Parental Guidance on Baby Massage
Parental Guidance on Baby Massage
29 Apr, 2024
MD, DNB, FIAP
Senior Paediatrician
Smile Children Clinic, Andheri west, Mumbai 400058
In my 3 decade long practise as a Child specialist doctor, one topic of discussion in every consultation of infants has always been that of Baby Massage. There are numerous concerns, myths, queries around this topic. Grandparents are always more confident around this topic and indeed of great help, though everyone is not lucky! At Smile Children Clinic, Andheri, Mumbai, as a Paediatrician, we always advise every parent ways to create a nurturing and stimulating strategies for growth and development of children. Baby massage is incredibly potent tool in this journey.
Role of touch in facilitating development of children
Touch is not merely a physical sensation! It's a fundamental to child's emotional, cognitive and physical growth. Right from the birth, babies rely on touch for comfort, security, and communication. It is scientifically proven that regular massage can have a profound impact on a child's growth & development. Touch to babies during holding, carrying, wearing and handling is much more important than keeping babies in portable carriers, bassinets, cribs, strollers, car seats and playpens.
Physical: Baby massage improves circulation, muscle tone, and digestion. It is proven to increase weight. Massage helps to soothe a baby with colic, teething discomfort and growing pains.
Emotional: The gentle touch and nurturing environment created during a massage can help reduce stress, anxiety, and crying in babies. It can also promote feelings of security, attachment, and well-being. Massage provides a dedicated time of parent for quiet connection, to focus solely on little one, listen to their cues, and respond to their needs with love and care. This strengthens the parent-child bond, creating a foundation of trust and security that will benefit the child throughout their life.
Cognitive: Baby massage stimulates the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, which play a crucial role in mood regulation and learning.
Advantage to mother: Mothers who massaged their babies feel more relaxed and bonded with their babies.
Things to remember
When?: Select a time when your baby is calm and relaxed, preferably after a bath or diaper change. Ideally Baby should be in ‘quiet alert state’ i. e. looking calm, gazing at caregiver, is happy, laying still, having open body posture and reaching out towards caregiver.
Where?: Dim the lights, put on some soothing music, and ensure the room is warm and comfortable.
How?: Use natural oils like coconut or almond oil, and apply gentle pressure.
Which areas?: Start with the legs and feet, gently moving upwards towards the back, chest, arms, and face (avoiding the eyes).
What to look for?: Pay attention to your baby's body language and facial expressions. If they seem uncomfortable, stop the massage and try again later.
How frequent?: Consistency is key. Aim for a few minutes of massage daily or a few times a week, depending on your baby's preference.
When to start?: Introducing touch to baby is important from birth itself, begin massage during the first few weeks after birth and then gradually develop a daily routine.
How massage helps baby?
Deep-touch pressure is the basic mechanism underlying benefit of massage to baby. Deep-touch pressure has a calming, organizing effect on the nervous system. Deep-touch pressure is nothing but applying firm, yet gentle and consistent pressure on baby's body. It will affect baby's breathing and heart rate through autonomic nervous system which actually controls breathing and heartbeat. But babies are known to respond differently to deep-touch pressure, hence stop the massage if baby seems to have any discomfort.
6 massage strokes babies love…
Back: during tummy time, from shoulders down to lower back and baby's bottom.
Head: Cupping hands around head and stroking backwards with both hands over the crown of the head, followed by moving along the jawline and the chin, across the forehead and across the eyebrows and lastly tracing small circles on baby's cheeks and squeezing the chin.
Feet: be firm as light touch can tickle the baby! Feet massage can be done while baby is feeding.
Hands: this is particularly helpful to babied who keep their fists tightly closed.
Shoulders: Moving hands firmly down the arms from the shoulder.
Full body: whole body from top to toes in supine as well as prone position.
Which oil?
It is advisable to use oil as it facilitates movement of hand over baby's body. It is better to use natural vegetable oil like coconut. Non-medicated baby rubs can be used for babies age 3 months and older. But avoid using adult massage oils, hand lotion or nut-based oils. Avoid using scented oils like essential oils.
How do I massage an active baby?:
Keeping few toys just for massage, singing while massaging, massaging what is easy to reach, making massage more fun by pulling baby gently and playfully back, using music and nursery rhymes, looking for toddler’s most quiet and receptive time of day for the massage are few tips for massaging active moving child.
What not to do?:
Don’t instil oil in nose, ears, umbilicus or eyes of a baby. Don’t be overenthusiastic and use excessive pressure, we have seen fracture of collar bone by baby massage! Wrong oil can cause skin irritation or allergy. Few babies may get overstimulated and might cry more with massage.
In case of any queries related to baby massage or child health, please get in touch with children specialist doctors at Smile Children Clinic for professional advice. We offer both, online teleconsultations on video call and offline in person consultations at clinic. Please call on 9226893706 or book online appointment at www.smileich.com.