Benefits of baby massage
1. Helping baby relax and promote better sleep: Massages can help relax babies and promote better sleep. Massaging a baby’s muscles and skin can help reduce their stress levels allowing them to drift off easier at bedtime.
2. Enhancing digestion: According to research, massage has been known to help with digestive issues, such as colic, and reflux. Massaging the abdomen in a gentle circular motion stimulates the digestive system, which can help alleviate any discomfort that might be experienced.
3. Improving bond: Massaging your baby helps create an emotional bond between parent and child, making them feel secure and loved, this is why it has been known as “the language of love.”
4. Promoting healthy weight gain: Massage can help with stimulating the growth hormones, helping with healthy weight gain in infants.
5. Relieving tension: Babies are constantly learning new things and new ways to express themselves but sometimes those tools aren’t enough for some babies. Massage can help relieve any built-up tension in the body.
6. Enhancing immunity: Research has found that baby massage can help improve the immune system by increasing natural killer cells and white blood cells.
Ayurvedic baby massage is a technique that has been practiced in India for centuries. It focuses on the use of gentle, rhythmic strokes to massage the baby’s body, using herbal oils and ointments. The massage helps to improve circulation, relax the muscles, promote restful sleep, reduce stress, and encourage healthy growth.
1. Start with applying oil or ointment to the baby’s body. Use circular motions around the arms and legs.
2. Massage the chest and abdominal area using counterclockwise motions.
3. Massage the head and neck gently, letting your hands follow the contours of the baby’s face.
4. Using the same oil, rub it between the fingers and toes.
5. Massage the feet and ankles.
6. Move up the baby’s back, using light strokes along the spine.
7. Massage the scalp with your thumbs, again using small circles.
8. Finish the massage by lightly stroking the baby all over.
Use ADA gentle baby oil for baby massage for best results slightly warm the oil before using. Perform a patch test before using