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baby massage

Alex Field, Doula and Intuitive Naturopath has observed how many parents are confused in the early years of parenting and how many have lost the instinctual parenting beliefs, in particular the use of a positive nurturing touch.

In many societies there is an increasing pressure for parents to encourage babies and children into independence as early as possible. Many mothers are left confused as the techniques that promote this independence are not naturally nurturing and this creates a disconnection with our own natural instincts and can lead to increased levels of stress particularly in the early years of parenting. For example the desire for a baby to cry himself to sleep in a cot can cause them to release stress hormones that can bring fear and tension into a baby and the crying and tension in the baby is then felt in the parent.

Thankfully there is a movement away from detachment parenting and there are many techniques and books to help parents stay connected with themselves and therefore their children.

One technique that we promote at Pitta Patta is infant baby massage. Many families and communities are being re-introduced to the power of baby massage and thanks to research and government bodies this wonderful tool is being practiced with increasing regularity today.

Infant baby massage helps both the parent and baby to relax and hormonally as we relax and enjoy the process we release oxytocins – these help us to keep us calm, make us feel good and have been proven to help with postnatal depression; Richard Bowlby, University College London explained “A significantly greater proportion of mothers who attended baby massage classes showed a clinical reduction in their scores on the depression questionnaire.” (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale).

Baby massage is a great way for both parents and siblings (supervised) to bond with a newborn baby. It is also a great way to get busy toddlers to lie down and relax and can provide parents with an ideal tool to soothe and calm a little one that resists going to bed. A vitally important part of the massage is the product that is used. At Pitta Patta we have created a Moisturising Lotion that can be used for massage.

Both Australian and UK massage associations recommend unscented products for newborn babies, up to six weeks of age.

Preparation tips for Massage

• Prior to massaging your child take a few moments to set an intention for the massage. It is important to be peaceful and present so that the time you spend with your child is fully nurturing.
• Place your child on a bed or somewhere comfortable. When they are babies it is possible to massage them on your knees, with their head at the knee area and their feet towards your body.
• Make sure that the room is warm and keep a towel or blanket close by to cover the parts that are not being massaged.
• Soft lighting is important.
• If you feel that your child likes certain music it is often appropriate to have it playing softly in the background.
• Do not massage the abdomen straight after a feed.
• Do not massage directly over wounds.
• Do not massage if your child has a high temperature or a contagious disease.
• Be careful handling a baby after a massage as they can be very slippery.

How to massage a baby

1. Once you are ready to begin its important to keep contact with the little ones at all times with at least one hand. This maintains a constant flow of energy between you and your child and allows your child to relax.
2. Start at the legs and hold the right leg in your left hand and gently massage up the leg sweeping up over the thigh, repeat this action 2 or 3 times.
3. Then using both hands gently squeeze up and down the right leg a few times finishing up at the ankles.
4. Taking hold of the right foot gently squeeze each toe and circle the soul of the foot 2 or 3 times.
5. Carefully move one hand onto the left leg and then begin the whole process on the left leg.
6. Then place one hand on the abdomen to make contact with the next body part to be massaged. Always work in a clockwise manner as this follows the direction of the digestive tract. Use gentle circular movements that cover the whole of the abdomen and depending on how old the child is you can spell out words for them to make it into a game.
7. Place both hands on the chest and sweep upward towards the shoulders and then down the arms, repeat this 2 or 3 times.
8. Gently roll the baby over and starting at the shoulders use a sweeping motion down to their bottom. Never press directly onto the spine, instead work on either side of the spinal column.
9. Next ‘kneed’ the buttocks using a gentle squeeze and release action.
10. Then massage each of the backs of the legs in long sweeping movements ending up on the soles of the feet.
11. Finally on the back, use a long stroking action to run from the head of your child down to the soles of the feet.
12. Turn your child onto their backs, supporting their whole body as you do this.
13. Gently massage their forehead with soft circular type motions, be careful not to get any oil near their eyes.
14. If your little one is still happy to lie down cover their body with the towel and place the palms of your hands on the soles of their feet, close your eyes and take a few deep breathes. Draw your awareness to the intention that you set at the beginning of the massage or simply infuse the deep love that you have for your child through your hands into their soles.

Find out more about our range of organic baby moisturising lotion.