How to Massage Newborn Babies?
Newborn babies respond well to touch, but they probably won’t enjoy a proper massage. Massaging a new baby begins with caressing and fondling. After getting to know your baby in the early days you may then wish to use a few simple massage movements.
Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out in front of you. Place a soft towel on your lap. Place baby down on his front, his head facing your tummy and turned to one side.
Put a few drops of massage oil in the palms of your hands and rub them together. Place your hands on baby’s buttocks, fingers pointing away from you. With very light pressure, draw your hands towards you, bringing them gently up baby’s back to the shoulder. Using your middle and ring fingers only return down the sides of baby’s body to the buttocks. Repeat several times.
Lift baby up and draw your knees up towards you. Nestle baby on your thighs, supporting his head with your knees. Hold one of baby’s hands to stop him wriggling around; lightly rest the fingers of your other hand on baby’s tummy. Using the flat surface of your fingers, draw clockwise circles around his tummy, being as gentle as possible.
The best time and place for massage is before or after a morning or evening bath for babies. Toddlers and young children may be most receptive to massage when winding down for sleep. Make sure the time you choose is also good for you. A child will sense if you are tense, rushed, angry or irritable, and will feel uncomfortable about being massaged. He may even come to think of massage as a chore you feel obliged to perform – this can only be counter-productive.
A duvet on the floor becomes a mini-bed with pillows or cushions, a good base for massage. Place a pillow under your child’s head and cover his body with a towel or a soft blanket.
Remove any jewellery you have on and make sure that your nails are short and dean and that your hands are warm. Maintain contact with your child’s body at all times. Use very light pressure – featherweight for newborns, becoming more and more firm as your child matures. There are no hard-and-fast rules; it is best for massage to be rhythmic and free-flowing.