Why should infant massage?

The article was professionally consulted with Specialist Doctor II Cao Thi Thanh - Pediatrician - Pediatrics - Neonatology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital.

Newborn massage is a gentle, nurturing way to spend time with your baby. This is also a lovely way to enjoy time with your baby and baby massage also helps parents bond with their baby more. Before babies can understand language, massage will allow parents to communicate and comfort the baby through touch, helping the baby to feel secure, sleep well and grow faster.

Baby massage is the act of parents gently stroking the baby's body with their hands. The simplest way to massage a baby is by slowly, relaxing movement of the baby's ankles, wrists and fingers.
Besides, parents can also talk, hum or sing lullabies to the baby while massaging the baby to create a sense of calm and reassurance, help the baby sleep better, sleep deeper, less fussy.

A lot of research has shown that infant massage can bring many health benefits, namely:
Encourage parent-child interaction Helps baby relax and fall asleep Positive effects effects on infants' stress management hormones Reduce fussiness Although more research is needed, some early observations also suggest that massaging infants with moderate pressure may promote development of premature infants.

Massaging your baby too soon after feeding can cause your baby to vomit - so wait at least 45 minutes after feeding. At the same time, parents should also pay attention to monitor the child's mood. If the baby is stable and calm and satisfied, the massage can be started. On the other hand, if your baby is uncooperative, turns his head away from a holding parent's arms, or turns over and over again, stiffening, then this may not be the best time to give your baby a massage.
About the time and frequency of each massage for the baby is up to the parent or caregiver. Baby can be massaged daily. Alternatively, babies can enjoy nighttime massage as a soothing part of their bedtime routine.
If your baby doesn't seem to like the massage at first, don't worry. It's a new experience for both parties and can take some getting used to. It's a good idea to try infant massage by stroking the baby for a few minutes at first and gradually increasing it as the baby gets used to it.

Baby massage involves a few preparatory steps and some basic techniques to get started:
Create a calm atmosphere. If possible, give your baby a massage in a warm, quiet place - indoors or outdoors. Remove jewelry from hand. Sit comfortably on the floor or bed or stand in front of a changing table and place your baby on a blanket or towel in front of you. Place your baby on his or her back so that eye contact can be maintained. When undressing your child, tell him it's time for a massage.
Touch control. When you first start massaging your baby, touch each step gently. However, avoid tickling your baby as this can make him uncomfortable. As the baby gets older, switch to stronger presses.
Slowly stroke and massage each part of the baby's body. Parents can start by placing the baby on his or her stomach and spending one minute on each massage on different areas, including head, neck and shoulder massage; massage the upper back and waist, massage the baby's thighs, feet and hands. Next, lay your baby on his back and spend one minute each stretching and flexing his arms and legs, then both legs at the same time. Finally, with the child lying on his or her back or stomach, repeat these movements all over the body for another five minutes.
Relax. Talk to your baby during the massage. Parents can sing or tell a story. Try repeating your baby's name and the word "relax" when you want to help relieve stress.
Observe how the baby responds. If the baby wiggles his arm and seems happy, he may enjoy the massage and the parent can continue. If your baby turns his or her head, stiffens, or appears restless or unhappy, stop the massage and try again after a moment.
Use baby massage oil. Some parents prefer to use oil during infant massage to avoid friction between the baby's hands and skin, while others find it inappropriate. The choice is up to the parents. If you choose to use oil, choose one that is unscented and edible - just in case your baby gets a little bit of oil in his mouth. If your baby has sensitive or allergy-prone skin, test the oil first by applying a small amount to an area of ​​your baby's skin, watching for a reaction before applying more and more.

Here are some tips to help parents massage babies safely:
Make sure oil is safe to use on baby's skin and also if oil gets in baby's mouth When massaging arms or legs Always support your child's ankle or wrist with one hand When massaging your baby's belly in a circular motion, go clockwise, not counterclockwise If your baby is uncomfortable or sleepy, In short, infant massage has been applied for a long time as one of the secrets of child care, and also to support the development of premature babies and babies. low birth weight. In addition, baby massage can also help increase a mother's awareness of her baby's needs and support the initial mother-child relationship, as well as improve a mother's sense of well-being if she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. at birth. When appropriate baby massage methods are performed, babies will receive more comprehensive care, interact more positively with parents as well as relieve stress and sleep better.