Benefits
It says that infant massage may help ease babies’ tummy troubles and teething pains, calm him and soothe him to sleep, what’s more, it’s also a purposeful way to help you bond with your baby through loving touch.
When to Start
It’s really never too early or too late to start infant massage with your baby. Babies’ sense of touch is one of the most developed senses they have upon birth, so they can reap the benefits quickly.
How to do
Legs and Feet: Hold your baby’s heel in one
hand, start at the top of the thigh and slowly stroke down to the ankle with
the other hand, gently squeezing the leg as you go.
Face and Head: Fold your hands on his
forehead and push outward gently from the center, draw tiny circles on your
baby’s head with your fingertips. Then, use your thumb to draw a smile on your
baby’s face by stroking from one cheek to the other cheek.
Tummy: Draw clockwise an oval below your
baby’s belly button with your fingertips, next, move your fingertips from one
side to the other side of your baby’s belly as if you were drawing an “X”.
You can start these gentle massages the day you bring your baby home, and your baby will find out that a soothing body rub is very relaxing.