The Benefits of Baby Massage

Nurturing your little one with the power of touch.

Baby massage is a powerful way to nurture your baby’s physical, emotional, and developmental well-being. For centuries, parents around the world have used the gentle art of massage to calm, connect with, and support their babies as they grow. 

Here’s a little more info about the benefits of baby massage…

Bonding

One of the most significant benefits of baby massage is the deepened connection it fosters between you and your baby. Through touch, eye contact, scent transferral and the shared experience of relaxation, massage helps build trust and emotional security. This bonding time is crucial in the early months of life, as it helps your baby feel loved, safe, and understood.

Relaxation 

Massage stimulates the production of oxytocin, the “feel-good” hormone that helps babies (and parents) feel calm and content, lowering blood pressure and heart rate and improving appetite. Massage also supports the parasympathetic nervous system, putting babies and parents in a state of rest and digest and, for babies, helping them to be in the optimal state for their development. The production of oxytocin can also help to prevent any negative effects on brain development when high levels of the stress hormone, cortisol, are present in a baby’s bloodstream for a period of time. This is especially the case immediately after birth.

Supporting Physical Development

Baby massage encourages healthy physical development by improving circulation, stimulating muscle tone, and enhancing body awareness. The gentle movements and pressure used during massage can help strengthen your baby’s muscles and joints, supporting their overall growth and coordination.

Easing Discomfort

For babies struggling with colic, gas, or constipation, massage can offer relief. Specific massage techniques can help stimulate the digestive system, ease tummy troubles, and reduce discomfort. Gently massaging the face can help to drain the nasal passages of mucus and the nurturing touch of a parent through massage can stimulate the body to release the natural pain relieving hormones, endorphins, which can help to ease any teething pain a baby might be experiencing.

Enhancing Sensory Awareness

Through massage, babies become more aware of their bodies and their surroundings. The tactile stimulation they receive during massage helps develop their sense of touch, while the rhythmic movements can improve their spatial awareness and understanding of body boundaries. This sensory input is essential for their cognitive and motor skill development.

Empowering and Creating Community

For many new parents, learning to massage their baby can be an empowering experience. It offers a practical way to comfort and care for their baby, helping them feel more confident and capable in their parenting journey. Additionally, the structured nature of massage routines can provide a sense of stability and reassurance for both parent and baby. Baby massage classes offer a non-judgemental, open and inviting space for parents. Parents can share experiences and ideas, chat through highs and lows, and be part of a community of people in the same space which is so important when navigating parenthood.

Encouraging Communication

While babies can’t speak, they communicate through their body language and responses. Baby massage provides an opportunity to tune into these nonverbal cues, fostering a deeper understanding of your baby’s needs and emotions. Over time, this heightened awareness can lead to more responsive and attuned parenting.

How can you get started?

Begin with short sessions and pay close attention to your baby’s cues and responses. Choose a time when your baby is calm and alert, when there is no time pressure. A few moments of calm, positive massage is more beneficial than trying to persevere when your baby is telling you that now is not the right time. Remember, the goal is to create a comforting and positive experience for both you and your baby. Using familiar songs or rhymes as you massage can help to calm baby and further enhance the experience for both of you.

. It is important to say that the benefits of baby yoga and baby massage are very similar and so a combination of these complementary practices is an extremely powerful and sensory rich experience for young babies. The primary difference is that yoga adopts multi sensory, play centered movements and activities whereas baby massage is primarily focussed on more passive actions.