Touch is essential for the baby's good development. Massaging your infant generates many benefits, both physiological and psychological. Discover all the advice from Dyna Bahrami, physiotherapist-osteopath who runs baby massage workshops in Paris.
Massage baby, from what age?
Theoretically, the ideal is to wait until the baby is at least 1 month old so that he can acclimatize to his new ectopic environment.
Massages of what duration?
It is not always easy to massage a young infant who often has difficulty holding in place, especially from the moment he learns to turn around on his own. So massaging it for 5 to 10 minutes without crying is already a feat! " When things go well, 20 minutes of massage is the maximum Says Dyna Bahrami.
Are there any precautions to take before massaging baby?
Many parents are afraid of getting it wrong by touching their baby. " Everything is so medicalized today that parents don't dare. However, I encourage parents to have confidence in their actions. Touch is a very instinctive thing ", Says the physiotherapist.
Of course, you don't massage a baby like you would massage an adult. The gestures should not be abrupt, and you must be gentle enough when approaching certain areas such as the wrist, ankle or the skull.
If you have any concerns, do not hesitate to ask your midwife, physiotherapist, doctor, etc. for advice.
What benefits?
-Baby massage first of all creates a bond between the baby and his parents. " Touch releases oxytocin, the attachment hormone "Continues the expert. This is why parents are the first players in these massages, which also allow them to gain confidence in their role as mom and dad.
-Baby massage improves vasodilation of superficial vessels, which has the effect of allowing better absorption of food, promoting blood circulation and skin respiration.
– By touching the lymph nodes, or even the sinuses, massage improves the immune system.
– Massage can also help baby sleep thanks to the release of melatonin (the sleep hormone), but also of endorphin (hormone that decreases stress). Likewise, it is possible to calm babies in hyperextension by gently helping them to adopt a fetal posture.
-By stimulating certain areas, parents will also mobilize neuromotor chains which will, for example, help with walking.
-Finally, by massaging the baby from the shoulder to the ankle, the parents help him to understand his bodily unity, he who does not yet see himself as a being in his own right.
What products should I use to massage my baby?
If you do not have a specific product on hand, it is essential to use an edible product for the baby. This is why, it is better to take olive oil from your kitchen rather than a product whose origin you do not know.
To be avoided for massaging babies: essential oils.
Some baby massage ideas
To massage the whole baby, you can start by placing your hand on the opposite shoulder. For example: put your right hand on the baby's right shoulder which is lying on the back. Slide your hand towards the pelvis through your baby's left flank, then make a small opening of the baby's left hip towards the outside. Continue to bring your hand down to the ankles, but be careful, do not press hard on this area. Keeping your right hand on your ankle, do the same on the other side with your left hand. Finish the massage by touching baby's feet very gently.
You can also make small opening movements of the shoulder.
If your baby has a stomach ache (colic, constipation, bloating …), put your palm on your belly button. Just the warmth of your hand will be beneficial. Then massage the belly, always respecting the clockwise direction.
Always for improve digestion, you can take both baby legs and make a circular motion, again following a clockwise direction.
For massage his back, start by getting him used to being on his stomach in your presence so that he is perfectly safe. With the thumb, without pressing too much, come and massage it gently at the level of the sacrum, then go up on each side of the column.
If your baby has toothache, you can start with your thumbs from the center of the lower or upper lips, and then slide each inch up to baby's ears.
Yes baby is taken at sinus level, start from the base of the nose and massage at the cheeks before going up to the ears.