How to Massage Your Baby

Young children need massage to be able to develop healthy both physically and mentally. Baby massage will help strengthen the immune system, develop muscles and reduce stress. It’s also a great way to strengthen affection and create a relaxing space for parents and children. Knowing how as well as choosing the right time will help massage for children to achieve optimal results.

Table of Contents

Choose the right massage time

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Massage before sleeping. Massage is a way to make your baby relax and fall asleep easily. ^{[1] X Research Source} Performing regular massage at a certain time will create a good habit for babies before going to bed. Make massage part of your evening activities after bathing your baby and doing other routine household chores. Start massaging about half an hour before bedtime.

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Massage when the child is irritable. At any time of the day, massage can still be a great way to connect with your baby and help her feel less agitated. Babies often cry when they want attention, and massaging will make them feel your presence. Massage has a deep calming effect, so many parents see it as an effective tool to help quiet children while they are irritable.

Make sure that all of your baby’s needs are met prior to the massage so that the child feels completely comfortable during the massage. Babies may cry because they are hungry, tired, or for some other reason. If the baby is hungry, the baby will not like the massage very much.
Wait 45 minutes after a meal. Massaging right after eating can cause stomach upset. Babies are prone to spitting up, so any massage can affect the most recent meal. Therefore, make sure your baby has enough time to digest the food before you give the massage.

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Massage when the baby is comfortable. There will be times when your baby doesn’t like a massage, it’s important to know when to stop when your baby shows signs of discomfort. If your baby cries and shrinks, stop and give the massage another time, when he feels ready.

If your child feels pain during the massage, pay attention to gentle, moderate movements. If the massage movements are okay, you should probably take your baby to see a doctor to find out the cause.
If your baby enjoys a massage, he or she will relax and receptive to your touch.

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Massage for up to half an hour. When starting out, massage should only be about 5 minutes. This will help your baby get used to the feeling of being massaged and gradually enjoy it. You can extend the massage time a little more later until it’s been half an hour. This is the optimal amount of time you should spend massaging your baby in a day. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Massage offers a multitude of benefits. Massage helps stimulate growth, strengthens the immune system and helps keep the digestive system healthy. Massage also reduces stress and helps with emotional development in babies.
In addition, massage also helps to strengthen bonding. This is a great way to strengthen the bond between father and son.

Carrying out an effective massage

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Help children feel comfortable. Do the massage in a warm room with soft lighting. It is important to make sure the room temperature is not too cold as the baby will not be dressed during the massage. Spread a large towel or soft blanket on the floor or a safe surface and lay the baby on his or her back. You can also turn on some soft music if you want.

You can take off all of your baby’s clothes or put on a diaper to prevent the baby from bedwetting and then proceed with the massage. It’s up to you to choose what makes your child feel most comfortable.
If you want to give your baby a relaxing massage before going to sleep, you should massage right in the bedroom. This way you can easily put your baby in the crib if he falls asleep during the massage.

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Use an edible massage oil. If you want to use massage oil, choose olive oil, avocado oil or some other type of cooking oil because your child can put their hands in their mouth. Do not use mineral oils or other inedible oils as these are not digestible and can hurt a child’s stomach.

Do not use peanut oil, almond oil or oils made from foods that cause allergies.
If the oil is cold, pour a little into the palm of your hand and rub it together to warm it up before applying it to your child.

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Massage gently. Do not use strong force such as massaging adults to massage children. Use your fingers to gently massage the baby’s skin, do not press or massage too hard. The goal of massage is not to release spasticity or give a deep massage like with adults; Instead, you should massage gently in a circular motion to stimulate the baby’s skin.

You need to massage your baby’s back, belly, arms, legs, head and neck. Massage all parts of the baby’s body gently and carefully.
For older children, you can give a slightly stronger massage. Children over one year of age can be subjected to stronger massage forces than infants.

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Massage in a certain direction. Normally, you should massage in the direction from the heart. This will help the body relax and the baby will easily fall asleep. You can also massage in the opposite direction, ie from the outside to the heart, but remember that this type of massage has a stimulating effect. Massaging from the outside to the heart will make the baby more alert.

Choose the direction of the massage depending on when you are giving your baby a massage. If it’s playtime, stimulating massage can make your baby feel happier. Conversely, massaging in this way right before bedtime probably won’t have the effect you want.
Massaging from the heart is an effective way to calm a irritable child.

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Try a “milking” massage. This is an effective massage technique for the baby’s arms and legs. Use your index finger and thumb to gently hug your baby’s arm or leg in a circle or C shape, then pull it gently toward the baby’s hand, foot, or leg as if you were milking a cow. Do this a few times.

Do not grip too tightly and be careful not to twist the child’s arms and legs.
Continue until you have massaged all the joints.

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Try the “rolling” massage technique. Children may enjoy the feeling of their hands and feet being “rolled”. ^{[3] X Research Source} Continuously roll your hand over the child’s arm or leg gently as if you were kneading dough. Swing the arm/leg on the towel or soft blanket on which the baby is lying. Repeat with the other arm and leg.

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Do not tickle the child during the massage. Massage is synonymous with relaxation, while tickling can be uncomfortable for babies. Help your child perceive massage time as a time to relax and unwind. Babies need to know what a massage is like, while tickling can be shocking or overstimulating.

Focus on Certain Body Parts

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Massage the legs and feet. Loop your thumb and forefinger over your child’s thigh, then gently stroke down toward the foot and press the foot with your thumb. Bend and release each toe. Repeat with the other leg, then bend and extend the child’s knee at the same time. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

You can start with any part of the child’s body. Many people like to start with the shins and feet to help make the transition from play to rest easier. Babies can kick, twist and play as you massage their shins and feet.
Remember to be gentle; Do not pull the leg or apply excessive force when you bend the child’s knee. Do not try to bend your child’s legs if you see him straighten his legs in protest.

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Massage chest and abdomen. This part of the massage will help the baby relax the most. Start by massaging the chest, massage from the heart, gently rub the baby’s skin with your hands like you are opening the pages of a book. Then massage the baby’s belly in a clockwise direction, in the direction of the digestive tract. Continue doing this until the child feels relaxed.

Note that if you massage your baby during playtime, you can stimulate the baby by massaging from the chest into the heart instead of from the heart out.
Do not tickle the baby’s belly during the massage.

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Massage head and face. Use your fingers to rub the baby’s head in a circular motion. Gently run your fingers over the forehead and cheeks and draw a smile on the child’s lips. ^{[5] X Source of Study} Avoid the eye and nose area as massaging too close to these areas can make the child feel uncomfortable.

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Back massage. Gently turn the baby over to his or her stomach. Massage your baby’s back by gently rubbing from the center of the back outwards. Do not rub shoulders or massage like adults, but gently massage the child’s shoulders and back.

Advice

Remember to talk softly to your baby during the massage. Let them know what you are doing or simply tell them about your day.
Keep a diaper nearby in case your child wets the bed.
Note that the movements must be gentle but decisive. Movements that are too gentle can make the baby tickle, and if they are too strong, they can cause pain or discomfort.
Newborns will prefer to be held during the massage. Your baby can lie on your knees or on your feet in a sitting position with your legs folded on your stomach. You can sit cross-legged or sit cross-legged in a circle.

Warning

If your baby shows signs of disliking the massage, such as crying or rolling away from you, stop the massage and try again another day.

Things you need

Warm towels or blankets
Edible massage oil

Steps