Infant massage is a great way to bond with your baby. Massages may promote better sleeping, relieve colic, and even enhance your infant’s immune system, motor skills, and intellectual development. Here are some tips and techniques to help you along.
Items you need
- Blanket or Towel
- Massage oil
How to Massage your Toddler
Use a blanket or towel, and massage oil in a non-breakable container. Test the oil on a small spot of your baby’s skin and wait a day to be sure no irritation appears. Undress your baby and start massaging section by section.
Tummy
Massage your baby’s abdomen with your fingertips in a circular, clockwise motion.
Head and Face
Cradling your baby’s head in both hands, massage the scalp with your fingertips, as if you’re shampooing. Massage the ears too.
Chest
Place both hands on your baby’s chest and stroke outward from her sternum to her shoulders.
Arms
With one hand, hold baby’s wrist and stroke down from shoulder to wrist with both hands rotating in opposite directions, as if you were gently wringing a towel.
Back
Place baby on tummy horizontally in front of you. Keep hands in front of and not sides.
Thighs
Lift legs by the ankle and relax it by lightly tapping the upper thigh.
General Tips
Make strokes gentle but firm, and not ticklish.
Build massage into your baby’s daily schedule.
Follow baby’s signals about when to stop. A massage can last 10 minutes or 30 minutes, depending on her moods.
As seen on Parents Magazine