How to give a baby massage
Baby massages are a great opportunity for interacting with your baby and for skin-to-skin contact. Find out what to do with this baby tummy massage breakdown. Now you can put “baby masseuse” on your CV, alongside “super mom”.
- Choose a time when baby is relaxed. After their evening bath is good.
- Use the right oil. Plant-based oils - like coconut, canola, corn, olive, grapeseed, avocado, or safflower oils – all work well and are safe if your baby sucks on their hands or fingers.
- Prepare all your massage equipment before baby’s bath, when your hands are free.
- Get set up on the floor with a clean, soft towel on top of a yoga or baby mat.
- Make sure the room is warm enough for baby to be in just their diaper or a onesie.
- Dim the lights if it’s getting close to bedtime.
- Put some relaxing music or lullabies on for those sleepy cues.
- Remove any rings or bracelets.
- Make sure your hands are warm.
- Undress baby and lay them on top of your soft towel and mat on the floor.
- Pour a small amount of your preferred oil for baby massage on your hands and warm it in your palms.
- Start at baby’s feet. Stretching and rubbing their toes and bottoms of their feet.
- Work up baby’s legs and very gently rub and squeeze their muscles. Support your baby’s leg by holding their heel with one hand.
- Work your way to baby’s arms. Support their wrist with one hand.
- Finish with a chest and tummy rub. Use clockwise circular motions on his tummy to aid digestion.
- Talk to your baby softy and narrate what you are doing to them throughout the massage.
- Keep eye contact as you massage baby.
- Don’t rub or squeeze baby too hard.
- Stop massaging if baby doesn’t enjoy it. Not all babies do.
- Stop massaging if baby falls asleep.
- If the massage hasn’t helped to relieve baby’s tummy problems, read our checklist for other tips on how to help.
Sources
Kid Care Canada. Baby Massage: An Introduction.https://kidcarecanada.org/videos/baby-massage-introduction-baby-massage-instructional-series/ Accessed August 2020.
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