Baby Massage Instruction

My last article discussed some of the many benefits of baby massage and how practitioners could use it to improve functional skills in babies, educate parents, and enhance our overall practice. In this article I provide an overview of some baby massage strokes.  I would like to reiterate the importance of demonstrating the massage technique for parents and caregivers as opposed to performing the massage.  The benefits of bonding and relaxing the caregiver along with the baby are only reaped when the massage is performed by the caregiver. Remember the occupational therapy mantra: Give a person a fish and they eat for a day, teach a person to fish and they eat for a lifetime. This is so true in the case of baby massage.

Getting Started

To begin the massage, simply review some of the benefits with the caregiver. Make sure they have clean hands and a warm blanket to wrap the baby in.

The baby should be wearing only a diaper. The baby should be either on the caregiver’s lap or lying in front of the caregiver on the sofa, bed or floor. Show respect by making eye contact and asking the baby if he is ready for his massage. You can use a little bit of baby lotion, but I do not recommend oil. Each of the strokes should be repeated about 4-5 times.

Opening Stretch

Instruct caregiver to slide their hands under the baby’s hips.  Make a motion as if telling someone to “come here”, rolling fingers up toward the baby’s hips, lifting his hips about two inches. This opens the lower back and pelvis.

Leg Strokes

Remove one of the baby’s legs from the blanket.  Hold baby’s foot by wrapping index finger around his ankle while pressing thumb into the sole of his foot. This uses a little bit of reflexology to calm him. Use the entire hand to make a circle around the baby’s upper leg. Use a gentle back and forth wringing motion to massage from upper leg toward ankle. Repeat this on other leg.

Watch this video to see examples of these strokes:

Abdominal Reflex Stroke

This stroke triggers a reflex to move the bowels and it is very effective. Perform this stroke on the baby’s bare belly. Use the tip of the index finger to make a very light, ticklish, spiraling motion from the belly button to the outer edges of the belly. Move very quickly in a clockwise direction.

I Love You Stroke

This stroke also moves the bowels by tracing the large intestine in the shape of the letters I, L and U.  Gently press two fingers into the baby’s belly just to the right of the belly button and draw a capital I top to bottom, and then drag fingers across top of belly button, then down the side to make a sideways L.  Finally, lift the hand and start on the bottom left side of the belly button and draw an upside down U up and over the belly button.

Chest Strokes

Place two hands on baby’s chest, then stroke down from shoulders toward hips with one hand, then the other. The chest is highly sensitive. If the baby pulls away or arches her back, slow down or lighten the pressure.

Arm Strokes

Remove one arm from the blanket. Hold the baby’s palm with one hand while using the other hand to stroke from shoulder toward wrist with the same gentle wringing motion used on the legs, while rocking hand back and forth. Repeat on the other arm.

Now, baby can be gently rolled onto their belly.

Back strokes

Place both hands on baby’s back and stroke from shoulders to buttocks with one hand, then the other. Repeat several times. Next, with two fingers, make tiny circles beside baby’s spine from neck to tailbone. Repeat on the other side of her spine.

Perform these strokes several times to take advantage of tummy time.

Gently roll baby onto back.

Face and Head Strokes

Do not use any lotion on the baby’s face or head. Stroke from forehead, down cheek to chin, on one side then the other.  Next, use index finger to stroke from the bridge of the baby’s nose, under her eye and up around her ear. Repeat several times on both sides of her face. Next make tiny circles all over baby’s scalp with fingertips, being careful of fontanels. Lastly use the tip of the finger to make clockwise circles right on baby’s lips. This will most likely elicit a tongue thrust and the baby will want to eat after the massage.

For some gentle baby stretches to enhance the massage and keep baby’s joints and muscles flexible and symmetrical, watch this video clip:

While this is a comprehensive overview of newborn massage, there are many more strokes that can be added for older babies. What strokes or techniques have you found to be most beneficial in your practice?

