THE POWER OF TOUCH (Massage)

Member Name: chrissypops

Product:	Massage
Date:	06/11/01 (946 review reads)
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Advantages: A relaxed baby, leads to relaxed parents, which means you can enjoy parent hood.

Disadvantages: Some babies don't like it, Can't be done while baby is ill

Did you know that minutes after the birth of a baby, they can recognise their mother by smell alone? The next thing they recognise is touch. The feeling of skin next to skin. Whether its from a mother nursing her baby or stroking their face, a mother's touch is sure to calm a crying baby.


If I were to ask you as a loving parent what are the fundamental factors that you provide for your baby which are vital to his survival?, you would probably say : the need to give your baby enough to eat, the need to protect it from extremes of heat or cold. There may well be other factors that spring to mind. How many of you though would consider that touch would be so important that without it your baby would not survive. Post World War II studies into the infant disease, Marasmus (as it was called then) or Infant Debility, found that mortality rates for babies in institutions dramatically improved when each baby was picked up, carried round and 'mothered' several times a day.

Baby massage can generally be done after baby has had their 6 week check and is a lovely way to end a day. Massage has so many benefits and can be built into a daily or even a weekly routine. You don't need an special experience or equipment, just a loving touch.

I first came across baby massage when I went along to my Parent Craft Classes when Jess was about 7 weeks old. In this particular session our Health Visitor was talking about Baby Massage and all the benefits. I must admit, I did have a little background knowledge of massage as I had done Beauty Therapy at college, but it didnt even cross my mind about performing massage on Jess.

The room was quite small anyway so it was warm and there were mats with towels on laid out on the floor. We all took a mat and was asked just to take our babies outdoor clothing off but to leave vest and sleep suit on. Because newborns hate being dressed and undressed and pulled about, its best to work from the leg
s up and slowly undress them as you go. This stops them from getting too cold, too quickly and helps them to feel a bit more secure. We were all given some baby oil but you can use a nut free oil ( to avoid allergies) oil if you prefer. After a demonstration from the Health Visitor, we all had a go.

I made sure that I had taken all rings off and that my hands were clean and dry. Jess had been a bit niggly that morning and was still a bit grumpy. In theory, as I know well, if you yourself are niggly, tired and grumpy, the best thing is a massage. I was hoping that it would be lovely for Jess and I because we hadn't got off to a great start. With breast feeding day and night every 2 hours, we were both getting to the end of our tethers. After unpopping her sleep suit and unhooking her legs, I warmed a little oil in my hands and started on one of her legs and feet. We were told to support the lower leg and just gently but quite firmly stroke up the legs in a sweeping motion. This was too warm the leg up and evenly distribute the oil. Next I made small circular movements, like mini rainbow shapes from the bottom of the ankle up to the knee. I did this a few times and them repeated the same motion to the upper leg from knee to the nappy. I finished off the leg by making small circular movements from the heel to the toes, where I found some fluff between her toes. Umm must of come off her socks as she had a bath the night before. Again after repeating this movement to the upper leg a few times, I did the whole thing to the other leg.


If you ever do a baby massage, you can either leave the nappy on or you can take it off. When I did Jess's I did leave the nappy on until I came to the back. The reason is that as soon as the bladder has liquid in it, there is no control and of course it comes out. The last thing I wanted was a wet patch in the middle of the massage and we would have to change the towel etc. By the time you get back to massagi
ng, the moment is lost. Its up to you, but take heed, especially ones with little boys. They always have a habit of sprinkling at very appropriate moments, as I found out last week when I massaged my friends baby who is 10 weeks old. Put it this way ....he has got a good shot!!

As I said Jess was quite unhappy that morning, but as soon as I started to massage her, she became very still. All the time I was massaging her, I was watching her face too. You could see her relaxing, that angry little face that some babies get when they are whinging, seemed to lift. Don't get me wrong, Jess wasn't an unhappy child, she just needed constant attention. As I massaged the second leg, she started to smile and gurgle at me. I can tell you, this melted my heart. At last, I thought to myself, I have found something which pleases her.

