Infant Massage Therapists Near Me

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FAQs:

What is an Infant Massage?

Infant massage is the process of rubbing an infant's muscles and stroking the infant in a manner specifically designed for them. Although there are professionally trained and certified infant massage therapists, the obvious first choice to massage the baby is the mother, father, grandparent, or guardian. Equally important are the people who care for children outside the home such as nurses in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) that work with premature babies and those who work with the disabled. The benefits derived from massage are applicable and advantageous for all of these groups.

What Ages Can You Massage an Infant?

The best time to start infant massage is within the first three months, as babies begin to develop important physical and intellectual abilities, including motor skills. The infant massage techniques will be very light and gentle. The goal is to get the baby comfortable and familiar with your touch.

How Much Pressure is Needed in an Infant Massage?

Worried you might hurt the baby with a heavy hand? You can always ask your pediatrician or a baby massage professional to show you the right amount of pressure to apply. Compared to adult massages, infant massages are extremely gentle. Infants are very delicate and sensitive, so the massage techniques are about very gentle touching, stroking, stretching, and loving. For massage pressure, I like for parents to imagine massaging a cotton ball.” Since a baby’s physical structure is fragile, a super-light massage is all that’s needed to be effective.

Should You Use Oils for an Infant Massage?

It’s perfectly fine to use a baby massage oil to help your fingers glide on the baby’s skin more easily. If you’re wondering: “Is olive oil good for baby massage?”, you’re in luck! It is believed that pure olive oil is actually the best oil for the job. There aren’t any additional ingredients, additives, or preservatives in it, so you don’t have to worry about sensitivity to allergens. It penetrates the skin and gets it moist. And if the baby sticks an oily fist in his mouth, he’s consuming something entirely edible! You can also use other simple food-grade oils such as grapeseed, sunflower, and safflower, as well as a hypoallergenic cream or baby oil. To minimize mess, purchase a small sprayer for dispensing the oil. You’ll want to avoid any heavily scented products for little ones, especially essential oils. Some have been shown to cause side effects in babies. Of course, use caution when rubbing baby’s face—you want to avoid getting oil in her eyes, nose, and mouth.

Is Massage Necessary for Infants?

With each gentle stroke, your baby will feel nurtured and loved, strengthening the bond between the two of you. Massages will also allow your baby to feel more relaxed, which may improve their sleep. Some research suggests baby massage might even promote healthy growth, although further research is needed.

When is the Best Time to Massage My Baby?

Try to pick a time when your baby is between feeds. Then she won't be too hungry or too full. It's also best not to start just before her nap. A good time to massage your baby is when she is awake, but settled. If your baby is quietly alert and interested in her environment, it means she'll be ready to interact with you. If your baby is sleeping and feeding often, you may wonder when this golden time for massage is going to come around! You'll get to know when your baby is most content to have a massage. You may like to make it part of your baby's bedtime routine, perhaps after a bath and before a bedtime feed. A massage before bedtime will help your baby to wind down after the stimulation of the day and become calm, ready for sleep.

What Happens If I Don't Massage My Baby?

Massaging your baby is an amazing way to strengthen the bond you have with your baby, and can help your baby be calm and relaxed. It is a time that is precious, wonderful, and full of love. If you don’t massage your baby you both may be missing out! Massage can literally help your baby thrive, as physical touch is critical to their sensory development.

How Many Times a Day We Can Massage a Baby?

Many mums choose to massage their babies every day. Some do it just before a bath, while others prefer it after a bath. Some families even choose to do it twice a day for the first three months. But there is no ideal number of times a baby should be massaged. How often you do it depends on the time you have, and how much your baby seems to enjoy a massage. If you are a working mum, you might find it difficult to massage your baby daily. Even if your baby gets a massage every now and then, she will still enjoy the benefits.

How Long Should I Massage My Baby?

This will change as your baby grows. Some babies love massages right from the start, so you can take your time for a full-body massage. This could take anywhere between 20 minutes to half an hour. If your baby doesn't like massages at first, keep them short. Once your baby starts crawling or walking, you might find that she doesn't want to lie still for that long. Then a five to 10-minute massage will have to do. Reading your baby's cues is the most important aspect of massage. Your baby will tell you when the massage needs to end and which strokes she likes or dislikes. If your baby starts to cry during the massage, she is telling you that she has had enough. If you plan on bathing her after her massage count that time in as well. You don’t want your baby to get too hungry or tired before her bath otherwise, it will be difficult to wash her.

