Tips for providing your Baby with a Healthy Massage
July 21, 2008
You must have heard all the grandmothers focusing on the importance of massage for the healthy development of a baby. Providing a healthy oil massage to babies is an ancient practice with tried and tested benefits. Massaging a baby has many physical and emotional benefits as it has been found that a good oil massage helps in increasing the blood circulation in the baby’s body along with leading to a healthy development of bones and body. Moreover, massage helps in soothing and calming a baby along with promoting motor activity and emotional security in a child. In addition, it also helps in stimulating the digestive system of a child thereby preventing them from acidity related problems. A good and a healthy massage can also help in strengthening the immune system of a baby thereby shielding him from various illnesses.
Before massaging a baby, one should have all the essential items like the baby oil, tissues, clean diapers and clothes. Moreover, one should make it a point to remove all rings and bangles from one’s hand as they can hurt the child’s tender and sensitive body. The oil can be massaged on the entire body for about 10-15 minutes. However, one should not apply massaging oil on baby’s face and one should also avoid the use of aromatherapy oils which are meant for adults. While massaging your baby, ensure that your hands are warm and the pressure which one applies to the baby should be light but firm. To produce an effective massage, make use of light circular movements of your finger on the baby’s chest and stomach. Similarly, one should use downward movements on the arms and legs of the child along with using upward movements on his back. One should not put too much pressure on the child’s body, especially near the spine area as the child’s body is fragile and can be easily damaged. Moreover, one should avoid massaging the baby before or after feeds and one should always make it a point to wrap one’s baby in a clean and warm towel after every massage.
A healthy oil massage of the baby can help in keeping him healthy and fit along with promoting his physical and emotional health.






























