A baby who sleeps better, soothed, relieved... A confident and happy child... An even stronger parent-child relationship... These are some of the numerous benefits you get when you start massaging your baby. For parents as for their babies, we know that everyone would have his part of baby massages profits, and that's what we're all seeking for, right?
Now, think about this intimate and priviliged moment with your baby you're going to have... Your complicity would be the key of this massage success, your baby will get to know more about your devotion and you will enjoy that psychological union you're having with him.
Here's how you can proceed : You may take your kid to your bed after a good bath ( Where of course you made sure he had a really good time playing with you and his/her bath toys and splashing water everywhere in the bathroom, because yes, it's more funny for our babies when it's all messy), lay him down on his towel and start massaging this little cutie...
By then , you will be reading his mind easily and his eyes will be telling you: "Mmm, i have lovely parents , they're close to me, they take care of me and my wellness, they say soft and pretty words while cuddling me and they're giving all the love i need... I know they enjoy pleasing me and that's a great feeling! "
Massaging your baby: Nothing but advantages!
Massaging your child would give you a special moment, it will strengthen the parent-child relationship (see article on attachment theory). Thanks to the bodies contact, the baby can generate the hormone of attachement: Oxytocin.
At that particular time of the day, which better be the night, as safety and security are thoroughly felt by your baby, he will have a better sleep. Massage evenings are then your key : You'll get to see how fast your baby will fall asleep, and will slumber for a good long night!
One more advantage of massages , is how it makes your toddler aware of his body image and its limits; He will be feeling his body through you, and that's a pretty spectacular thing.
It is also a way to relieve those unconfortable little ailments especially stomach ache: The warmth of your hands and their circular motions will be able to revive his digestion by activating intestinal transit, that way, you will help your baby releasing the remaining gases blocked.within his stomach.
As for many parents , baby massages allow them to have a sharing time of trust and mutual comprehension . And for the most little ones, parents take it as a non verbal way of communication, only relying on their body languages to understand each other.
At what age do you start to massage your baby?
It is usually recommended to wait for the cord to heal. But from birth, nothing prevents you to massage their back, arms and legs. We should remember that the baby had to survive that sudden transition; For 9 months, he was in warm place, in constant contact with his mommy and bang, went to a cold outside, not feeling limits of his body anymore ...
Well fortunately, a massage will create contact that will soothe and reassure him. Still, the important thing is to make sure the baby's ready to receive and to take pleasure doing it
Is there a specific good time for the Baby Massages?
Try is to choose a moment when both of you are fully available. Set aside enough time for that purpose and dedicate it to your little nugget after making sure he is still awake to be all receptive:
It can be after the bath, waking up from nap, as a ritual before bedtime ... the choice is yours ! Although, you should avoir giving him a massage within the next half an hour after his meal especially baby bottle meals .
Practical advices for a successful Baby Massage:
Like adults, children are not all equal in their desire to receive. For some, it's a natural pleasure; for others, it requires being " tamed ".
You can start massaging your baby over his clothes if he doesn't feel comfortable naked. Start first with few minutes massages, then increase it depending on your time and your baby need. Whatever, it's more about the love than the technique!
-Before you start, sit comfortably in front of him. Baby is sitting on a carpet or on the bed.
-Warm the room: the ideal for the room temperature is to be around 25 ° C ( 77 F) ;The baby shouldn't be cold during the massage. You can also tell your kid about each gesture and part of the body you're touching during the massage, to help him integrate his body image.
-Create the perfect atmosphere: You can dim the lights, sing a nursery rhyme or put on a soft backround sound .
( Here's a good monitor that has 9 Lullabies that will help your baby to relax : https://fromwombtolife.com/collections/whats-new/products/baby-sleeping-sound-machine )
-The choice of the massage oil:
Studies showed that Liniment Oil* remains the best to go; It's simple, nourishing for skin and you can probably already have it on hand.
( Liniment Oil* is a very old product that has proven itself over generations of babies for preventing baby changes irritations. It is a creamy substance that comes as a rather thick toilet milk. It consists of a mixture of Olive oil or Sweet Almond oil and lime water, stabilized with Beewax )
Other neutral oils may also be suitable, still, it has to be a good quality massage oil, pressed cold first, without any additives of course and these are good examples: olive oil, grape seed oil ...
-Avoid Scratching risks: it is recommended to avoid massaging with long nails and to remove your hands jewelery ( Bracelets, Rings...)
Some ideas of Massage gestures for your baby:
Trust yourself, intuition is often a good advisor for this, as long as you stay soft and attentive. The massage is a little different from caresses: The touch must be both soft and firm, enveloping and warm.
To preserve this bond of confidence related to your touch, try to keep at least one hand in contact with the baby to reassure him. After that, we let the baby discover the sensations, to feel the unity of his body.
Start by rubbing your hands against each other to warm them up and keep in mind that it's always better to use fewer repetitive movements than to multiply manipulations and massed zones.
You can focus on the legs and feet at the time of your toddler change. In reflexology, we consider the feet as a projection of the body in miniature; Massaging them will harmonize all the circulating energy and draw it down to soothe the head if it's done before sleeping.
*If the baby's belly is tense, warm your hands and use clockwise circular movements to help gases and stools circulate within his abdomen.
*When the baby's laying on his stomach, you can take it as an opportunity to massage his back, buterfly hands along the column to stimulate all his little body.
*Massaging the glutes in a circular motion with the heel of your hand will be a good way to release the accumulated emotions and tensions.
Now , you get it !
Baby Massages are good for both of you! It's easy to put in place and a great opportunity to have a lovely moment of sensational share with our little. Besides, can then become a pretty ritual, without of course any obligations. Furthermore, it can be a nice place for the super Daddy to take in order to weave this nice thread of complicity and contact !
Now if your baby is still not a fan of Massages, we can find another way : A simple moment of cuddles or skin-to-skin, learn with him signs language, awaken him to music, sing nursery rhymes that allow him to discover his body.
That's also the magic of being a parent! We observe, we try, we propose ... And we start again!