How can massage help me & my baby?
A parent’s nurturing touch is known to have an important role for easing the “transition from womb to world” for their new baby. Baby massage can be a wonderful extension of this natural impulse, whilst also enhancing the bonding process through skin-to-skin touch, eye contact, voice, smell and increased levels of oxytocin.
There are numerous benefits for parents too, such as feeling closer to your baby, helping to gain a deeper understanding of your baby's behaviour, crying and body language, and it provides an enjoyable opportunity to spend one-to-one time with your baby and can help to increase confidence in your ability to care for and nurture your baby. My classes are completely baby led and designed to be as relaxing and enjoyable as possible.
The benefits of Baby massage are unique to each parent and child but regular massage can:
- Promote bonding and attachment between parent and baby at early stages.
- Aid digestion and provide relief from discomfort caused by colic, constipation, tummy pain & wind.
- Help to build up the immune system.
- Reduce crying and emotional distress.
- Enhance baby’s feelings of being loved, respected and secure with their parents.
- Offer regular one-to-one time for parent and baby.
- Stimulate circulation.
- Improve muscle tone, growth, weight gain and development.
- Enhance early communication between parent and baby.
- Gentle facial massage can help settle the discomfort of teething.
- Encourage parents to better understand and respond to their baby’s cues and states of behaviour.
- Help baby relax as part of your bed time routine.
Studies from around the world have shown that infant massage reduces post-natal depression and can improve mother/baby relationships. To read more about this click here.
