Infant massage is a gentle form of relaxation massage that is performed on children under 1 year of age. It includes massaging the legs, arms, chest, back, neck, head and abdominal area. Care is taken to use only hypoallergenic, non-scented massage lotions that are also nontoxic since babies are known to occasionally put their hands and toes in their mouths. Infant massage can help calm fussy babies, which can help them focus on breastfeeding, nursing longer and more effectively, which leads to weight normalization and improved nutrition.
Infant Massage Basics
The primary guiding principle for massage is intent--the results you want to get from the massage. For infants, common goals include relaxation, body awareness and integration, improved circulation and decreased muscle tension. The Infant Massage USA organization in Springfield, Virginia, says that the basics of infant massage were derived from Swedish massage, reflexology and yoga. Lotion or oil is used to cause the provider's hands to glide smoothly and comfortably along the infant's skin. Infant massage sessions are usually shorter than adult massage, lasting only 15 to 20 minutes.
Helping Infants Relax
There are several reasons why an infant might have difficulty with breast feeding. Massage can help with several of these potential problems. Some infants are highly irritable and unable to settle enough to initiate or continue breast feeding for adequate periods of time. Studies conducted by Dr. Tiffany Field of Miami University's Touch Research Institute have shown that massage can decrease the stress hormone cortisol and increase serotonin and dopamine, chemicals associated with relaxation.
Other Benefits
Occasionally, an infant will have a physical problem with coordinating the muscular activity required for breast feeding, such as torticollis, which limits the infant's ability to turn his head, or problems with the muscles in the mouth, tongue or throat area that make sucking and swallowing difficult. Infant massage is extremely valuable as a nonpharmaceutical intervention that can help relax and stretch these muscles to enable the infant to nurse.
On rare occasions, an infant may have problems getting enough oxygen into his system to remain alert. Fields' research documented that infant massage improves the rate of oxygen saturation, which can help the child to remain alert enough to complete feeding activities.
Infant Massage Therapists
Therapists must seek additional training to their basic massage schooling to become certified infant massage therapists. Your obstetrician, birthing center or lactation consultant may be able to provide a referral to a qualified infant massage therapist in your area. You may also wish to contact the Infant Massage U.S.A. organization for a listing of therapists certified in your area.
Infant Massage at Home
While many infant massage therapists are willing to treat patients at their offices, some will also travel to hospital locations, provided that practitioner privileges have been established. However, most infant massage therapists are also trained to teach parents how to provide the needed massage for their own children at home. This permits the infant to receive several short massage sessions during the day, which could be coordinated with his breast-feeding schedule without the added stress of transportation to another environment.