When I finished doing both her legs, I took her sleep suit off and her vest and did her tummy and chest. By this time the room very warm, Jess was relaxed and happy enough for me to undress her. Look at your babies tummy and think of it as a clock face. A clock face? Well you should always massage the tummy or stomach in a clockwise direction, as your large intestine goes around the outside and small is packed inside of your tummy. The whole aim of massaging the tummy is to aid digestion, and help relieve trapped wind, so it wouldnt do any good massaging the other way.

Again I warmed a little oil in my hands and placed my hand just below the sternum or top of the tummy. In a clockwork direction and using gentle pressure massage in small circular strokes across the tummy , down the left hand side, across the bottom, and up the other side. When you get back to your starting point, go back around but moving into the tummy a bit more. Once you have gone a few times you might end up circling the bully button, but this means you have done the whole of the tummy. Finish off with a few light strokes but again make sure y
ou go in a clockwise direction. Talking of wind, after you do this baby massage, be prepared for a windy spell. We had the rainy one, now the windy weather might set in. Windy weather? Chrissypops, what are you talking? Well as said, massaging the tummy can help digestion and trapped wind. If your baby suffers from colic or just have trapped wind, it has to go somewhere doesn't it. Up or down is anybody's guess but you might be saying, "It was not me, it was babe "....A likely story...

Looking at Jess, who was looking at me rather intently at this moment in time brought a smile to my face, she in turn smiled back, which showed me she was enjoying this moment of intimacy. Again I was please with myself that I had found a new way of bonding with my baby, because lets be honest here, bonding with your child can be very hard. Some women get this overwhelming flow of love for their new born baby, most have to work at it. I had found a wonderful way to please my baby, and bond with her at the same time.

After taking a little more oil. I started on Jess's chest. using quite big sweeping movements, I covered the chest, shoulders and arms with oil. With small circular movements I worked my way up her breastbone and out over her shoulders. Jess wasn't very keen on this part, so I only did it once but if you baby is happy with it, then you can do it 2 or 3 times. The arms are massaged very similar to the legs. Just gently spread the oil in large sweeping movements up the arm and then work in smaller circluar movements from wrist to elbow, then elbow to shoulder. Again when you massage you baby's hands use small movements and massage the palm of the hands, their seem to really like that too. Its really nice if you can keep you hands fully in contact with your baby's skin so when you want to do the other arm , just glide it over the shoulders, across the chest and onto the other arm.

Last but not least, the back and
the bottom. Its at this stage if you feel comfortable taking your baby's nappy off then that's fine. If you don't, then you don't have too. If your baby is really young or can't support their head then the next stage can be done over your knee or you can hold then facing downwards in your hand. They will automatically curl their knees up so don't be frightened that you will hurt them, they will soon let you know if you do. I massaged Jess with her on the mat still because she seems quite happy laying flat on the mat. Poet and I don't know it. Cat in a hat ..oh dear.

Back to massaging. If you are massaging on your lap, then just drape a towel over your knees to protect your clothing from the oil. Using the flat hand, working in circular movements around the buttocks from inside and the outside. Then work from the base of the spine, using small circular movements up one side of the spine. Gently work your way up until one half of the back is finished. You can massage over the shoulder, side of the neck and the upper arm. Instead of taking your hand off your baby and coming back down to the base of the spine again, use one movement and come back over the arm, shoulder and back down the back to the base of the spine. Slowly work up the other side of the spine, shoulder, neck and arm. When you have finished, just make large sweeping movements over the back.

Its important at this stage that your baby doesn't get cold, so if you haven't taken his nappy off you can either wrap babe in a towel or you can get babe dressed. Choice is yours. If you have taken nappy off then you will need to put one back on and either you can get babe dressed or wrap them in the towel and give them a cuddle.

Well after I had finished Jess's back massage, got her dressed, and she went back in her car seat. Within 5 minutes she had gone to sleep, even though she was actually due for a feed. I was really impressed with the intim
acy that we had built up within those 5 minutes of baby massage. Any relationship you have is based on intimacy, trust and love, why should having a child be any different? Of course depending on your baby you can make it as short or as long as you like, just as long as your baby is happy, warm and comfortable. I went home, still feeling rather please with myself and after 2 hours, Jess decided that she was going to wake up for some feed and even slept well that night.

