Massage Tips for Parents with Young Children

Every mother and father who has a baby in their life has been there. The baby is crying away, and you have tried everything to help make it better for the little darling. You have done everything. Feeding, holding, playing, singing to them, and so on.

But, did you know that giving your little bundle of joy a massage can dramatically help not only their emotional well-being but also their overall health?

We'll explore this a bit here as we go into the subject of the benefits of massages for infants. Have you ever had that night (or many nights) where it seems like the only thing that calms your little one is when you are holding them? Obviously, you cannot do this all of the time, or you'd never sleep. Studies are showing now that giving your baby a gentle massage routinely can and will help dramatically in the way your child feels and its ability to relax and sleep through the evening.

These studies are beginning to show and prove more and more that massaging your infant or toddler reduces separation anxiety, stress, fussiness and overall wellness. This method has been proven to reduce the risk of constipation, colic and even boost the immune system of your little angel. This is great news for any parent, especially if you find yourself in a bind where they simply will not let you put them down.

When you massage your infant, you are actually serving to stimulate their central nervous system. This, in turn, helps their little body produce hormones such as serotonin more frequently. Serotonin levels are what the brain produces to make you feel relaxed and generally good about things. It also serves to reduce cortisol, which is a chemical produced that is linked directly to stress. One of the very best things for a mother or father to feel is the safety and well-being of their newborn baby. A loving and tender touch of your massaging hands will to exactly that. After all, your baby is hard-wired to want the loving attention and care of their parents.

It does not take a long time to do this for your baby, and you can make it part of a daily routine. Take 10 minutes or so when your baby is calm and awake to gently work your hands over them to relax and soothe them. It is a great idea for after you give them a bath for example. After bath time, your baby is alert and calm typically which makes it ideal. If you try to do this while your little one is fussing and not in an overall good mood, it may only serve to further their irritation and fussy behavior.

If you make this massage part of your daily routine, you will begin to see the benefits of it soon enough. Your baby will be generally more relaxed and ready for bed when it comes time for it. Your baby's overall happiness and calm demeanor will be more frequent allowing for better rest through the night, for you and the baby. With that being said, let's go over a few techniques you can use at home.

Neck Massage

Make sure to give proper support to your newborn's head and upper body with one hand. With your free hand use two fingers and gently rub the baby's neck in small circular motions, making sure that the neck is properly supported while doing so. Repeat this a few times. You don't want to do it for an extended length of time so as to not cause any discomfort.

Tummy Massage

Placing your hands just under the navel, rub your fingertips in small circular motions on the belly area. Repeat this a few times to help aid in proper digestion and constipation relief. Make sure again that your baby is properly supported while doing so, either horizontally in the crease of your lap or on the floor with a blanket.

Arm Massage

Apply gentle pressure holding your baby's arm between your fingers and roll their arm in your fingertips while working your way from the shoulder down. Do this a few times then switch to the opposite arm and repeat.

Leg Massage

Again, applying gentle pressure, wrap your hands around the thigh and work your way down to the ankle while you rub. Repeat this a few times then move to the opposite leg.

Colic Massage

After performing the tummy massage, bend their knees gently upwards toward their belly. Hold this position for 30 seconds and release. After you repeat this, gently glide your palms in a circular motion from the navel down the stomach to relieve a gassy baby.

Eugene Wood is a leading NYC and Long Island Massage Therapist and the Education Chair for the NY Chapter of the American Massage Therapy Association. Eugene has offices in Wantagh and Massapequa, Long Island. Learn more by visiting his website at www.eugenewoodmassage.com.