Page 24 - BabySocietyLV36

Baby Massage 101; What New Parents Need to Know
BY ELINA FURMAN, AUTHOR OF 101 BABY HACKS AND FOUNDER OF KAHLMI
Baby massage is a gentle, nurturing practice that promotes bonding between parents and their infants while offering numerous physical and emotional benefits. Through soothing touch, parents can help improve their baby’s sleep, digestion, and circulation, and so much more. Here are must-know tips for new moms and dads who want to incorporate baby massage to improve their little one’s health and wellness.
Q. Why do I need to massage my baby? I can’t possibly add another thing to my schedule! Baby massage is often viewed as a nice to have when, in reality, it’s a must-have. Not only does it help with your baby’s social, neurological, and emotional development, it will also help you cope with the many challenges of parenthood and develop a deeper bond with and understanding of your baby. And the great thing is, you don’t need to set aside hours or even 30 minutes each day to do it. You can sneak in a quick 5-minute massage into your daily routine anytime you’re with your baby, and they seem alert and happy, whether you’re giving them a bath, changing their diaper, playing with them on the floor, or even traveling or running errands. You just need to be consistent.
Q. My baby hates massage and squirms/cries every time I try!
Can you imagine someone not appreciating a good massage? As much as we would love for someone to massage us all day, every day, you have to remember that every baby is different. Some are more sensitive to touch and need time to acclimate. Massage can be stimulating for more sensitive babies. The great thing about babies is that the one thing you know for certain is that they will change, not only daily but hour to hour. As they go through different stages like teething and sleep regressions, their needs will change, and what they hated yesterday, they will love today. The key to massage is trying a little every day, trying different body parts and techniques. Pretty soon, they will get used to the routine and even look forward to it.
Q. How do I prepare for baby massage?
The key to a good massage is that the parent must center and calm themselves first. After all, the process of becoming a mother/father comes with a whole host of physical, emotional, and hormonal changes. Your baby feels your every emotion and heartache, even when they can’t see your tears or read your mind. They instinctively mirror us and understand everything we are feeling.
And don’t get me wrong. As a new parent, I was anything but calm. Every time I sat down to relax, my baby would start crying. Or, when I rocked my baby for hours and finally got him to drift off to sleep, he would, of course, startle and wake up the moment his head hit the breathable mattress. It’s easy to think in moments like that, your baby is just out to get you, but as we all know, your baby is not trying to manipulate you.
Maintaining your composure and calm during these times is no easy matter, so don’t blame yourself when you become agitated or disgruntled. Just take a few deep breaths and remember that being a baby is surprisingly hard work. They’ve spent months incubating in the soft, safe confines of a mother’s belly, and the world, with all its lights, sounds, and new sensory experiences, can be quite jarring.
Mastering the baby massage is fairly simple. All you need to do is take a few long, deep breaths and settle into your body. Imagine you are sitting down to meditate and ease into the experience much as you would for yoga.
Continue