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Massage has helped premature babies develop faster and have fewer health problems than an untouched baby; massage has also helped colicky babies relax. My husband has often massaged our eight-month-old daughter back to sleep in the middle of the night. And the good news is that you don’t need to be a professional massage therapist to be able to soothe your infant. What babies need the most is a loving touch. To them it doesn’t matter whether you’re using a Swedish massage stroke or acupressure so long as your touch is gentle and loaded with love. However, you do want to follow some guidelines to keep your baby comfortable and safe while massaging her.
One consideration is warmth. Even in summer make sure the room temperature is comfortable for your infant. Babies usually need an extra layer of clothes than adults would, so if you’re comfortable, don’t assume your baby also is. If necessary, cover her undressed body with a blanket and consider turning off that air conditioner for the duration of the massage session. The session shouldn’t last more than 30 minutes, but should end as soon as your baby signals she’s had enough. Remember, the massage is supposed to relax your baby, so if she doesn’t want it, don’t force it on her.
Don’t use cosmetic oils and creams on your baby’s skin. Massage her with a vegetable oil (I use olive oil on my baby) that is edible. Babies love to suck on their hands and fingers, so you don’t want to use any product that isn’t safe to ingest. Discontinue use immediately and wash your baby’s skin if a rash appears or if your baby seems to be having difficulty breathing. Seek medical assistance as your child is probably having an allergic reaction.
The younger the baby, the lighter the stroke should be. Don’t apply the same pressure that you would to a seven-month-old to a one-month-old. Start by showing the palm of your hands to your baby and asking for her permission to massage her. (This will show your child that you respect her and that she has control over her body and that it should only be touched when she allows it to happen.) If your child if fussy, trying to roll away from you, don’t press the issue. Reschedule your massage session for another time. If, on the other hand, she’s ready for your loving touch, put a dime-size drop of oil on your palms and go through the following steps:
1. Gently place your palms on your baby’s head and lightly stroke her body down to her toes touching her face, chest, hips and thighs along the way. Repeat this step gently stretching her arms and fingers this time.
2. Stroke the flats of your fingers from the center of the forehead out to the sides of the temples. Next, repeat the stroke with the thumbs from the nose bridge outward. Use circular strokes on the cheeks and massage the ears.
3. Place your hands on the baby’s chest and move from the center out to the sides. With your thumbs on your baby’s upper chest, stroke it by moving the thumbs outward. Place both hands at each side of the bottom of the ribcage. Stroke diagonally with your right hand up to the left shoulder and back down. Then stroke diagonally with your left hand up to the right shoulder and back down again.
4. If your baby’s umbilical cord is completely healed, you can also massage her abdomen. Rest your hands on your baby’s belly and remain there for a few seconds. Move your left palm to just above the baby’s navel and your right palm to the opposite side below the navel, tracing a clockwise circle. Move both hands at the same time, slowly and gently, to stimulate the digestive system. Next, use the sides of your hands to stroke the abdomen downward starting just below the ribcage.
5. Pick one arm and stroke it down lightly from the shoulder to the hand. Next, use both hands to gently twist the baby’s arm starting at the shoulder and ending at the wrist; then starting at the wrist and ending at the shoulder. Use your thumbs to massage your baby’s palm as if opening her hand and each finger separately. Repeat with the other arm and hand.
6. Pick one leg and stroke it lightly from hip to foot. Next, use both hands to gently twist the baby’s leg starting at the hip and ending at the foot; then starting at the foot and ending at the hip. Use your thumbs to massage the sole of your baby’s foot and each toe individually. Flex the ankle. Repeat with the other leg and foot. Before starting on your baby’s back, finish this portion of the session by repeating the first stroke described in step 1.
7. When working on your baby’s back, remember her delicate spine and avoid putting pressure on it. Place your baby on her belly across your lap and gently stroke her from the top of her head to her toes. Use gliding strokes to massage from her neck to her buttocks and back to the neck. Next, stroke each shoulder blade with broad circles. Hold your baby securely with one hand and slowly work down her spine (without applying direct pressure) with the other hand. Holding the baby’s ankles, extend her legs and massage from her neck to her heels. End the massage by repeating the stroke describe in step 1 a couple of times.
Massaging your baby will increase and enhance the bond between the two of you. If you skip a step, don’t worry. Reapply oil to your hands as needed. If your baby decides she doesn’t feel like a whole-body massage, stop when she tells you so. You can’t hurt the baby by massaging only a portion of her body. And remember to always work gently and slowly and to maintain eye contact and speak to your baby throughout the session\. The two of you will start raking the rewards soon.
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