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VegSource®

Archive of Past Articles

The Power of Touch
Infant Massage
by Pam Sears

nfant massage is an ancient tradition in many cultures. Clinical evidence shows that loving, touching, nurturing contact has a positive
impact upon subsequent development. Infant massage is one of the easiest and most pleasant methods for providing this early positive interaction.

"Massage is a physical, tactile experience, a way for parents to communicate love to their babies," says Vimala Mcclure, author of Infant Massage: An Handbook for Loving Parents and founder of the International Association of Infant Massage, a group that teaches baby massage techniques.

Touch is baby’s very first form of communication.Tiffany Field, Ph.D. of the Touch Research Institute, Miami, Floridca, cites a study conducted on premature babies who were massaged 15 minutes daily. The babies averaged 47% greater weight gain per day, were more active and alert and showed more neurological development than the infants who did not receive massage, plus the hospital stay averaged six days less.

Infant Massage can be done by any loving parent, both mom and dad, grandparents, and other siblings. All you need to get ready is an infant who communicates willingness. It is important to watch for baby’s cues. The ideal time for massage is when baby is in a relaxed, quiet alert type mode, giving you eye contact, cooing, and smiling. This can be right after bath and just before bedtime. You will then need a small bottle of oil such as almond, and a quiet. Spot. Turn off all TV’s, telephones and find an area away from drafts. A comfortable mat or carpet to sit on is helpful; a soft towel or blanket to lay the baby on, and cotton cloths (your baby will be naked so you’ll want to be prepared for accidents.) One thing to remember is, even if baby will only allow 5 minutes of massage, there is still a benefit to baby and caregiver.

Some benefits of infant massage:

  • helps to relieve colic or "gassy" babies
  • helps strengthen and regulate the digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems
  • helps parents to understand and respond appropriately to baby’s nonverbal cues
  • promotes bonding, a vital part of parent-infant relationships
  • it enhances a sense of competence in dealing with "special needs" babies

So, let the massage begin! As one parent put it, "My four-month old never napped during the day. The very first time I massaged just her legs, she slept for two hours, ate and slept another hour. What a relief!"

The Paddle Wheel - One Stroke for Colic

Place your left hand flat on your baby’s belly with your little finger at the base of his ribcage, then stroke downward. Follow your left hand
with your right hand. This is similar to that of a riverboat wheel—one
hand follows the other in a downward motion.

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Pam Sears is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor and a Licensed Massage Therapist..