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.

- When premature babies receive standard hospital care they appear stressed, their pulse rates increase and their oxygen levels fall; however, when they are massaged, the opposite happens, pulse rates fall and oxygen levels rise.

- Massage is used in many special care baby units.

The Benefits To The Parent:

- Massaging baby will aid bonding.

- Studies have shown that parents experience a fall in stress levels when they regularly massage their babies.

- Working parents who are able to massage baby soon after they return home from work will enjoy quality time with their little one which helps them