Baby Massage Tips

Baby massage has been a tradition in many communities for centuries. It is believed that regular massage help preemies to gain weight; reduce colic in infants and strengthen immune systems of babies. Besides all these benefits, it a pleasure for moms to caress the delicate, soft and tender skin of their newborns and cuddle them. Massage should be given to newborns midway between feedings. Older babies can be given massage a little more than an hour after meals. Here are some tips to give right baby massage from head to toe:

• Wash your hands well before giving massage to the baby and apply baby cream and oil to soften the skin of your hands so that they glide smoothly on baby’s skin.
• Remove jewellery in hands such as rings, trim the nails or use balls of fingers to massage the baby, so his tender skin doesn’t get scratched.
• If the weather is cold, turn up the heat enough to keep the baby warm.
• A full-body massage from the baby can start from head or feet, depending on what feels more comfortable to your baby.
• Don’t use baby oil on infant's face.
• Babies less than four months old need only 10 minutes of massage while older babies can be given 20 minutes of massage depending on their development.
• Do not tickle the baby while you massage.
• Keep the pressure light but firm.
• Use fingertips of both hands in gentle small circular strokes starting at the center of the baby's forehead to outside and move on to the cheeks, nose and jaw of the baby.
• To massage the ears of the baby, rub the lobe to the top of the ear using your forefinger and thumb.
• For babies less than 4 months old, cup the head of the baby in one hand and gently massage the scalp and the back of the head using circular motions with your index and middle fingers.
• Do not massage on the soft spots at the top of the head and the temples.
• Babies older than four months can control their heads and necks better, so you can your both hands to massage them.
• A back massage can make you baby sleep in just a matter of minutes.
• Put the baby on her stomach and then gently massage from the shoulders to the entire length of the back using your fingertips.
• Don’t touch the spine of the baby, while giving her the back massage.
• Massage the baby’s ankle with both hands by rubbing their soles and making the mark of ‘X’ on their soles using your thumbs.
• Massage the palm of the baby up to the base of the fingers in circular motions.
• Massage the tiny fingers of the baby by gently pressing them between your forefinger and thumb.
• Make sure that you rub very gently on baby’s elbow and knee joints.
• Gently squeeze the muscles on baby's legs and arms but be sure that baby does not get hurt.
• Keep one hand over other hand and use them like a paddle just below the belly button of the baby to relieve any gas pains and improve her digestion.