Massage therapy is usually thought of as a treatment that adults enjoy. Infant massage has been used frequently in other parts of the world. According to Vanderbilt University, infant massage has only just begun to be used in the United States. However, it is quickly being seen as very beneficial for both the infant and the parents. There are several distinct benefits that massage of infants can offer to babies and the caregivers as well.
Bonding
Massage can be a time for bonding between parents and child. According to the University of Texas Health Science Center, there is absolutely no replacement for a parent's loving touch. It is through the act of touch that a baby learns about love, comfort and feeling safe. Also, parents can improve the communication level and begin to understand their babies in a whole new way when doing massage therapy. In addition, mothers who are experiencing some post partum depression may also be helped. According to Vanderbilt University, depressed moms become more aware of their infant's wants and needs. They also find that they can soothe the baby easier than before using massage therapy. Therefore, massage therapy has many benefits for both parent and child.
Stress Reduction
According to Vanderbilt University, massage therapy for infants has been found to reduce the stress of infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). These babies are usually very ill and require a lot of medical intervention. The touch that they receive during this time is known as negative touch and sometimes involves pain. This can cause a lot of excess stress on an already ill infant. As a result, the infants learn that human touch is not a positive experience. To help retrain the baby, positive touch needs to be employed and this can be done through massage therapy. To remedy the problem of negative touch, Vanderbilt University has begun using the infant massage on its tiny patients and this is proving to be very positive. Vanderbilt University reports that infants who are given massage therapy are sleeping deeper and longer.
Physical Benefits
Disabled, handicapped or premature children are helped a great deal by infant massage. According to Vanderbilt University, infant massage helps to stimulate breathing, blood circulation, digestion and bowel movements. The baby becomes more relaxed when infant massage has been used and is also useful in helping to heal sick infants. According to the Vanderbilt University, premature infants with cerebral palsy have been found to develop increased motor activity. In addition, low birth weight babies have been shown to gain weight when they are given infant massage.
