Baby Massage
References:
Loving Hands by Frederick Leboyer
Touching by Ashley Montague
Room must be warm.
Baby should be naked, mother should sit on floor, can put towel over legs or under your legs and baby on top of your outstretched legs.
Baby may cry a little at first and then settle down.
Use warm oil (any vegetable oil is good or olive oil, any edible oil).
Chest
Begin both hands together over breastbone, move outward gently and slowly, follow the lines of the baby's ribs.
Then move hands opposite to each other from flank to shoulder, first one hand and then the other.
Move slowly and rhythmically, don't accelerate.
Arms
Turn baby on his side.
One of your hands holds wrist, other begins at shoulder and slides down arm to wrist, your hand forming a ring around baby's arm.
Both hands move together, gently wringing down arm.
Work wrists in same gentle wringing motion.
Turn baby to other side and do other arm in same way.
Hands
For palm, both hands work on one hand massaging heel of baby's hand toward fingers.
For fingers, unfold fingers and with your fingers work to tips of baby's fingers.
Abdomen
Have baby lying on his back.
From chest down, one hand after another using flat hand.
Hold legs upward with one hand and massage gently with forearm.
Legs
Baby is still on his back.
One hand holds baby's thigh, other hand moves upward forming ring as with arms.
Both hands move upward in gentle wringing motion.
For ankles, use same wringing motion as on wrists.
Feet
Use your finger tips, begin at heel working toward toes.
Then use palm of one hand moving in same direction.
Back
Most important area, tension tends to build up along spine.
Across back, both hands alternate, beginning at base of neck and moving toward buttocks, one hand after the other across back from one shoulder to the opposite buttock.
Down, along back, one hand down spine, other supporting buttocks.
The more slowly you massage, the deeper the sensation.
One hand grasps baby's feet, delicately extending the legs, while the other hand moves from baby's head to feet.
Face
For forehead, using fingertips from the middle of forehead to the temples.
For the bridge of nose, thumbs upward along the nose to the forehead, then lightly touch closed eyelids, moving thumbs downward and slightly sideways to corners of mouth and gently stretch out mouth.
Notes
Leboyer suggests that the massage be followed by a warm bath.
Special techniques for relaxing bath are described in his book.
In order to be effective in massage, you must be relaxed. Choose a time of day when you can be at ease.
Never apply pressure except as a gentle firm touch.
When to massage? Daily, ten to twenty minutes, preferable twice a day. Suggested times are morning if you are free and evening before bed.
Age
Proper massage as described in Leboyer's book is most effective from about one month to about three to six months, or when the baby can roll and twist his own back.
Before one month, any massage should be gentle stroking.
Do not be surprised if your baby refuses to hold still for a full massage once he has learned to roll over or crawl.
After six months, parts of the massage technique can be used effectively to calm an upset child or to promote sleep. The back massage and legs seem to work well. Each child is different so you might try massage on all body parts until you find one that works best for you and your child.
Credits: Adoption Network Law Center
