Massaging Your Baby

Both babies and parents benefit from baby massage.

The Benefits To The Baby: - Massage will help to relax baby and relieve pent up tension and frustration. - Massage has been shown to provide relief from colic and other problems related to digestion. - It improves circulation and boosts the immune system by moving the lymph around. - Its therapeutic benefits help relieve the pain of teething. - Babies who are regularly massaged are more friendly and alert when awake and are more receptive to hugs and cuddles in later years.

Premature Babies particularly will benefit from massage. - Premature babies who receive massage whilst in hospital are allowed home on average 6 days earlier than non-massaged babies. Other Points - Baby will become very slippery when massaged, so be very careful when picking her up afterwards. It will be rather like picking up a piece of wet soap! - Do not massage baby if she has a temperature. - If you suspect baby has a nut allergy, use an oil that is free from nut products.

What Next? There are a number of books and videos that show you how to massage baby, or some clinics have classes in baby massage. Our site has a step by step illustration of how to massge. This cannot be shown here as it uses images.