Baby massage is a hands-on way to give your newborn the attention he needs and loves; our step-by-step guide shows you all the right moves.
How many parents can walk by their bright-eyed baby and not pick him up? In fact, what mom or dad can refrain from snuggling and cuddling with their baby at every possible opportunity?
And there's not a single reason they should resist these natural, affectionate impulses. Children not only love physical contact, many experts say they thrive on all those hugs, pats, and kisses. So why not go a step further and learn the techniques of baby massage? The stroking, patting, and kneading motions of massage are an excellent way to deepen the bond between parent and baby.
"Massage is a physical, tactile experience -- a way for parents to communicate love to their babies," says Vimala McClure, author of Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents and founder of the International Association of Infant Massage in Elma, New York, a group that teaches baby massage techniques. Plus it's easy to learn, and everything necessary to get started is probably within arms' reach.
Let the Massage Begin
Before you start stroking your baby, try to relax your own muscles. Close your eyes, breathe deeply, and shake the tension from your body. Position yourself so that you can bend over your child comfortably. Then, slowly and gently, undress him completely. Pour a small amount of oil into your hand and rub your palms together to warm the liquid.
As you proceed with the strokes outlined here, remember: The communication of caring is the most important goal. Touching your baby gently, looking into his eyes, and voicing whatever endearments come to mind will more than make up for a less-than-textbook-perfect technique.
When you're first starting out, three repetitions of each stroke should be enough. As the two of you become more comfortable with the routine, you can increase the length of the sessions.
Feet First
Because a baby can easily see his lower extremities, starting with his legs and feet is a good way to introduce him to massage in a nonthreatening way. After you've finished with both legs, go to the arms, and repeat the strokes used on the legs.
Milking
Take your baby's right foot or ankle in your right hand and grasp the
top of his thigh with your left hand.
Stroke from buttock to heel, squeezing the leg in a milking motion.
Then reverse the motion. Start from the heel and move toward the buttock.
This Little Piggy
Start by rotating each of the toes on your baby's left foot. Next, holding the heel in one hand, gently push the ball of the foot toward his knee with your other hand. Then press your thumbs all around the bottom of the foot, visualizing the thousands of nerve endings that are being soothed by your touch. Next, push the toes toward the sole of the feet. Finally, use your thumbs to draw circles over baby's ankle bones and around his ankle.
Clay Worm
Think of your baby's leg as a ball of clay in your hands, then with the same rubbing motion you would use to sculpt a worm, roll the leg from knee to ankle. Shake baby's leg gently when you're finished.
Next, the Tummy
Each of these strokes moves from the ribs down. (Strokes for the back are identical and should follow those for the torso.)
Spelling "I Love You"
Starting on baby's left side, trace the letter "I" (a straight line from top to bottom) with your right hand.
Then make a backward, sideways "L," starting to your left of baby's belly button, then stroke to the right, and finish with a downward stroke.
End your message by making an upside-down "U."
Stroke from your left to right, and then downward.
Paddle Wheel
Place your left hand flat on your baby's belly with your little finger at the base of his rib cage, then stroke downward.
Follow your left hand with your right hand. This motion is similar to that of a riverboat wheel -- one hand follows the other in a downward motion.
When you're comfortable with the first motion, use your left hand to hold baby's heels together and raise them up as if you were diapering him. (This relaxes baby's stomach muscles and allows you to massage deeper.) Then stroke your baby's belly repeatedly with your right hand.
Open Book
Begin with both hands lying flat at the center of baby's chest, then push out along the baby's rib cage as if you were smoothing out the pages of a book.
Finish the stroke by bringing your hands down toward the belly button.
Finishing Touches
Babies love all the eye contact with Mom or Dad during this final part of the massage.
Peekaboo
Start by covering your baby's face with your hands, then press gently on his forehead with your fingertips. Next, push out to the side of the face and press his temples. With your thumbs, press lightly on baby's eyelids. Move your thumbs to the bridge of his nose, and push down lightly, then move them across his cheeks.
Getting Cheeky
Using your fingertips, make small circles around both sides of baby's jaw just by the earlobes. Go over and around the back of the ears, making a big loop. Then push the skin under the chin up, forming a sort of double chin.