When Should I Not Massage My Baby?

If your baby has a rash, do not apply any oil or cream to your baby's skin without first checking with her doctor. If you feel that the rash is caused by the oil or cream you have been using to massage your baby, stop using it and consult her doctor to get advice on which oils or creams will suit your baby best. Some experts say it is better not to massage your baby if she has a fever or is unwell. But others say that a gentle massage during a viral might help soothe body aches. If your baby has a fever or is unwell, take advice from your doctor before giving her a massage. Always take cues from your baby. During an illness, she might be fussy and prefer not to have a massage. On the other hand, if your touch eases her body aches, she might settle to sleep with your gentle strokes. If your baby’s fever is rising, she might feel cold. So you can just rub and stroke her over her clothes, without undressing her. On the other hand, if her fever is coming down, she might feel hot and prefer to remove a layer of clothing. Observe your baby and try to see what makes her most comfortable.

History of Infant Massage Therapy

Infant massage has been around for centuries. It jump-started in the U.S. in the late 1970s; the 1980s was a decade of slow but steady recognition, primarily by parents with “well babies” and the infant massage instructors teaching them; and the 1990s saw an expansion of infant massage into hospital-based inpatient and outpatient programs, as well as community programs servicing families of at-risk and/or special- needs children. Working with these populations clarified the need to create an individualized massage approach that would support each child’s unique sensory and nervous systems, thereby defining and birthing a new paradigm of infant massage.

This approach was assimilated into the well-baby population with the emerging realization that every child is unique, and will, therefore, benefit most from a massage approach carefully designed for his or her changing needs at a given moment. The key to this approach is teaching families to touch their babies deliberately and mindfully, and closely watching the infant for cues that tell whether the touch their baby is receiving is pleasurable, needs to be changed, or should stop altogether.

The growing popularity of infant massage paralleled an increase in research to study the effects of touch on infants, including its effect on premature babies; babies exposed to cocaine; children with autism; and even parents with postpartum depression.

How Touch and Infant Massage Can Enhance Development

Early development is influenced by touch and infant massage can support development in these five areas:

1. Communication skills – promotes emerging speech, direct eye gaze, listening, and turn to take

2. Motor skills – improves muscle tone and coordination, increases body awareness

3. Social skills – encourage infant and caregiver to engage one another

4. Self-help skills – stimulates oral motor musculature awareness, lip closure, and relaxation of tension needed for swallowing

5. Cognition – enhances overall awareness of self and body boundaries, cause and effect, and increases attention span

Types of Infant Massage

Baby massage, like a massage for adults, has many types that need to be given to the baby according to the needs and benefits of its treatment and health. Below are some types of baby massages that are performed on different parts of the baby’s body.

1. Baby Foot Massage

The baby’s legs are a good place to start the massage because they are less sensitive to other parts of the body. To do this, wrap your hands around one of his thighs and lower the ankle, lower the hands one after the other, and bring them gentle pressure. Repeat the same for the other leg. Massage of the legs of the baby does not end only on her thighs and includes massaging the area below the ankle, foot, and toes.

Hold a foot and massage it slowly down the ankle, and slowly rotate it several times in each direction. Then massage the child’s foot from wrists to toes, and repeat the same for the other leg. To start to massage the baby’s sole, use your thumb to massage the floor of each leg and massage with your circular motions. Massage both legs all over the floor in this form, and in the final step of foot massage, it’s time to massage your toes. To finish the foot massage, slip each baby’s thumb between her thumb and her forehead and gently pull until your fingers slip from the bottom of the baby’s finger. Do this for all 10 fingers.

2. Baby Hand Massage

Hand massage is a good way for your baby to feel safe and enjoy the touch. Massage of the hands, as well as massage, involves steps including massage of the hands (arm), palms, and fingers. To get started, hold one of your baby’s arms and gently pull it from your armpit to your wrists. Then, grab his hand and gently turn the wrist a few times in any direction. Repeat this move for another hand. So, massage your baby’s palm, with your thumbs down, and draw circular motions around the floor of each hand. At the last step of baby massage, gently swing your baby’s finger between your thumb and forefinger, and pull it out to slide your finger over your fingers. Do this for all your fingers.

3. Chest and Abdomen Massage

Chest massage with baby’s abdominal massages. Put the palms on your palm, put it on your shoulders, and place it on the child’s heart. Then open your hands and gently spread the palms of your chest and pull it down. Repeat this several times. Then place the palm of one hand over the child’s chest and gently pull it down from chest to thigh. Repeat this move several times. Massage of the baby’s abdomen helps in digestion and abdominal problems.

