Many parents have found infant massage to have many benefits. It can be a great way to bond with your baby, may helps soothe him during colic-like periods, and also gives you a time to visually "inpsect" your baby and make note of any boo-boos you hadn't noticed. You can begin using infant massage on your healthy newborn.
You can easily perform massage from the comfort of your home.
- In a room that is at a comfortable temperature for your baby, undress him down to his diaper.
- Lay him down on a comfortable surface like your bed or a changing pad on the floor.
- Warm a little baby oil or lotion that you know your baby is not allergic in your hands.
- Massage your baby's body, establishing a typical routine that you will follow. Begin with the legs working from the thighs down to the tips of his toes. Then massage his shoulder, down the arm, to his fingers.
- Next rub his chest and shoulder.
- Gently flip your baby onto his belly and give him a nice, gently backrub. Start at the top of the shoulders and move down toward his tushie.
As you use infant massage, you'll notice that his tolerance will grow. At first, he may only enjoy a massage for a few minutes. With time as he learns what to expect of the massage, he may relish a longer massage.
More than likely you'll be able to find baby massage classes in your area. There are also many great instructional books on the topic. One of my favorites is Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents by Vimala McClure (Compare Prices).
