Newborn Baby Massage Benefits - When to Start & How to Massage, Precautions

Traditionally, babies have always been massaged with oil before a bath; this is still popular today, because it has great advantages over massaging creams and lotions. A typical scenario: Before bathing the baby, your aaya or you make the newborn baby comfortable on a soft cloth/towel, grab oil and gently start massaging in gentle soothing motions from upwards to downwards, right? Well, not quite – here's how to get it right.

Benefits of Baby Body Massage for Your 0-12 Months

Baby Massaging in a proper way, at the proper time, and by using proper oil can really be beneficial for our child. Let me share some benefits of massaging a infant which has made me massage her till date:

1. Feeling of Security: The direct contact time that a mother spends while breastfeeding and massaging during initial few days of her child helps babies to feel secure and safe. Massaging a baby promotes a strong bond, helps them to cry less, helps regulate their breath, and keeps the baby warm
2. Improves Blood circulation: Massage helps to improve the blood circulation in your baby's body. At a young age, the flow of blood to extremities like hands and legs is relatively less, hence the more time the mother dedicates to massaging these parts, the better is the blood flow and hence baby's growth
3. Improves digestion and bowel movements: The vagus nerve connects the brain with important parts of body, including the stomach. Massage stimulates these nerves, hence improving digestion and bowel movement, helping your baby to grow
4. Soothes and relaxes the baby: How do you feel after a good massage? Relaxed, right? The same way, mild massage soothes your baby and makes them relaxed and less anxious. They feel loved and cared for
5. Improves colic: A gentle massage can be helpful to release trapped gas and hence soothe a baby who has been colicky. Bending the babies knees upwards so that they touch the baby's abdomen can help expel gas and this can be done when massaging the baby
6. Calm respond to stress and pain: Baby massage helps your baby respond more calmly to stress and pain. Regular massage makes babies less fussy and more comfortable in their environment
7. Improves and regulates your baby's sleeping patterns: If given at the proper time, massage improves and regulates your baby's sleeping patterns by relaxing the tired muscles
8. Brain activity for premature babies: Babies who are born prematurely respond to massages by developing a more stable brain activity at a normal level

When To Start Massaging for Your Newborn?

We all know that for a newborn baby, touch is the first sense that develops. It also soothes and relaxes them. Even when we grow older, a gentle touch or a quiet stroke can help us relax and heal. Thus, unless he/she is premature or it is medically advised, baby body massage can be started right after the birth. However, most mothers prefer to wait for a couple of days to make a massage routine. If you are starting massaging your newborn before her umbilical stump has fallen off, make sure to avoid the belly area or be very, very careful with it. For premature babies, it is advisable to wait atleast till they actually reach their due date.

How Do I Massage My Baby?

After choosing an oil and a comfortable time for massaging the infant, the next step is to get started with the massage. Make him comfortable on a mat in a warm and cozy room. The little baby should be comfortable and not hungry or bored. Clean your hands and take some oil and start massaging the soles of baby's feet. Make sure your strokes are gentle yet firm, and smooth and soft. The hands should move downwards to upwards in a circular motion. Massage your new born baby's legs from ankle to thighs, leaving the genital area. Start from upper body massage by making gentle strokes in towards the chest from the shoulders. Head for the arms from the shoulders to the wrists. Massage baby's tummy gently with circular clockwise strokes, this also helps release gas. Massage baby's back by placing her on her tummy in long, head to toe strokes. Making small circles with your fingers you can massage your little one's scalp.

How Can I Massage My Baby To Sleep?

How do you feel when you are getting a massage yourself? Drifting away to sleep as your body relaxes and mind calms down, isn't it? Massaging offers the same comfort to babies as well, and most babies feel sleepy and relaxed by the end of it. Some babies even fall asleep during the massage! When you are massaging your baies less than 12 months to sleep, first thing is to make sure that you commit this time to her. Keep all things you need handy - towels, diapers, massage oil, and a baby pillow. Work your way from the baby's feet to the head, slowly and gradually, talking and singing to the baby in low tones. Make sure the room is comfortably warm, and there are no distractions - keep the room lights low and dim. As you follow the basics of massaging a baby, make sure your movements are tender and gradual, and the baby looks and feels comfortable. End the massage by cuddling your baby and telling her how much you love her. Sets the perfect start to a good night's sleep!

Which Oil Is Best For Baby Massaging?

The best oil? I suggest coconut oil, the richest source of Vitamin E. If your baby and you do not like the strong smell of coconut oil, you may opt for olive oil. Many mothers also use almond oil for massage or our very own mustard oil for baby massaging. Choice of oil also depends on the season, for example, in winters most Indian mothers prefer mustard oil because it has a heating effect. Almond oil is also considered equally good in winters, and so is olive oil. In summers, coconut oil and sesame oil is preferred for baby massage. Choose an oil that suits the weather, and your baby's skin.

Always remember to dab a little oil on your baby's skin, to see if it has any allergic reaction.

Newborn Baby Massage Oil Available ein Market

Now that we know the most common oils used for massage, you might be wondering if these oils are safe for massaging a newborn in the initial days as well. Just because I like coconut oil or someone else prefers mustard oil, you should not stick to them. Make an informed choice by considering the factors like skin condition of the newborn, season when the baby is born, and your own personal preference. For example, vegetable oils containing oleic acid shouuld not be used for babies who have sensitive and dry skin. Examples of such oils are olive oil and sunflower oil. If your newborn baby has eczema, go for coconut oil. Mustard oil should be preferred in winters and in places with modearte climate- do not use mustard oil for massaging a baby where the climate is predominantly hot. Almond oil has the added benefits of Vitamin E- so it is very good for dry baby skin during winters. Sesame oil, derived from black sesame seeds is also light like coconut oil is preferred in summers for infant massage. Sesame oil is also backed by Ayurvedic science. So basically, depending on your infant's skin, season, your preference and the baby's liking, choose your newborn baby's massage oil.

What Precautions Should I Take During Massaging 0-12 Month Baby?

1. Make sure that the room you are in is warm and well lit
2. Make sure that your baby is well rested and fed, and is in a happy mood
3. If you have heated the oil, make sure it is not too hot or you may burn your baby's skin
4. Your baby's comfort is of prime importance, so if at any point your baby seems uncomfortable or fussy, stop
5. Also, an important piece of advice my doctor gave me was to not allow even a drop of oil from going into the nose and ears, as it may lead to a fungal infection

It would be great to hear from you on your experiences while massaging your baby? How do you feel? Do you feel that your baby is reaping the benefits? Please do share in the comments section below. Happy Massaging!