4. Waist and Back Baby Massage

The massage of the waist and back of the baby also has many benefits to the baby’s health and well-being. To do this, sit the baby on his stomach. Using your fingertips, draw small circles on the sides of your spine, from neck to hips. Repeat this move a few times to get dear to you.

Benefits of Baby Massage

Touchy-feely benefits aside, baby massage also brings about real physical advantages. Among them:

1. Reduced gas in colicky infants. An abdominal massage can aid digestion and help babies move the contents of the intestines along their journey through the colon.

2. Improved muscle tone and range. By moving and circulating the baby’s muscles, you’re preventing atrophy and helping her develop strength and motor skills.

3. Brain development. When you massage the baby, you’re increasing her awareness of the body’s position and movement. This allows the body to become more physically integrated.

5. Improved focus and eye contact. With bonding and regular massage, the baby gets to practice eye contact. What’s more, maintaining eye contact while massaging an overstimulated baby helps him stay present at the moment.

6. Enhanced neuromuscular connections. Infants have to learn about all their different body parts and how to control them. With infant massage, the baby becomes more aware of sensory connections and where she is in space. That, in turn, affects how she moves.

7. Healthier immune system. Believe it or not, baby massage can help cut down on colds. Massage increases our white blood cell count, thus improving our immune response. It also assists in lymphatic flow, which can help fight off infections.

8. Improved mood. There’s a good reason your little one is smiling after a baby massage: Endorphins—you know, those happy hormones—are released in response to therapeutic touch. At the same time, the stress hormone cortisol is reduced. The fight-or-flight response shuts off and the relaxation response is stimulated. A stressed infant who wasn’t gaining weight may begin to thrive and put on ounces and pounds.

9. Better sleep. Bedtime is a popular choice because massage is so relaxing. Over time, babies begin to anticipate scheduled activities, which can lead to an understanding that first comes bath, then story, then massage, then nursing/bottle, then bed.

How to Prepare for an Infant Massage

It is important to find a good room for a baby massage in your home where you and your baby will be comfortable and undisturbed. Make sure the room is warm (around 24 degrees C) with no draughts. Lay your baby down on a towel or folded sheet, perhaps with a changing mat underneath. You may prefer to keep your baby's vest on if it is a little cool. Or let her enjoy being completely naked for a change. As this is a special time for you and your baby, make sure there aren't any distractions in the room. If you have a pet, put it in another room, and turn off your mobile phone. You may even like to play some relaxing music, turned low enough so that your baby can hear your voice.

Have everything that you'll need to hand, including:

- massage oil or an emollient cream

- towels or muslin squares to mop up any accidents

- clothes to dress your baby afterward

- your usual nappy-changing kit

What Oils to Use and Not to Use During Infant Massage

Using oil or cream will make it easier for your hands to glide over your baby's skin and may be more relaxing for your baby. It's up to you whether you use a baby moisturizer or if your baby has dry skin or eczema, a medical emollient, vegetable oil, or baby mineral oil for massage. Vegetable oils that are high in linoleic acid, such as safflower oil, are kinder to your baby's skin than oils high in oleic acids, such as olive oil. Read our expert question on oils for baby massage to find out more about which oils are kindest. Whichever oil or cream you use, it's best to dab a little on your baby's skin first, just in case she has a reaction. Do this patch test the day before you intend to start massaging your baby.

However, there are some oils or creams that it's definitely best not to use. These are:

- Mustard oil, because it has a toxic effect on the skin barrier, causing irritation and potential damage to delicate baby skin.

- Unrefined peanut oil, because the proteins it contains may sensitize your baby to an allergic reaction to peanuts, or cause a reaction on your baby's skin. It's safest to avoid refined peanut oil, too. Although there's no evidence that it's likely to cause a problem, there is always the risk that it's been contaminated with unrefined peanut oil.

- Aqueous cream, because it contains a harsh detergent called sodium lauryl sulfate, which may irritate your baby's skin and damage the skin barrier.

If your baby has eczema, it is best to use her prescribed cream or emollient during the massage.

How to Massage Your Baby

For the first few times, you may just want to massage your baby's legs until she gets used to the sensation. It's a good place to begin because your baby is used to having her legs touched during nappy changes. Then try to follow a routine pattern, perhaps massaging your baby's legs before her arms, hands, and body. Your baby will appreciate a routine. She'll find it comforting to know what's coming next. To learn a massage routine, you could ask your health visitor whether there is a clinic or children's center near you that runs a baby massage course.

