Massage Montage

Infant massage is one of the lesser known forms of massage and yet is can be one of the most beneficial. Massage in and of itself is a wonderful practice that helps adults and babies alike. Giving a baby a massage takes the practice of massage to a higher level because it teaches body awareness at such a young age. In this post you will learn the specific benefits that massaging infants offers the baby as well as the practitioner.

Benefits for the Infants:

There are several benefits for your infant when consistently receiving a massage. An infants neurological functions improve while being massaged. This improvement is do to the systematic stimulation of your baby’s nerves and muscular systems. This stimulation also assists in your infant’s post-natal muscular development. Massaging your baby will increase your babies range of motion. Infant massage has gentle stretches that when done consistently help babies become much more flexible. This increased flexibility is also a way to assist in the development of the muscular system.

Massage improves the digestive system of your baby. When massaging a baby there are several of stokes performed on the abdomen.  This eases any blockages of food or gas.  The stimulation also increase blood to the stomach area which aids in digestion. Babies that are massaged are able to put on weight easier because of the aid to their digestive system.

The birthing process is very traumatic to your baby.  Giving your baby massages will ease the trauma of the birth.  A massage will teach your baby soothing touch and through that soothing touch your baby can and will release the stress they experienced in birth.  Massaging your infant will also help your baby sleep more deeply and less fitfully because the stress and trauma have been massaged away.

Finally massaging your baby will increase the bond the two of you share.  Practitioners of infant massage often suggest that fathers learn to give babies a massage because of the depth of the bond that is created during a massage.  Mothers generally have an instinctual bond with their baby, massage allows that bond to be shared by all practitioners, creating a family bonding environment.

Thank you for taking a moment or two to read about the benefits of massaging your baby.  Take a minute to look at the post Benefits of Infant Massage Part Two before you read about massage preparation in order to fully understand what infant massage can do.

Questions are welcome, feel free to ask anything that comes to mind.