide smoothly over your baby’s skin. It is, however, recommended that parents do not use any oils or lotions until their baby is one month old. This is because, at birth, the top layer of a baby’s skin is very thin and easily damaged. Over the first month (or longer in premature babies), a baby’s skin matures and develops its own natural protective barrier.
If your baby doesn’t seem to enjoy massage right away, don’t worry. It’s a new experience for both the mother and the baby, so it can take a bit of getting used to. Try a few minutes the first time and build up as your child gets more used to it.
When you study HEALTH AND SKINCARE/ BEAUTY THERAPY/ SOMATOLOGY will learn about the following benefits of infant massage:
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IMPROVING SLEEP QUALITY
Bedtime routines, especially those including infant massage, have been shown to improve multiple aspects of the sleep cycle for both the child and the parent/caregiver.
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SUPPORTING BONDING & ATTACHMENT
Parent education programs can increase parent confidence and attachment, resulting in greater success in adapting to and developing strategies to cope with parenthood, and can benefit mothers with postpartum depression by helping them to relate to their babies and inducing the release of oxytocin.
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CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Infants who experience regular massage often see reduced stress, nervous system improvements, and improved self-regulation and body awareness. Other developmental aspects like muscle tone, joint mobility, gastrointestinal issues, and response to forms of therapy can also be experienced. It is especially helpful for children who require extra support, including babies born premature, babies born addicted, and HIV+ babies.
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REDUCING VIOLENCE AND ABUSE
Nurturing parenting skills is one of the most important protective factors for lessening child abuse and neglect, with approaches that enhance parent skills and promote healthy child development having a demonstrated effect on prevention.
Massage therapy may be particularly good for premature babies in special care, resulting in:
- Improved weight gain, particularly if oils are used.
- A more stable heart rate.
- Calmer response to stress and pain.
- More stable brain activity.