Massage has a positive effect on the baby. When a parent gives a massage to the baby, the caring touch gives comfort and relaxation to the baby’s mind and body.
Choose a room that is warm and clutter-free. Do not choose a very bright room because there should not be any harsh lights falling on your baby. The best time to massage your baby is at bathtime or bedtime. Do not massage immediately after a feeding. Make sure your hands are warm and clean. Remove any jewelry like rings and make sure that you don’t scratch the baby’s delicate skin with your nails. It is best to keep your nails short and trimmed at all times. Use some natural oil like coconut oil or olive oil for massaging. Do not use mineral oil or nut oils.
Simple steps to give your baby a relaxing massage :
- Begin massaging with your baby’s feet. Use firm, but slow and gentle strokes.
- Then move slowly upwards to the lower leg and to the thigh. Then massage gently across the hips.
- Then turn your baby around. Give soft strokes on the baby’s shoulders and back, by massaging with your fingertips in circular movements. Do not massage the spinal cord.
- Then gently massage the baby’s neck with slow movements. Then caress the baby from the neck to the shoulders.
- Put both your hands on the baby’s shoulders and stroke from the shoulders towards the middle of the chest. Then gently massage the baby’s chest.
- Then start at the shoulders again and go slowly down the arm to the fingers. And wipe any oil from the baby’s fingers before he/she sucks them.
- Then massage on the abdominal area using circular stokes clockwise. But massage the tummy only if the baby doesn’t feel uncomfortable.
- Use one hand and start at the lower right side of the baby’s tummy. Then gently move up and across the tummy.
- To massage the face, give light strokes across the forehead and cheeks. Then begin at the sides of the nose and move outwards.
- Using soft and slow movements, finish the massage starting at the head and back to the toes.
- When the massage is finished, dress your baby slowly in comfortable clothes.
- While massaing, stop if your baby cries or squirms. Try it some other day when the baby is more receptive.
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