Infant massage can be a wonderful experience for both the infant and the parents. It can foster bonding and create a soothing, relaxing feeling for both the infant and parents. Infant massage requires a delicate touch. However, for all the benefits it offers, some contraindications make it unsafe in certain situations. Before attempting infant massage, it is important to understand what some of these contraindications are.
Sick or Delicate Babies
When infants are ill, it might not be okay to massage certain parts of the body. For example, according to Ohio State University, the stomach may be too sensitive for premature or delicate newborn babies. In premature babies, the internal organs may be unusually delicate, and bruising can occur if too much pressure is applied. In addition, babies' skeletons are also delicate, and bones can be easily broken if too much pressure is applied in the wrong spot. It is important to remember to use faint pressure when massaging an infant, especially if the infant is in poor health or is premature.
The Skull
The head is another part of the baby's anatomy that is extremely sensitive. In newborns, the skull has not grown completely together and has an open area known as the fontanelles. The smaller of the fontanelles that lies on the back part of the head closes just after birth. However, the larger one may remain unclosed for several months. Two of these soft spots are on the front and back parts of the baby's skull. According to "The Times," the fontanelles should be avoided when performing massage on the infant's head. If you massage the baby's head and apply pressure to these fontanelles, you can potentially injure the baby's brain. Again, using a mild touch is extremely important.
Intravenous Sites
Massaging a baby that has intravenous sites (IVs, feeding tubes and so on) should not be done. If you massage near these intravenous sites, you run the risk of accidentally pulling out the tubes, which will then have to be reinserted and can cause further pain and discomfort to the infant. A baby's skin is delicate, and if the tubes are pulled out, it can actually do damage to the skin or soft tissue around the site. This may also require additional medical treatment. In addition, according to the Medical University of South Carolina, you should never massage an infant that has bleeding, infections of the skin or skin irritations because you could make the problem worse.
