An Introduction to Infant Massage
By Chrisoulla Nicolaou

We all love to cuddle our babies and babies always respond
positively to touch. It's our way of communicating our love
for each other and is essential for sustaining the bonding
process.

I'm sure you need no excuse for focussing all your attention
on your baby, but here is something you may not have tried -
infant massage. It's a simple technique using rhythmic 
stroking that has untold benefits for both mother (or
father!) and baby.

Infant massage can:
- help to nurture bonding between parent and baby
- help baby to have a more restful sleep
- help to relieve the discomfort associated with gas and
  colic
- stimulate the senses
- encourage body awareness
- promote the strengthening of the digestive, respiratory
  and circulatory systems 
- increase parents confidence and sensitivity to baby's cues 
- relax and release tension.

It is important to choose the "right time" to give your baby
a massage. Choose a time of day when he is content. Make 
sure that you are calm and are not in a hurry - remember
your baby can sense your mood. Have everything you need
close at hand - towel, oil, clean nappy and clothes. The
room should be warm and lighting must be soft and 
comforting. You can have soothing music playing in the
background to help create a relaxing atmosphere.

The safest way to massage your baby is to sit on the floor
and have the baby on a towel on your lap, but if you find
this difficult you can put him on a large blanket on the
floor next to you.

To get started talk to your baby in a soothing voice and lie
him on his back so that he can see what you are doing. 
Then rub a suitable massage oil onto the palms of your
hands.

1. Begin with the legs - using both hands, one on each leg,
start from the ankles and with long slow strokes work up
to the tops of the legs. Then glide your hands down again
to the feet. Don't apply any pressure in the downward glide
as this goes against the flow of circulation. Repeat three
or four times.

2. Hold one foot in each hand - your fingers should be on 
top of the foot and your thumb on the sole. Move your thumb
in slow, gentle circles over the middle area of the sole of
the foot, first in one direction then the other. Repeat
three or four times.

3. From the feet stroke your hands up the legs to the 
abdomen and using the palm of one hand gently massage the
abdomen in a clockwise direction.

4. Move up to and circle around the shoulders. Glide gently
down the arms to the wrists and up to the shoulders again.
Repeat three or four times.

5. If your baby is still happy with his massage and has not
become restless turn him over with his head facing your
feet. If he is on your lap you will obviously only be able
to use one hand for massage.

6. Massage the back of the legs from ankles to bottom. 
Put your hands on top of the buttocks and glide them with 
one hand on either side of the spine (unless the baby is on
your lap - then use one hand and keep the other free to hold
him steady) up to the neck, out over the shoulders and back
down the sides of the body to the buttocks again. Repeat.

If at any time during the massage your baby shows signs of
not wanting you to carry on massaging him, stop. You can
always try again another day.

This can become part of your daily schedule. Many of the
strokes used in the massage routine are similar to washing
the arms, legs, chest and back so you could incorporate
this into your bathing routine.

This is a natural way to promote infant health; it's easy to
learn and is enjoyable to do. So what are you waiting for?

Communicate with your baby in the language most meaningful
to him and you will find it a deeply satisfying and 
rewarding experience for both of you.

For more information about infant massage visit:
http://www.iaim-us.com/ or http://www.infantmassage.com

Chrisoulla Nicolaou 
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