It’s no secret—newborn babies love their parents’ touch. To a baby, there’s simply nothing better than snuggling, being held during feedings, and sleeping in their mom or dad’s arms.
But did you know there’s another, even more purposeful way you can connect with your baby through loving touch? Infant massage is a wonderful way to bond with your baby while also supporting their development. Here’s what to know about the benefits of infant massage, and some techniques to help you learn how to massage your baby.
Why Is Infant Massage Important?
Infant massage has been linked to a number of benefits for both babies and their parents. Some of the main benefits include: .
Bonding: Infant massage is shown to help increase attachment between baby and parents, and can even benefit mamas experiencing postpartum depression or anxiety. The reason? During these sweet bonding moments, the release of oxytocin (also known as the love hormone) can increase happy feelings.
Relaxation: Infant massage helps to calm, soothe, and decrease the level of stress hormones in babies. This can be especially useful if you give your little one a massage as part of your nighttime routine. Some studies even show that 15 minutes of infant massage before bedtime can help your baby sleep deeper and more soundly.
Stimulation: Infant massage stimulates babies’ left and right brain functions and encourages muscle development and tone.
Regulation: Infant massage can help babies regulate their circulation, digestion, respiration, and oxygen flow.
When Should I Start Infant Massage with My Baby?
It’s really never too early—or too late—to start practicing infant massage with your little one. Your baby’s sense of touch is one of the most developed senses they have upon birth, so they can reap the benefits quickly. Infant massage is most rewarding when you and baby have a consistent routine. The more you can do baby massage, the more it benefits both of you.
How Do I Give My Newborn a Massage?
Get set up:
Infant massage is best done in a warm room, during a time when you and your baby are both feeling relaxed. Place baby on a soft, safe surface with few distractions—picture a room where you’d like to get a massage. It’s also helpful to remove any jewelry that could scratch or irritate baby’s skin.
Try different massage strokes:
Once your little one is undressed down to their diaper, here are a few simple massages to try, courtesy of our Holistic Therapy & Support Services at Women and Babies Hospital.
These techniques can be done immediately, before baby’s umbilical cord stump falls off:
- “I Love You” — Holding your pointer and middle finger together, gently press the pads of your fingers down the left side of baby’s belly. Start at the bottom of baby’s rib cage, and move the whole way down to baby’s left leg crease (like the letter “I”). Then, starting on the left side of your little one’s belly, drag your fingers across to the right and down, like an upside down “L.” Lastly, starting at baby’s right leg crease, drag your fingers in the shape of an upside-down “U” over their belly button and all the way to the left leg crease.
- “Milking the Leg" — Holding one of baby’s feet in your hand, use your other hand to gently “milk” the leg from their thigh down to their heel. Then reverse and “milk” baby’s leg in the other direction, from heel up to their thigh. You can also hold baby’s leg under their knee, and gently press it up towards their tummy to help them move and release any trapped gas.
- “Open Book” — Using the flat part of your fingers, start at the middle of baby’s forehead and stroke out to the sides of their head, as if you’re flattening the pages of a book. Then gently move your hands down along the sides of their face. Try not to cover your little one’s eyes or nose with your hands so that you can keep eye contact (and maybe catch a smile!)
These techniques can be done after baby’s umbilical cord stump falls off:
- “Sun and Moon” — Draw your right hand around your baby’s belly in a full circle clockwise. Let your left hand follow, drawing a partial clockwise circle.
- “Water Wheel” — Place one hand under baby’s rib cage with your pinky side of the hand down, and your palm facing baby’s feet. Gently scoop your hand down baby’s belly, stopping above the pelvis. Repeat this motion with your other hand, and continue alternating your hands in a fluid motion.
Other Infant Massage Tips and Tricks
While giving your little one their massage, do your best to stay focused on, and connected to your baby. Smile at your baby, make eye contact, and talk and sing to them in a quiet voice. If you’re lucky, baby may talk and sing back!
Use light, connecting strokes for your baby’s massage, and take care not to apply too much pressure. Aim for medium pressure—not so much that it’s uncomfortable, or so light that it tickles. As your baby grows, you can increase the pressure. Do each of the massage strokes above between 3-5 times before moving onto the next. Be gentle and patient, as your massage client might be a wiggle worm at times.
If your baby seems unhappy or like they’re not enjoying the massage, it’s no problem mama. There’s no harm in taking a break, and trying again when they’re in a more relaxed mood. Enjoy this special bonding time with baby.