Infant massage can help you connect with your baby in one of the most natural ways possible. Gentle touch enhances bonding, communication, relaxation, sleep, and physical development.
Before you get started, select a soft area for your baby. This could be on your bed or on some soft blankets on the floor. Make sure the room is warm, as your baby will be undressed at least down to the diaper. Try to make the lighting low--either using a low lamp or muted daylight. Bright lights can irritate your baby's eyes.
Rub a little oil onto your hands, but don't use baby oil. Baby oils are usually mineral-based oils that actually rob the skin of moisture and clog pores. Use a gentle, plant-based oil such as almond oil or sunflower oil. You may prefer an oil that is naturally scented or has been mixed especially for massage. Lavender massage oil is very soothing to babies.
Before giving an infant massage, make sure your baby has been fed and appears comfortable. You may eventually be able to use massage to calm a fussy baby, but as you are learning about infant massage it's best to do it at a time when your baby is content.
First, undress your baby to the diaper, or take off the diaper if you'd like. Use a light but confident touch as you massage your baby. While they don't need deep pressure, they do like long and firm strokes. The feet and legs are good places to begin. Rub the feet firmly and use a milking motion up the legs.
After the legs, move on to the belly. Using firm but gentle motions begin on the right side and massage from the hip-bone up to the belly button. Then massage from the same hip-bone and over and across the belly button. Finally begin at the hip-bone, move up, over, and across the belly button and back down to the left hip-bone. This is called an "I Love You" massage because the first stroke is an "I" shape, the second is an "L" shape, and the third is a "U" shape.
After you've massaged your baby's belly, gently massage the chest before moving on to the arms and hands. You can use the same "milking" motion on the arms, and gently rub the palms of your baby's hands.
Finally, you can go to the face, brushing gently all across tension points to help your baby relax. Finally, turn your baby over and massage the back with firm but gentle strokes. These are just the basics, but you may wish to learn more strokes to give a longer, even more relaxing, infant massage.
