You may have thought that massaging your newborn or young child sounded like a nice idea, but not every parent knows how important it can be to healthy development. Massage is like a parent's loving touch, but amplified many times over. There are numerous benefits to the practice, according to the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM), a nonprofit organization founded in the 1980s to promote the theories and skills of parent-child bonding through infant massage.
Healthy Development
Infant massage contributes to your child's healthy development by stimulating his body, mind and spirit, according to IAIM. The circular massaging motion improves your child's blood circulation, stimulates his neurological development, improves immune function, and increases his alertness and awareness. "A five-minute massage enhances the performance of babies and children on tasks requiring attentiveness," says Tiffany Field, PhD, founder of the Touch Research Institute, according to an article on BabyZone.com. When you massage your baby's belly, it also regulates and aids his digestion, while relieving the pain and discomfort associated with gas, constipation and colic. "Massaging the chest may ease congestion. Gently stroking an infant's face can improve her ability to suck," adds Sheila Koty Globus on Parenthood.com, an online community created to support parents with up-to-date information and resources.
Relaxation
Just as you relax when you're given a massage, your baby will too. She probably needs it, because the world is a very exciting and stimulating place for a new little human. The bonus is, not only do you relieve stress in your baby, but the soothing motion of infant massage allows you to relax, too. Of course, a relaxed baby is likely to sleep better, which is why it's become popular for parents to make massage part of their babies' standard bedtime routines. However, some children become overly stimulated during a massage instead, so they should be massaged at another time of day, like in the morning or before a daily bath.
Bonding
Massaging your baby gives you "essential one-on-one time that will enhance your intimacy, understanding and ability to nurture," says IAIM. It also stimulates your release of oxytocin, known as "the nurturing hormone." These factors deepen the bonding between you and your baby, while improving communication by making you more sensitive to your baby's cues, and more confident in your ability to read them. It's a very empowering feeling to be able to understand and respond to the special needs of your baby.
