Why Parents Should Consider Infant or Baby Massage

The idea of massage is becoming mainstream in today's society and is no longer limited to seedy parlors with the happy ending stigma. Even so, massage is generally considered a solitary adult activity to relieve stress. Find out what other cultures have known and celebrated for centuries. Begin infant massage sessions with your baby for a healthier world for both parent and child.

Infant massage has been celebrated by global cultures for centuries. Outside of the United States it is a common tool to promote better health and socialization in infants. Now, experts in the United States are combining the historical infant massage with a family-centered approach to fit our lifestyles and philosophies.

The Touch Research Institute of the University of Miami School of Medicine presented a study showing how premature babies gained weight quicker after infant massage than others. The study took 20 premature infants and gave them baby massage techniques for 15 minutes, three times a day. Those babies gained an almost 50 percent more weight each day. They were also more active and alert with faster brain, neurological, development than the test set of infants who did not receive massage techniques.

Even more fascinating, the overall hospital bills averaged $10,000 less than for the massaged infants than the test set. Even at eight months old the massage baby set was healthier and more mentally advanced in motor skills and neurological development than the non-massaged test set.

Further studies by the Touch Research Institute of the University of Miami School of Medicine show that babies who are massaged at least 15 minutes twice a week cry less and remain more active throughout their day than infants who only receive traditional rocking before bedtime.

These and other studies have shown that benefits on infant massage include:

Fewer stress hormones in the urine samples.

Quicker and healthier weight gain.

Better sociability with other babies and adults.

More even temperaments.

Relief of gas and colic symptoms.

Promotes deeper and healthier sleep patterns.

Promotes and regulates the infant's circulation.

Promotes healthier digestion of food (which is also because highly stressed babies have problems with digestion) and helps ease constipation (by relaxing those stressful muscles).

As a new parent, trust your instincts which lead you to touch and sooth your baby. The more you touch and caress your new infant's skin, the greater the bond will be between parent and child.

Infant massage is not limited to mothers and their children. Fathers and grandparents should be encouraged to participate in infant massage techniques as well. Psychologists have discovered that children who have strong physical bonds with their fathers as babies (through massage, cuddling and play) enjoy a higher rate of self-confidence and creativity throughout their lives.

Routine infant massage techniques give parents excellent opportunities to spend quality time with the new baby. You will learn so much about their developing personality and preferences as you learn his moods, notice developing muscle tones, and discover the areas where your baby is ticklish or most sensitive.

Parent benefits from infant massage can include:

A new confidence in caring for the new child.

Stronger communication between parent and infant which continues into childhood.

Ability for fathers to get nurture time usually reserved for breast feeding mothers.

Eases separation stress and anxiety from working adults who are away from their new baby during the day.

Relaxes the parent as well as the baby and gives the parent relief of stress.

Encourage stronger bond as parents learn about their baby's emotional and physical needs.

Learning to do infant massage correctly is important to avoid possibly hurting your baby. Remember, the deep muscle strokes usually associated with massage are not done on infants because their muscles and organs are still developing. Instead, you will use slow, smooth, lighter, gentle strokes with a firm but light pressure. Take an infant massage class to learn the basic strokes most beneficial to your baby, how to position your baby during the massage, how to read your baby's body language and learn what she likes ad does not like, and how to transition the massage techniques as your infant becomes a young child.

An infant massage class is also a great way to learn massage for children with special needs, who need that physical bond as well.