Infant Massage
A Hands On Introduction
By Sarah Day, CNM, IBCLC

The importance of touch between a mother and baby is thought to play an instrumental role in the relationship and stimulates bonding and development. Baby’s and young children have more sensitive skin than adults do. The sensitive nerve endings on the skin surface allow us to detect pain and pleasure. As baby’s nerve ending are concentrated over their small bodies, there sense of touch is extremely responsive.

Preparation

Touching and soothing massage is often a natural activity from birth. The techniques described here can be adapted to your routine; weather it is many times throughout the day, once a day or weekly.

A good time to begin is when you and your baby have eaten, and you are ready to start the day. Evening or late afternoon massage can have benefits too. Find a comfortable routine that works for you and your baby. Alternating times and duration of the experience may also provide more response as spontaneity is enjoyable.

Find a nice warm space that is completely quiet without distractions. You may like to adopt music into the experience also. Find a calming rhythm that produces a soothing effect. Use warm rugs to lay your baby on, and a pillow or soft rug for you to sit and kneel on.

Your Position

Keeping your back relatively straight, bending slightly at the hips. You may like to commence the massage in a sitting position on the floor, on the bed, or leaning over a table. A cross-legged position is usually the most comfortable. When massaging the newborn, try sitting on the floor with your legs out, and your back supported by furniture. If you bend your knees in an outward position, with the soles of your feet together, the baby can be comfortably cradled between the legs. The baby’s head can be rested on the arches of your feet to maintain eye contact throughout the experience.

Things You Will Need

Use a light, natural massage oil can be used to work over your baby’s body. The primary function is to assist in the ease of motion, but try to find a product of nutritional value too. Some baby oils have a petroleum base, which is not a beneficial product to use. Apricot oil and Almond oil are two lovely bases to use, mustard oil and coconut oil may be used in winter and summer respectively. Find what best suits you and your baby. Have a towel handy, some diapers, and a change of clothes for baby.

Keep In Mind

All of the techniques here should be performed in a sensitive, slow, non-manipulative manner. Your baby is very small and the muscles are not developed enough to have tensioned or strain that strong manipulation can relieve. The movements should be long, slow, rhythmic and gentle. Once your baby begins to get stronger, your level of strength can increase accordingly. Remember your touch is a communication of love and confidence.

The Massage

Remember to feel relaxed throughout the experience and breath deeply. Get into a comfortable position and take your time before you begin.

The Legs and Feet

With one hand holding the foot, gently ‘milk’ the leg with the inside of your opposite hand. Moving with a rhythmic motion up and down the leg. The outside hand can slide down the leg over the buttock, once back at the foot position the opposing hand can move up and down the inside leg. Move the hands in a grasping manner up and down the leg. Use a squeeze and twist action as you rhythmically move up and down. Rub the sole of the foot with a thumb action from bottom to top. Gently squeeze each toe and move them with the fingertips. Rub a finger over the heel. Move your thumbs along the sides of the foot from top to bottom. Move to the top of the foot by gently bringing it over and moving your thumbs on the top. Press it toward the ankle. Move your thumbs in a circular motion over the ankle. Rub your hands together with the leg rolling in between.

The Stomach

This area is to help relieve constipation and gastrointestinal discomfort by stimulating the circulatory system. Moving the hands toward yourself, work in a paddling fashion over the belly. Repeat this action using one hand, while the other holds the baby’s feet up Push flattened thumbs in an outward motion from the navel. Spell out I Love You with I – L – U strokes while telling your baby at the same time in a soothing voice. Move your hands in circles in a clockwise motion over the belly. Gently walk the fingertips over the tummy from left to right.

The Chest

Think of opening a book over the chest. With insides of the hands together, press across and gently out to the sides. Circle the hands around without lifting them off the baby to the starting position. Place the hands flat on either side of the body starting at the abdomen. Move each hand individually, in one diagonal motion, across the body to the shoulder. Hold for a moment and move back to the starting position. Repeat with the other hand.

The Arms and Hands

Hold the straight arm out with one hand above the head. ‘Milk’ the arm in slow rhythmic motions beginning from the underarm to the hand, then back down again. Do a gentle squeeze and twist motion up the arm. Open the hand and roll each finger between the index and the thumb. Place the hand in yours and rub your hand together, massaging either side of the baby’s hand. Use your thumbs to make small circles on the wrist. Rub your hands together, rolling the arm in between and moving up and down.