Since that day at Parent Craft Classes I have built baby massage into my life. For 6 months I gave a massage to Jess every single night after a bath. After 6 days I saw a marked improvement on her feeding routine and even her sleeping. Before she was getting me up every 2 hours in the night to feed, she was now going from 11 pm till 7 am without a feed. Before she was feeding 2 hourly during day and now after the massage she was going 3 maybe 4 hours between each feed. Jess's temperament improved, she was calmer and more contented. I was more relaxed with her and we started to bond. Even though I had Post Natal Depression, I knew that this was the beginning of the end. It would be the time I set aside for us to bond that would pull me out of my depression. And it did.

Baby massage brings many benefits not only for the baby but also for the massage giver.

Contrary to popular opinion not every mother or father finds they bond instantly and deeply with their baby at first sight. Mass age can help to deepen and strengthen the bond between a parent and his or her baby. Massage can be particularly helpful if the bond has had difficulty in establishing for example in such cases as separation or illness.

Massage helps babies feel loved and secure. There is also substantial evidence to suggest that the benefits of baby massage are much longer term - massaged babies make secure babies make secure adults. Studies show that in societies where it is normal for infants to
be held, massaged, rocked, adults are less aggressive and violent, more co-operative and compassionate.

Helps both parents and babies to relax.

Helps parents to develop understanding of their baby's non-verbal cues.

Makes the parents more confident in handling their baby.

Helps to develop, strengthen and regulate the circulatory, respiratory and digestive system. There has been extensive research that consistently shows that when babies both full term and premature, if massaged regularly, show improvements in weight gain, are more active and alert and show greater neurological development than their non-massaged counterparts.

Relieves the symptoms of colic and wind.


I even did the same thing for my second daughter, Lucy who loved every minute of it. Now I give them a massage once a week and I still find on that particular night they sleep really well.

Not all babies will take to massage, some hate it, but most will love it. Just remember there are some things to bear in mind before you think of doing a massage.


Gently does it... Baby massage is not just about soothing, its about a dialogue of touch that is done "with" you baby/child not "to" So always be sensitive to their reactions. If they don't like what you are doing, Stop. Try another part of the body. If they still don't like it Stop completely but don't give up hope. You can try again another night.

Keep warm... The room that you are doing the massage needs to be warm and draught free. You'll need a clean comfortable surface, like a changing mat, covered in a towel. If you are going to use a bed , never leave baby unattended as they can roll off. Even if they cant roll yet, its better to be in the habit of not leaving them, than leaving them and hearing a "bang" and baby is on the floor.

If you are thinking about doing a massage on the floor make sure that y
ou do it away from radiators, fires or direct sunlight.

Which oil?...... To avoid allergies, use a nut free oil. Baby oil or organic sunflower oil are idea. You don't need a whole bottle, but a few teaspoons in a small bowl will do. Don't pour unused oil back into bottle. .urggghh.

Please avoid massage if......

Your baby hasn't been for 6 weeks check. You can still do a small amount of massage but not on the main body. To help a very young baby to sleep, gently stroke baby's forehead from the brow to the tip of the nose. Even stoking baby's head is a type of head massage and will both sooth and calm down an anxious baby.



If your baby is unwell, has a fever, or is on medication. Also be aware that although massage around the abdomen can sooth colic, make sure that your baby isn't suffering from any other sort of abdominal pain.Ask your GP if you are not sure.

If your baby has just been immunised by injection. Wait a week, or until side effects have passed and don't forget to avoid the injected area.

Either of you have a rash, skin infections or broken skin, although some babies with mild eczema do benefit from massage ( ask GP or Health Visitor)

If you baby has just been fed, wait 1.5 hours after before massaging.

If your baby isn't enjoying it.



Above all enjoy it too. There's no reason why a dad can't do this for his baby either. I know some men are afraid that they will be too heavy handed, but you aren't honest. Massaging your baby would also be a great way for you to bond with your baby. Spend precious time with them, and relax yourself. After all look at all the benefits. Massaging is a form of communication between yourself and your child which goes deeper than any word you will ever speak. Gentle touching can soothe a crying, uptight baby. It helps tones the muscles, making them stronger and more able to do what
they are supposed to do. The circulatory system will run better and more efficient and endorphins are released into the body making your baby more relaxed. A relaxed baby, leads to relaxed parents, which means you can enjoy parent hood.

What more can I say.. try it

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