How to Massage Your Baby
Massaging your infant is easy and enjoyable for both you and
baby. The first step is to choose the right place and time for
your little one. Any warm, quiet, draft-free place will do
nicely, and it's best to do it at a time when you're not hurried
and baby needs relaxing. Soft music is helpful to relax and set
the mood for both of you. It's also very important to have the
right oil. Oils that work best are coconut, almond, apricot,
safflower, and avocado, and you should watch for allergic
reactions within an hour.
Once your set, start with the legs by holding baby's ankle with
one hand and rubbing from thigh to ankle with the other. You can
also rub with both hands as if you were holding a baseball bat
moving from top to bottom. Next, go to the arms and rub with
both hands from shoulder to wrist with a gentle twisting motion.
Don't forget to massage the lymph nodes in the arm pit. Now move
to the chest and rub in a heart-shaped motion starting from the
center. Next move to the stomach and use your fingertips to
"walk" across the tummy from left to right. Move up to the face
and rub small circles on and around your baby's jawbone to
relieve tension they accumulate from sucking. Lastly, flip your
infant over to rub the back. Put one hand on the bottom and make
a sweeping motion from shoulders to the bottom with the other.
Baby massage is wonderful, but there are precautions you should
take. Avoid massaging if: 1) Baby has had an immunization in the
last 72 hours 2) He/she has a skin infection 3) He/she is
feverish or sick 4) If your hands or the room are cold 5) He/she
is asleep 6) If your baby gets upset.
It's important to make this experience as enjoyable as possible
for both to reap the maximum benefit.