Touch between parent and child is essential for establishing emotional bonds, and massaging an infant can do even more. Massage can play an important role in both the physical and emotional development of a child, especially with children who have developmental issues such as ones who are born prematurely.
History
Infant massage has been practiced historically in Africa, Asia and South America. The person generally credited with introducing infant massage to Europe and the United States is Vimala McClure who worked in an orphanage in India in the early 1970s. There she noticed first-hand the effects that daily massage had on the well-being of the children. Gradually, the practice has gained popularity and has generated many research studies.
Brain Development
A 2008 study by Andrea Guzzetta published in "The Journal of Neuroscience" found that infant massage accelerates brain development. Although development of visual function was accelerated in particular, changes in cerebral electric activity were found elsewhere in the brain as well. The level of IGF-1, a protein hormone that promotes growth, in the blood was also elevated.
Physical Development
Several studies, including a 1994 study by MIT's Tiffany Field in "The Journal of Perinatal Education," on the effects of infant massage have shown that the infants gained anywhere from 21 to 47 percent more weight per day than the control group. Weight gain in infants is generally a marker for better health and stronger immune systems. The infants also scored higher on the Brazelton scale, which is used to determine a baby's abilities across several developmental areas. A high score is indicative of more successful development.
Massage vs Touch
A 2006 study by Tiffany Field published in "Infant Behavior and Development" showed that moderate pressure yielded greater results than light pressure. In other words, actual massage versus touching or caressing makes a difference. Those infants who were massaged with moderate pressure gained more weight that those who were massaged with lighter pressure.
Instruction
There are several books and DVDs available that give instruction on how to massage your infant. You may also be able to get training from a professional certified to teach infant massage. If you do not know of any classes near you, a local massage school may be able to point you in the right direction. You can also contact the International Association of Infant Massage.
