Strengthen your bond with baby through massage

Parents need not fear making mistakes when massaging their baby. There is no precise guide on how to massage; neither the duration nor a specific sequence is important. What matters is that both the baby and the massaging parent feel comfortable.

Every baby is unique and has its own preferences and dislikes. Parents should always take these into account. If the baby does not like the massage on a particular part of the body, parents can simply skip it and focus on the body parts where the baby enjoys the touch. By being considerate of these preferences, parents learn to know their children even better and signal that the child's needs are respected.

A newborn’s skin is very sensitive. It connects the interior world of the young child with the outside world. After birth, babies are particularly sensitive to external stimuli, all of which are new and unfamiliar. Babies perceive touch, temperature and different materials intensively through their skin. Massage embraces and protects them while reinforcing their sense of physical self-awareness. Gentle touch stimulates their breathing and heart function, and helps to relieve trapped gas and wind. Massage as a ritual can enhance daily and evening routines and help children to settle down.

Perceiving your baby’s signals and reacting accordingly fosters communication and sensitivity. This has a positive influence on the developing parent-child bond. When experiencing positive emotions, for instance through skin-to-skin contact, massages or breastfeeding, the body releases oxytocin. This so-called bonding hormone creates a sense of emotional attachment between parents and child.

Parents shouldn’t be afraid to do the wrong thing while massaging their baby. There’s no need to follow precise instructions. What’s important isn’t the exact duration or sequence of movements, but that the baby and the person giving the massage both feel comfortable. Gentle massage movements can easily be integrated into your baby’s daily care regimen, for instance when changing nappies. It’s best to warm the oil in the palm of your hands before each massage movement. Warm, intentional touches strengthen bonding and have positive effects on the baby.

Ritualised massage can help babies adjust to this process and anticipate what will happen – this gives them sense of safety and security. A massage using inward strokes (moving toward the middle of the body), is more stimulating and can be well integrated into the morning care routine. A massage with outward strokes has a more relaxing effect, and can be used as a gradual close to the day. The ideal time for a massage should be determined by the baby’s signals: if the baby already seems tired, it’s not a good idea to launch into a stimulating massage.

With these tips from Weleda midwives, parents can give their children a sense of security and easily integrate the baby massage into their daily routine:

• Babies can be massaged from birth onwards.
• During the first year of life, babies should only be fully undressed if in a very warm environment (around 24 degrees Celsius). Otherwise, only expose the particular area that is being massaged. Areas of the body that have already been massaged can be covered with a cloth nappy.
• Avoid massages immediately after meals if your baby tends to spit up.
• In the first days after birth, gentle stroking movements are suitable; after a few days you can develop this into a proper massage.
• To impart a sense of security, rest one hand on your baby while the other hand performs the massage movements.
• Children often find it pleasant if slow, rhythmic movements are performed.
• Babies don’t need mobiles or other play things that distract them during the massage. It’s best to massage your baby in a calm, quiet room with soft lighting.
• Towels placed under baby’s head and knees support the natural contours of the body; fostering comfort and a sense of security. A rolled towel can be placed around the child in a semicircle to form a protective barrier or nest.
• Some children like a quiet massage, others enjoy rhythmic accompaniment through songs or humming.
• The massage should last as long as you and your child feel comfortable.

The mother’s organs, especially the heartbeat, provide warmth and rhythm through their sounds and create the unborn child’s acoustic environment. After birth, this sense of rhythm can be continued in the daily routine. Establishing certain baby care rituals can help your child anticipate and adjust to daily activities. Baby massage is one such ritual that can support this sense of rhythm.

A newborn’s skin is not yet fully developed. It takes a while for the skin’s acid mantle and the sebaceous and sweat glands to adjust to their function outside of the womb. Unlike synthetic oils, pure plant oils have a similar structure to human skin. A natural plant oil such as Calendula Baby Oil (Fragrance Free) is ideal for baby massage. With its extract of calendula blossoms, it gently cares for and protects sensitive skin. This enables the skin to gradually develop its function as a protective layer. Children with particularly sensitive skin prone to irritation can also be massaged with a gentle lotion, such as Weleda White Mallow Body Lotion.