While baby massage has been prevalent in the East for centuries, the West is only now waking up to its therapeutic effects. There is no doubt that massage is a good therapy for infants, leading to improved physical, mental and emotional development.
There are many techniques and methods of massage, as there are various oils that are recommended.
Baby massage oil: Therapists recommend natural unscented vegetable oils for infant and baby massage. Olive oil and grape seed oil are popular across the world, while in India, mustard oil is usually the first choice. Creams, lotions and baby oils, containing mineral oils and chemicals, are best avoided. They can not only cause allergies, babies have a habit of putting their hands in their mouth, and licking these minerals can be harmful. While some therapists recommend essential oils because of their aroma and therapeutic benefits, others think it is best to avoid them, because their strong smells can be overpowering for a baby.
Baby massage techniques: There are many techniques for massaging a baby. But a baby is not particular whether you are using acupressure or a Swedish or a Kerela massage. For baby massage therapy, just use gentle strokes, and adjust the pressure of your hands according to the age of the infant.
• Use gentler strokes for a month-old baby than, for say, an eight-month old.
• The room must be pleasantly warm, because the baby will be unclothed and may catch a cold if the temperature is low.
• Keep all your massage related items – such as oil, towels, wipes - handy before you start the massage.
• Lay the baby down on a soft towel or blanket. You can use a table or you can even stretch out your legs and place the baby on it.
• Place the baby face up, on the surface of the massage area.
• You can use soft music for your massage therapy as this will help to create a calm and soothing atmosphere.
• Start by pouring about half a teaspoon of the oil on your palms and rubbing them gently together, before applying. The baby’s bare skin is very sensitive to heat and cold and rubbing your hands together warms them up.
• Baby massage therapists usually recommend starting from the head, using circular strokes of the hand on the chest and stomach, up-and-down strokes on the legs and arms, and upward strokes on the back.
• The massage should not last for more than 30 minutes, and you must stop even earlier, if you feel that baby is feeling uncomfortable for whatever reason.
Massaging your baby is one of the best therapies and promotes well-being. It is considered by many to be as important as any nutrients and food, so try to do it every day.
Tags: baby massage, baby massage oil, baby massage techniques, baby massage therapist, baby massage therapy
This entry was posted on Thursday, March 19th, 2009 at 5:27 am and is filed under Massage Therapy. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.