Massaging your baby is a wonderful way of making special time for him or her amid today's hectic pace of life.
Babies are massaged in many cultures from birth as part of the daily baby care routine.
The benefits are many. One of the most obvious is relaxation. Just think how relaxed
you feel after a massage, or after just a back or foot rub. Your baby will experience similar feelings of wellbeing.
Massage will also stimulate baby's immune system, making him or her less vulnerable to disease. It promotes maturity of the nervous system and stimulates all the senses, expands the baby's chest, promoting deep and rhythmic breathing.
Digestive system: Promotes blood flow to the stomach area, promoting digestion and elimination by moving waste products along the digestive tract.
Endocrine system: Balances stress hormone levels and increases growth hormone production.
Circulatory system: Improves blood circulation, supply of oxygen and nutrients to the cells and more effective removal of waste products. It promotes muscle suppleness and speeds up healing processes. As a result of improved circulation, massage is also the best remedy for cold hands and feet.
Massage may offer relief of various common conditions such as colic, constipation, teething and sleeping problems.
Loving touch is extremely important for premature babies and special needs children. It may offer an alternative to medicines and has no side effects.
There are also benefits from baby massage for parents
Massaging your baby increases your self-confidence in the handling and care of your baby and creates a feeling of oneness. Touching your baby increases your levels of prolactin (the hormone that promotes milk production), strengthens your parenting instinct and can also help to relieve postnatal depression.
Ask your midwife/Plunket nurse about infant massage classes in your area.
