Baby Massage
To massage a baby is an important ritual in infant care especially in the East. In diverse cultures worldwide, baby massaging has been a practice done usually by the mother or even a care taker. When the mother gives a loving baby oil massage to her baby with her own hands, it is the most satisfying nurturing experience which creates a special bond between the two.
An infant massage has a number of health benefits. It is an enriching sensual experience conveyed via a soothing voice, comforting touch, familiar scent and eye contact. Baby massages improve digestion, relieve colic, ease tension, regulate breathing and spur growth. Research studies have shown that baby infant massage is directly proportional and vital to physical and neurological development. Massaged babies show better growth patterns; both physical growth (weight gain) and mental development with superior motor skills. Massages are psychologically beneficial to both the baby and its parents and help to develop a more lasting relationship. Studies done on orphaned kids show that they stop growing despite the release of growth hormone due to the absence of frequent loving touch stimuli.
In the United States, Eskimos, the natives of Alaska have a rich history of baby massage treatment. In Fiji, mothers massaged their babies with coconut oil right after a bath. In East Africa and Nigeria, infants were massaged between 1 to 12 months. Maoris, the natives of New Zealand are traditionally known to massage their babies. In India, baby massages are done between 1 and 6 months and often extended up to a year. Newborn baby massages are quite common too.
Thus, baby massage is a simple and beautiful ancient art used to express love and establish a deep emotional bond baby-parent bond. The art of infant massage has been passed down from generations especially from a mother to her daughter and still practiced in Eastern countries as a part of normal child care.
The key benefits of baby massage to the infant are:
- Stimulation
- Relaxation
- Relief
- Interaction
The key benefits of baby massage to the mother are:
- Bonding
- Recognition
- Entertainment
- Stress Relief
