How to Baby Massage the Right Way
Are you a new mother basking in the glory of the most life-changing experience you’ve ever had? Holding your newborn baby can be a thrilling and emotionally fulfilling moment. What better time to nurture a deeper bond with your little one than through giving your baby a good massage!
Baby massage is one of the best and most lovely ways for you to express your love and care for your baby.
Just like us, babies too find gentle massages very relaxing, and even therapeutic. This is because of the five senses, and touch is the one most developed at birth. The soothing stroke of your hand stimulates the production of the feel-good hormone called oxytocin in your baby, you, and even your partner if they’re watching. It’s the same hormone that makes you feel all fuzzy inside.
There are numerous other benefits of baby massage. Check out our blog— Surprising Benefits of Baby Massage, to know all about them.
In this blog, let’s go over how to massage a newborn baby. ?
Getting started with baby massage
Feeling a little terrified and lost with a towel and a bottle of massage oil is normal. Just follow these simple steps to give your baby a soothing massage session:
Set The Mood
The best time for a massage is when your baby is calm, yet alert – not immediately after a feeding or when they’re sleepy.
A cozy atmosphere is essential for a good massage session. Find a warm and comfortable room where you and your baby can spend some quality time undisturbed.
Dim the lights, turn off your phone, make sure there aren’t any distractions in the room. You may even play some relaxing music if you’d like, but keep it turned low enough for your baby to hear your voice.
Place Baby On A Safe Surface
Sit in a comfortable position, drape a blanket or towel over your legs and place your baby between your legs. You can also place your baby on a flat, cushioned and comfortable surface. This may be a floor, your baby’s changing table, or your bed.
Undress Baby
Undress your baby down to their diaper (we hope it’s a Snuggy Diaper since you are here ?) to let them know it’s time for a massage! You can even ditch the diaper if you want and let your baby enjoy being completely naked for a while.
Gentle Touch
Once your baby is ready, start with a gentle ‘Hello’ touch. If your baby cries, stiffens or becomes irritable, that’s it for the day! Pack up and go home. But if they respond nicely, keep going.
Target The Right Body Parts
We got you step-by-step instructions on how to massage every body part and hit the spot!
Feet And Legs
Start by making firm, gentle slow strokes from heel to toe. Now move to the top of their thigh and slowly stroke all the way down to their ankle, gently squeezing their leg as you go. Now reverse the motion and massage from ankle to thigh.
Then gently rub their feet with your thumbs, uncurling and stroking their toes. Now switch legs and repeat the same process. Do this a few more times.
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Chest And Arms
Place your hands on your baby’s shoulder and make gentle strokes towards their chest. Now repeat the same motions you just did for feet and legs for their arms.
Expert advice: Try not to get massage oil on their hands unless you want them sucking on it!
Tummy
With your fingertips, draw an oval on their tummy in clockwise direction. Clockwise because that’s the natural path of digestion.
If your baby gets irritated or unsettled, move on to the next step. Avoid their belly button if their cord hasn’t yet healed. Also, don’t put pressure on the area between your baby’s nipples and tummy as it is fragile.
Head And Face
Use your finger pads to massage your baby’s head and face. Start stroking from the middle of their forehead, down the outside of their face, and in towards their cheeks. Next you can massage their scalp in small circles with your finger pads.
Back
If your baby is still enjoying the massage and cooing and giggling, put them on their tummy and use long, smooth strokes from head to toe to massage their back.
That concludes our crash course on ‘How to do baby massage’, but here’s an important thing you must always remember about baby massages: Have fun! Because if you’re not having fun, then what’s the point?!
Keep talking to your baby, call out their name, sing them a lullaby, or gently ‘shhhh’ your baby. The best thing about massaging is not the massaging, it’s the bonding time you get with your baby.
Massaging doesn’t come naturally to all parents. So, don’t be discouraged if massaging your baby doesn’t work out at first. Keep at it, your baby will thank you later!
Yes, massage can be beneficial for newborn babies in several ways, including promoting relaxation and sleep, improving circulation, relieving constipation, and enhancing bonding with the parent or caregiver.
You can begin massaging your baby 2-4 weeks after their birth.
You may begin massaging your baby 2-4 weeks after their birth. However, most doctors recommend starting oil massage after 6 weeks from birth.
Make sure the oil is odorless and edible since your baby may get it in their mouth. You can use coconut oil, almond oil, safflower oil and grapeseed oil. Avoid olive oil, avocado oil, peanut oil, mustard oil and soybean oil as they can cause skin irritation or may not be safe for your newborn baby. Always patch test the oil in a small area of their skin and see if their skin gives a reaction. If it does, change the oil.
For your babies’ proper development, massage your baby at least once or twice a day for 10 to 15 minutes.
There are two ways we can answer this question:
When should I stop? Stop the massage if your baby is irritated or uncomfortable with it, or if you’re tense and anxious.
At what age should I stop? There is no age limit for massages, you can continue as long as you wish.
