Have you ever felt like you needed a massage after a horrible week at work? If so, then think about how your baby feels after a full week of growing.
If you think that your baby may be stressed, then they may benefit from a baby massage. Stressed out babies will be fussy and cry more often.
Plus, they may be hard to soothe no matter what you do to help them. If this sounds familiar, then a baby massage may be just what your little one needs to calm down.
A full body baby massage is super simple and easy to complete. All you have to do is rub a bit of oil on your hands and start methodically massaging your baby’s limbs and torso.
Lay your baby down on a towel so that any excess oil will be soaked up, and start simply massaging out each part of your baby’s skin and muscles. Within a few minutes, your baby will calm down and feel relaxed.
If you still aren’t sold on baby massage, then you may be interested in knowing that research studies have shown that infant massage can actually help reduce a child’s crying and alleviate colic.
Plus, massage can help your baby sleep better and relieve them of any digestive issues such as constipation.
When you start massaging your baby, you will stimulate their central nervous system, which causes your child to release the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin. Your child will also secrete less cortisol, which is known colloquially as the stress hormone.
With less cortisol and more serotonin, your baby will begin to feel better quickly. Plus, your baby’s heart rate and breathing rates will slow down, signaling that they are completely relaxed.
If you give your infant massages on a regular basis, then studies have shown that you can also help cultivate their emotional and mental well being. Babies respond to affectionate touch.
Massages allow your baby to bond with you more and you to bond with them. As they grow older, they will feel a greater connection to you and have higher emotional maturity.
Giving your baby a massage is a simple thing that you can do each day to help bond with your child and bring them many health benefits. With just 10 to 15 minutes per day, you can help your baby relax.
If you are interested in getting started with massage techniques with your baby, then the first thing you need is oil. Massage oil is essential in making the massage more soothing and relaxing for your child.
But, you don’t want to choose any massage oil. Most oils that are marketed for adult massages contain perfumes and ingredients that may harm your baby’s sensitive skin.
Instead of oils that you can buy at the drug store, look for natural oils such as almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil. Most parents choose almond oil or olive oil, but what’s the difference?
Almond oil is a wonderful oil for baby massage. It contains a wide variety of nutrients such as vitamins A, B1, B6 and E. Plus, it has a very silky and smooth texture that will glide across the skin and muscles very easily.
Almond oil is wonderful for sensitive skin and for baby’s who have dry skin. Since the oil is very thin and silky, it will glide over the muscles very easily and nourish your baby’s skin. This oil is perfect for any type of baby massage.
Olive oil is readily available oil in most kitchens. It is another great option for infant massage. If you don’t want to go out and buy a new oil just for baby massage, then olive oil is your best option. It is thicker than almond oil, which is a personal preference for some parents.
Since olive oil is thicker than almond oil, it may be a bit messier. It also contains oleic acid that may increase the skin’s permeability.
Olive oil is a great option for baby massage if you are just starting out, but as you get more into the nightly massages, you may want to switch to almond oil.
If your baby has super sensitive skin, then olive oil is also not a good choice. The compounds in olive oil can actually dry your baby’s skin out more and can cause flare-ups of eczema in certain babies. But, for the first few massages, olive oil is just fine.
Other options for infant massage include coconut oil, chamomile oil, tea tree oil, and jojoba oil. These oils all have their own range of benefits.
Coconut oil is very soothing and also has a great smell. It is very light and will be easily absorbed into dry, flaky skin.
Infant massage is a wonderful way to help soothe your colicky and fussy baby. If your newborn just isn’t acclimating to life outside, then infant massage may be a great option for them. Infant massage on a nightly or even weekly basis can help your infant relax and learn to self-soothe.
Infant massage can also help your baby with common maladies such as constipation and skin problems. Plus, research has shown that babies who have their skin moisturized often have less of a risk of developing eczema or skin allergies in the future.
To start, simply grab one of your favorite oils and lay your baby on a towel. Glide your hands over your baby’s limbs and torso to help them relax and moisturize their skin at the same time. Your baby will react to your touch and feel better quickly.
