How The Benefits of Infant Massage Help Your Child
Sunday, November 23rd, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed
Baby massage is all the rage today. In fact, many hospitals and birthing centers have posters and brochures encouraging parents to massage their tiny infants. Life with a newborn, however, can be very overwhelming, and because of this, many parents do not take the time to participate in an infant massage routine. They do not realize that the benefits to infant massage are significant both for the parents and for the baby.
Infant massage has many benefits for your baby’s sleep cycle. What infant massage does is help to teach your baby a way that they can relax. As with all things, babies have to learn the art of relaxation. Babies who are massaged often tend to sleep better and more restfully than babies who are not massaged.
The practice of infant massage can have a positive physiological impact on the baby, too. The infant’s hormones are piqued by massage, causing the baby to gain a normal, healthy amount of weight. Massaged babies are also known to have better immunity capabilities and healthier development. In addition to these great benefits, massaged babies are also more aware of their surroundings and they feel less discomfort.
There are also psychological benefits to infant massage. Massage creates a bond between the parent and the baby that cannot be easily duplicated. Babies crave the touch of their parents, and the soothing movements of infant massage meet that psychological need. Psychologically, massaging a baby helps parents feel more confident in their skill with handling a baby. It also teaches the parents what their baby needs and what their different cues mean. Since massage helps sooth colicky, gassy babies, parents are more centered because they have something they can do to calm their otherwise inconsolable baby.
Massaging a baby does not have to be complicated. Begin learning how to massage when your baby is already calm and relatively still. It is best to work on massage when baby is not hungry. Go to a room that is warm, and take off as much clothing as you possibly can. Skin to skin contact is especially important to infants. Put a little baby lotion or oil on your hands, and rub them together to warm up the liquid. Stroke your baby from the center of the body towards the extremities.Always bear in mind to spend time on those cute small feet! The first massage should only last a few minutes, perhaps five or less, but as you and your baby become more comfortable, start increasing the time of massage for as long as your baby enjoys the massage.
The best thing to do is to get on a schedule for massaging your infant. In order to help the infant sleep better, massage it just before laying it down for the night. This will provide a better stimulus for relaxation throughout the night. Massaging your infant with soothing hands will create a bond of trust from the infant to the parent. Not only will this create a strong attachment between you and your newborn, but it will soon be an activity that you will look forward to doing.
For a great deal more informational value go to this online destination: Child And Adult Obesity also Fighting The Battle Of Obesity also click here School Age Children With Obesity
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