Aimee Ketchum is a pediatric occupational therapist, licensed baby massage instructor, yoga instructor, and mom. She is also the founder of Aimee’s Babies, LLC, a baby and child development company. Please visit Aimee’s website www.aimeesbabies.com where you can find baby massage and developmental exercise DVDs, downloadable videos and apps. Aimee lives with her husband and two daughters in Lititz, Pennsylvania. You can email her at aimeek@ptd.net, She’d love to hear from you!

The post Baby Massage: Essential Tool for Practitioners – Part II appeared first on Early Intervention Strategies for Success.

“Massaging your baby is a very special way to let them know they are safe, loved and understood. A daily massage lays the foundation for a lifetime of self esteem for your baby and good communication between the two of you.”

-Vilma McClure Founder, The International Association of Infant Massage Instructors.

The first communication a baby receives is through his skin. Baby massage is one of the most nurturing things a parent can do for her baby and the results will benefit both the caregiver and child for years to come. Skin to skin contact is often taken for granted, but yet it is such a simple and powerful way of bonding with baby, and creates a foundation for trust.

Benefits of Baby Massage

As a certified “Baby’s First Massage” therapist, a pediatric occupational therapist and a mom, I have discovered first-hand the benefits of baby massage to be invaluable. In just ten minutes a day, baby massage improves blood flow, strengthens immunity and develops bonding with the caregiver. Massage helps to relieve colic; it relaxes the baby, and enables deeper, more restful sleep. Studies show that premature babies who are massaged have greater weight gain and less post-natal complications than babies who are not massaged. “Baby’s First Massage” is designed so that all of the strokes are done from head to toe. This is important because that is the same direction that the neurons are myelinating. As a result, massage helps the neurological system to develop. How powerful is that?! By offering consistent loving, soothing touch, we are helping our babies reach important developmental milestones! Additionally, we are instilling in our children a whole host of positive things, including: body awareness, motor skills, balance, and sensory processing.

Using Baby Massage in Early Intervention

Baby massage is an essential component for practitioners to add to our repertoire because it is so versatile. The benefits are significant for babies who are delayed, as well as for those who are developing typically. If you are a practitioner, and you haven’t already added massage to your therapeutic strategy, it is time to give it a try. I have found the best way to help a baby is through the parent or caregiver. When practitioners can empower parents with the beautiful art of baby massage, the baby will benefit from it on a daily basis. Parents will love this intimate time with their little one!

Baby Massage is So Simple

All you need is two clean hands, a warm blanket and a baby. Lotion is optional. I prefer to use lotion over oils and I always recommend a lotion that has been used on the baby before so you know it won’t irritate the baby’s skin. Practitioners, if you are demonstrating baby massage for a family, allow the parent to actually do the strokes while you talk her through it. That way the parent learns the strokes by actually performing them on her baby, and she also senses how the baby is responding and can adjust accordingly.

As I continue writing in this series, I will explain some of the strokes in detail. If you are interested in beginning baby massage in the meantime, start with some gentle, light pressure strokes right on the baby’s skin, moving from hip to ankle, neck to waist and shoulder to wrist, always in the head-to-toe direction. Pay close attention to the baby’s cues and respect the baby’s boundaries. Keep an eye out as most maternity hospitals offer classes on baby massage. Parents and practitioners can also learn massage through DVDs, apps, online videos or books.

If you have not yet integrated baby massage into your therapy practice, what information would be helpful to have as you consider it?

Aimee Ketchum is a pediatric occupational therapist, licensed baby massage instructor, yoga instructor, and mom. She is also the founder of Aimee’s Babies, LLC, a baby and child development company. Please visit Aimee’s website www.aimeesbabies.com where you can find baby massage and developmental exercise DVDs, downloadable videos and apps. Aimee lives with her husband and two daughters in Lititz, Pennsylvania. You can email her at aimeek@ptd.net, She’d love to hear from you!

The post Baby Massage: Essential Tool for Practitioners – Part I appeared first on Early Intervention Strategies for Success.