If you want to get started sooner, follow this routine:

- Warm a tiny squirt of oil or cream in your hands by rubbing it between your palms.

- Very gently rub it into your baby's skin, starting with her legs.

- Work your way up her legs, lightly squeezing her calves and thighs.

- For your baby's chest and tummy, gently place both hands flat against the center of her body. Spread your hands to the sides, as if flattening the pages of a book.

- With your hands still flat, use your fingertips to stroke outward in small circles.

- Keep going for as long as your baby seems to be enjoying it.

Reading your baby's cues is the most important aspect of massage. Your baby will tell you when the massage needs to end and which strokes she likes or dislikes. If your baby starts to cry during the massage, she is telling you that she has had enough.

Safety Tips When Performing Baby Massage

Babies are known for their oh-so-soft skin, but that delicately soft skin is extremely sensitive. With all of those nerve receptors, it’s possible to overstimulate a baby.

That being said, the benefits of infant massage greatly outweigh any drawbacks, and is very safe if you follow a few safety tips:

1. Avoid massage oil on the face: It’s too easy for it to drip into little eyes or mouths

2. Avoid massaging the top of the head: Baby’s soft spot is still closing

3. Avoid “deep” massages: They may be great for getting knots out of mama’s back, but little ones are not ready for the same intensity.

4. Keep the massage short and sweet: While adults may like a 1-hour massage, infants need only 5-10 minute intervals of this type of touch.

5. Always stop if the baby shows signs she’s had enough: Such as crying, squirming, or falling asleep

6. Avoid massage oils with harsh ingredients: Make sure whatever you use does not have artificial dyes, artificial perfumes, parabens, PEG, or EDTA.

7. Be careful picking baby up after a massage: Massage oil can affect your grip and/or make baby slippery!

Check with the baby’s pediatrician if the baby has any underlying conditions that may interfere with a massage. For instance, some micro preemie babies cannot be handled too much due to changes in the baby’s heart rate. Your healthcare provider can help decide what’s right for your baby.

Infant Massage Tips to Get You Started

Here are some tips to get you started with infant massage:

- Choose a quiet, warm place to sit and relax with your baby when they are not too hungry or tired. 

- Begin by being present and taking deep breaths to relax.

- Pay attention to your baby. Look into your baby’s eyes. Your baby will sense how you are feeling.

- Try to use a light, organic massage oil such as olive oil, grape seed oil, or avocado oil. Not too much, just enough to make your hands smooth.

- Talk to your baby! Tell your baby what you are doing when you are doing it in a soft, comforting voice. Ask your baby’s permission before touching or moving her.

- Start at your baby's feet and legs. Gently massage their legs and feet with long, calm movements. 

- From there, you can work your way up their body, being careful to avoid sensitive areas, like their belly button if their cord hasn't healed yet.

- Read your baby’s cues. Willingness cues might include smiling, cooing, or making eye contact. Unwillingness cues might include grimacing, hiccoughs, turning the head away, or arching of the back. When any of these unwillingness cues occur, stop and try again at a different time in the day.

- Make infant massage part of your daily routine. You can incorporate the massage during the morning to start the day or at night before bedtime to help soothe your baby to sleep. 

- Choose a time that you are not rushed and do your best to massage your baby around the same time every day.

How to Find a Massage Therapist

Like choosing other healthcare professionals, it's essential to be a conscious consumer when selecting a massage therapist. Ask your primary care provider or someone else you trust to recommend a reputable business or therapist.

Don't be afraid to ask a potential massage therapist questions such as:

- Are you licensed, certified, or registered?

- What are your training and experience?

- How many massage therapy sessions do you think I'll need?

- What's the cost, and is it covered by health insurance?

A skilled therapist has a vast toolbox of techniques that can be incorporated based on your needs, and he or she will respond and modify these techniques based on your feedback. Massage therapy is safe and effective for people of all ages. It's not only a feel-good way to indulge or pamper yourself. It's a powerful tool to help you take charge of your health and well-being, whether you have a specific health condition or are looking for a stress reliever.

Sources:

Health of Children

Cranial Therapy Centre

About Play

The Bump

Healthline

Baby Centre

Berry Best Baby

CH Richmond

Mama Natural

IRest

Mayo Clinic

 

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 (in the United States) immediately.