Benefits of Baby Massage
Massaging the baby is very important according to Ayurveda.It can be done for kids of all age groups.
Massaging your baby with warm herbal oil soothes the over stimulated nervous system.Baby becomes less irritable and gets better sleep.Gentle strokes improves blood circulation and increases immunity.Massage helps to improve reflexes,coordination and flexibility.Above all massage is the best touch therapy which helps mother-child bonding.
Important things to remember before starting massage
You should not massage if baby is sick.Your hands should be clean and nails trimmed.
Before starting massage you can arrange a changing table or any flat surface with a soft mat on it.
Starting Massage-Baby on her back
To start with massage,gently lay the baby on her back.Talk or sing to baby and make eye contact.
Take a little warm oil in your plam and rub palms together.You can take more if you want later.Now slowly massage baby's head using palm with gentle clockwise circular strokes.Be careful in small babies,as they have soft spots on head.Soft spots are the areas where skull bones have not fused yet.Upto 18 months soft spots will be present.Do 5 strokes and move on to face massage.For face massage,use thumbs and slide across forehead from middle towards outside.The cheeks are massaged with thumbs in upward circular strokes and bring down to chin.
Next is massaging the shoulders.Use palms of both hands and massage shoulders.
To massage hands,make a c-shape with your palm and massage upwards and then slide downwards.You can hold baby's palm with one hand and massage with other.Softly massage palms of baby with thumb one at a time after massaging hands.
Next step is to massage chest.Start from middle of chest and in a very soft sweeping movement outwards and then bring down towards waist in a heart shape.Use only gentle strokes over chest.Tummy is the next part to be massaged.Here use gentle circular strokes in clockwise direction using your palm.
Move down to legs.Hold ankle in one hand and make a c-shape with palm of other hand.Massage upward and slide downwards.Alternate with your both hands.After completing each leg massage sole of feet with thumbs.Take each foot in hand and massage from toes towards ankles.
Next give 3 full body strokes from neck till feet with palms of both hands.
Second part of massage-Baby on her face
Things to remember
Do not use pressure over spine in babies less than 2 yrs.In kids aged more than 3 yrs very gentle strokes may be given from neck downwards over spine.Take some more warm oil into your palm.
Gently turn baby on her tummy to do second part of massage.Massage in circular strokes over arms and shoulders using palms.Make c shape with your palm and massage babys hands.To massage back area,start from waist ,sweep upwards and after reaching shoulders slide down back.Criss cross palms over back and massage with gentle strokes.To massage legs take one ankle in one hand and massage with other hand in a cupping motion,sweeping up from foot to waist and then downwards.Alternate with both hands.Massage with thumbs gently on calf muscles and buttocks.To end the massage give 3 full body strokes from shoulder till feet.Soothe the baby with a cuddle at the end of massage.
Oil to be used-options
Bala tailam
Virgin coconut oil
Olive oil
Baby oil
Any one of these oils may be used.
Massaging the baby is very important according to Ayurveda.It can be done for kids of all age groups.
Massaging your baby with warm herbal oil soothes the over stimulated nervous system.Baby becomes less irritable and gets better sleep.Gentle strokes improves blood circulation and increases immunity.Massage helps to improve reflexes,coordination and flexibility.Above all massage is the best touch therapy which helps mother-child bonding.
Important things to remember before starting massage
You should not massage if baby is sick.Your hands should be clean and nails trimmed.
Before starting massage you can arrange a changing table or any flat surface with a soft mat on it.
Starting Massage-Baby on her back
To start with massage,gently lay the baby on her back.Talk or sing to baby and make eye contact.
Take a little warm oil in your plam and rub palms together.You can take more if you want later.Now slowly massage baby's head using palm with gentle clockwise circular strokes.Be careful in small babies,as they have soft spots on head.Soft spots are the areas where skull bones have not fused yet.Upto 18 months soft spots will be present.Do 5 strokes and move on to face massage.For face massage,use thumbs and slide across forehead from middle towards outside.The cheeks are massaged with thumbs in upward circular strokes and bring down to chin.
Next is massaging the shoulders.Use palms of both hands and massage shoulders.
To massage hands,make a c-shape with your palm and massage upwards and then slide downwards.You can hold baby's palm with one hand and massage with other.Softly massage palms of baby with thumb one at a time after massaging hands.
Next step is to massage chest.Start from middle of chest and in a very soft sweeping movement outwards and then bring down towards waist in a heart shape.Use only gentle strokes over chest.Tummy is the next part to be massaged.Here use gentle circular strokes in clockwise direction using your palm.
Move down to legs.Hold ankle in one hand and make a c-shape with palm of other hand.Massage upward and slide downwards.Alternate with your both hands.After completing each leg massage sole of feet with thumbs.Take each foot in hand and massage from toes towards ankles.
Next give 3 full body strokes from neck till feet with palms of both hands.
Second part of massage-Baby on her face
Things to remember
Do not use pressure over spine in babies less than 2 yrs.In kids aged more than 3 yrs very gentle strokes may be given from neck downwards over spine.Take some more warm oil into your palm.
Gently turn baby on her tummy to do second part of massage.Massage in circular strokes over arms and shoulders using palms.Make c shape with your palm and massage babys hands.To massage back area,start from waist ,sweep upwards and after reaching shoulders slide down back.Criss cross palms over back and massage with gentle strokes.To massage legs take one ankle in one hand and massage with other hand in a cupping motion,sweeping up from foot to waist and then downwards.Alternate with both hands.Massage with thumbs gently on calf muscles and buttocks.To end the massage give 3 full body strokes from shoulder till feet.Soothe the baby with a cuddle at the end of massage.
Oil to be used-options
Bala tailam
Virgin coconut oil
Olive oil
Baby oil
Any one of these oils may be used.
