Baby Massage: Benefits for baby

• Massage is soothing and relaxing, resulting in a happier, more secure baby
• Improves sleep patterns
• Reduces colic and crying
• Improves bonding between you and your baby
• Strengthens the immune response by lowering stress hormone levels and by improving drainage of toxic substances from lymph nodes
• Strengthens and tones your baby's muscles and joints
• Improves coordination
• Improves circulation
• Promotes growth, especially in low- and slow weight-gain babies
• Promotes physical self-awareness and, therefore, a positive body image later in life
• Stimulates and improves non-verbal skills, thus improving self-esteem and social awareness
• Keeps skin nourished and supple
• Helps to treat tactile defensiveness
• Helps to establish a daily routine
  
  Although all babies benefit immensely from infant massage, certain babies need therapeutic massage. Those born via Caesarean section or a traumatic vaginal delivery often need the emotional- and physical benefits of massage, as do babies admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit and who are separated from their moms or who are very ill. Premature babies and those who are away from their parents a lot get a real boost from therapeutic touch. Allergic, colicky, restless, high-need, crying babies and those with sleeping problems all are soothed too. Tactile-defensive babies respond well to a dedicated massage programme, which will help with muscle tone, spatial awareness and adaptation to their environment. Babies who are not developing as well as they should often do far better with dedicated infant massage. Last but not least, babies who are very clingy and have sensitive natures, as well as shy babies, profit enormously too.

• Massage between the eyebrows in a circular fashion with your index finger from the side or above. Do not cover your baby's face with your hand.
• Using both index fingers, massage your baby's temples with circular strokes.
• Slide your index and middle fingers down your baby's cheekbone and up to the back of the ear, gently rubbing up and down behind it.
• With your index finger, massage the point midway on the imaginary line between your baby's nipples.
• Glide your finger down to the point just below your baby's navel and massage with your fingertip in a clockwise direction.
• Gently glide your hand down to your baby's foot. Grasp the big toe, pull upwards and wiggle slowly with circular movements.
  
  By Sister Lilian
  
  Baby Massage: Tips
   

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