How To Do Infant Massage
Chiqui Brosas on Oct 08 2008 at 10:28 am | Filed under: Baby Care/ B101
Preparing for Massage
The Environment
Be aware of sounds, smells, colors in the room. Be selective about the things surrounding you and your baby
Make sure the room is warm
Choose a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed
Put a soft pad and comfortable blankets on the floor
Put the oil in a small bowl near you
Timing
Work the massage into your baby’s regular daily routine. For a newborn who does not have a routine yet, wait until he is neither too full nor hungry (20-30 min after nursing). Also make sure he is not too sleepy. You may want to focus on one or two body parts instead of completing the whole body massage if your baby seems tired or sleepy.
Preparing Yourself
Place the baby on the pad and blankets on the floor, sit in front of him and then take a few moments to relax and calm your self.
Sit comfortably on the floor with your legs crossed or straight in front of you with the baby in between.
Close your eyes and turn your attention inward, focusing on your breath
Take 5 abdominal breaths, expanding your belly as you inhale and allowing your belly to come toward your spine as you exhale.
Consciously release stress from your body as you exhale, and inhale calmness
Scan your body from head to toes – relax face and head, shoulders and neck, torso, arms and legs. Use each exhalation to relax.
Turn your attention to your mind, allowing it to clear. As thoughts come, acknowledge them and then allow them to drift away.
Open your eyes slowly and bring your entire focus to your baby.
Techniques
Slow strokes are calming
Fast strokes are stimulating
Downward strokes are calming
Upward strokes (toward the heart and up are stimulating)
The pressure of the hands should suit the weight and health of your baby. Take the lead from your baby. He will let you know when they’ve had enough.
Small fine strokes are stimulating
Firm strokes are calming
Painful pressure causes tensing
Go from top to bottom (although the face and head are last)
Always keep one hand on your baby
Order (repeat each stroke two or three times)
Chest – both hands start at the breastbone. Stroke from the breastbone over the ribs to the sides. You can then stroke downwards to the hip joints.
Diagonal –
a. Using your left hand, stroke from right shoulder to left and then diagonally down to right hip. Repeat using your right hand from left to right and down to the left hip.
b. Or place your left hand on the right thigh. Stroke diagonally upwards with your right hand from the right hip to the left shoulder and then down the left side to the left hip.
Arms – With the baby on his left side, hold his right hand in yours and use your left to massage neck and shoulder. As the arm relaxes, encourage him to straighten in and glide your left hand along his right arm. Hold his right and with your left now and glide your right hand along the inside of his right arm. You may also twist your hand/s around his arm.
Hands and wrists – massage is wrist with your fingertips and thumb. You may also massage the padding on the back of the hands. If our baby’s fist loosens, stroke each finger around and then towards the tips. NEVER force the hand open.
Abdomen – rub the abdomen with oil. If it is soft and yielding, it is possible to apply good pressure. If the abdomen is hard or tense, lessen pressure. It may take time for the tension to be released.
c. Glide downward with alternating hands from the pit of the stomach to the pubic bone.
d. Glide clockwise around belly button.
The legs – similar to the arms.
The foot – massage strongly with your thumb in a clockwise direction. Hold on to the top of the foot with your three middle fingers.
The toes – massage with your thumb on the underside.
The back – stroke down from neck to buttocks using long strokes. You may want to hold the buttocks with one hand to keep the baby steady. You may use your thumbs or the fingertips of the three middle fingers to loosen the muscles on either side of the spine. You may then stroke back and forth with your hands perpendicular to the spine, hands moving in opposite directions.
The face –
e. Stroke with thumbs over the forehead to behind the ears. NEVER apply pressure to the temples.
f. Follow the bone structure of the face, stroking from nose to cheeks.
g. Stroke the upper lip from middle to sides.
h. Stroke from chin to ears.
i. Massage and gently pull the ears with your thumb and index finger.
Baby Yoga (Do each twice or thrice. Encourage your baby to stretch arms and legs but NEVER force.)
Diagonal
Stretch out his right arm and left leg and then bring them towards the middle of the body. Do the other side.
Same Side
Stretch out right arm and leg and then bring them towards the middle of the body. Do the other side.
Open Arms
Open both arms wide and then cross them over the upper body.
Legs
These exercises help digestion and to release gas. You may try them before abdominal massage if you feel that your baby’s tummy is tense or hard.
Use your baby’s step reflex to gently exercise his legs. Place the palms of your hands on the soles of his feet. Push your palms away from you, flexing his knees towards his chest. Bring the palms of your hands toward you, allowing his legs to extend.
From here, you can progress (slowly – maybe not in the same massage session) to putting your thumbs in behind his knees and your fingers around his thighs. Gently push his knees towards his chest and then pull them away. His knees may not go far up into his chest. NEVER force the position. Simply lift his hips. Or return to the step reflex exercise.
When his knees are close to his chest you may try to rotate the legs and hips gently in a clockwise direction.
Lotus
Bring your baby’s feet up towards his upper body and cross his ankles, first right over left then left over right.
After Massage
Swaddle your baby and cuddle or rock for a few minutes. Gently wipe off excess oil with a warm wet cloth. He may then want to nurse or sleep.
This routine is taken primarily from the Leboyer Method and Itsy Bitsy Yoga.
References
Books
Woodfield, Julia. Healing Massage for Babies and Toddlers. UK: Cromwell Press, Trowbridge, 2004.
Garabedian, Helen. Itsy Bitsy Yoga. New York: Simon and Schuster. 2004.
Websites
www.lovingtouch.com
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