Baby Massage -Our First Language
In many ways, touch through Baby Massage is our first language – a language scientists are now beginning to understand. Being touched in a loving way can help small babies grow stronger and troubled children feel less anxious. In many hospitals and birth centres, newborns are placed on the mother’s chest or abdomen to give them the most skin to-skin contact. The touch between the mother and her baby brings them emotionally close – a process known
as bonding or attachment. In fact, in one study, premature infants who were massaged while at the hospital gained more weight and were ready to go home with their parents an average of six days earlier than preemies who were not massaged.
Do Baby Massge /you Can’t Spoil a Baby
Doing Baby Massage will not spoil your baby.Some parents do not pick up their babies as often as they could because they are afraid they will spoil them, but nothing could be further from the truth! Each time you pick up your baby, you let her know that you care and that you understand her needs. So don’t hesitate to hold your crying baby. Carry her on your shoulder and sing her a lullaby. Stroke her head, rub her back tenderly, and let her know you’ll always be there. Talking and singing while holding your baby can help you both to bond.Then go that extra bit and learn how to massage your baby, this can be a great experience for you and your baby. It is also a great way for Dads to learn as they are often afraid that they will break them. I was listening to the radio this morning and Ryan Tubridy was talking about Baby Brain. This brought me right back to those days and nights that are like a blur , when you find yourself in the shopping center doing your shopping and you suddenly have this sinking feeling “did I get dressed or am I still in my PJ”. Some times during those first few months we (Mothers) often doubt ourselves , am I doing a good job, is the baby getting enough stimulation , is he getting to mix with other babies. We can drive ourselves mad.(We can often feel quite mad)Don’t worry , you are not alone and NO YOU ARE NOT MAD.
Benefits of Baby Massage:
The purpose of Baby massage is to promote nurturing touch and communication through training, education, and research so that parents , caregivers and children are loved,valued and respected throughout the world .Infant massage is a wonderful experience shared between you and your baby. It provides numerous physical, psychological and emotional benefits for babies and the families who care for them.Here are some benefits
Bonding
Infant massage provides a wonderful opportunity for parents and caregivers to bond with their young babies. Touch conveys nurturing and love, the essential ingredients for emotional and physical growth and well-being. Eye to eye and skin contact, and the exchange of soothing sounds and smells, cuddles and smiles all help adult and baby feel closer. This close interaction helps improve your ability to understand your baby’s body language. You may then respond with more sensitivity and confidence. Your baby, in turn, feels heard and respected, and gains confidence and a healthy self-image as she grows.
In some cases, delayed bonding may occur due to situations such as premature birth, recovery from caesarean, medical complications, adoption, lack of physical and emotional support and post natal depression. In these cases Infant Massage can be enormously beneficial by giving caregivers an opportunity to recreate the elements of bonding. Massage is also beneficial to special-needs children and older children and facilitates deeper understanding, integration and connection with their parents and caregivers. As massage becomes part of your daily routine, you will gradually become more aware of your baby’s non-verbal cues. By taking time out of your day to connect with your baby one-on-one, you are communicating a message of love and security to your child.
Relief
Massage helps relieve common ailments such as colic and gas in newborns, and other discomforts experienced throughout infancy, such as teething and sleeping difficulties. Specific massage techniques are taught to relieve some of these conditions. In addition, infant massage can help your baby heal from emotional pain and upsets, such as doctor’s visits and vaccinations, or the trauma of a difficult birth and other difficult experiences.
Sometimes, your baby will cry when certain parts of her body are touched in massage. For example, a baby who has had many heel pricks may cry when her foot is touched, or a child who experienced a forceps or ventouse delivery may be upset when her head is touched. This can be a healthy release of sadness or trauma that is held in the body, and so it can be of enormous benefit to give your baby the opportunity to express her pain and frustration.
Stimulation
When you massage your infant regularly, her physical growth and development is stimulated in a variety of ways. Research studies show that respiratory, muscular, circulatory and immune systems all benefit form the positive effects of massage.Your baby may gain weight more easily, and experience improved immune function. In addition, massage promotes neurological development, and helps with the development of motor skills and coordination.These are some benefits but there are many more.
Colette Moynihan– mother of 3, runs her own website and offering Baby Massage and First Aid Classes.