Why massage your baby?
Massage is a beautiful way to communicate love between parent and child. Is about being in touch physically and emotionally. Through this article you will be instructed on how to perform baby massage to your little one through sessions designed to be a nurturing and restful time for the family.
When to start?
Shantala (Indian traditional baby massage) can be started from the 4th week and become a routine until your baby starts to turn over by herself (around 4th month) or as long as your baby allows you to keep going. In general, as they grow up and become more moveable they will not stay still too long. Morning time is recommended and the massage should be performed with a slightly warmed high quality organic cold pressed vegetable oil (e.g.: coconut oil, sesame oil, almond oil, etc.)
The benefits of baby massage
Makes your baby feel loved
Helps your baby to develop self-confidence and self-esteem
Helps babies to develop increased self-awareness of their bodies
Helps babies to eventually learn faster how to roll up and crawl
Helps digestion and reduces gases
Massaged babies usually cry less and are less prone to illness
Massage improves muscle tone and makes joints more flexible
Massage improves sleeping patterns, calms and relaxes
Precautions and contraindications
Do not massage when the baby is sleeping
Do not massage when the baby just had been fed (wait 30 minutes)
Do not massage when the baby express any resistance to the touch (usually expressed with cry and/or discomfort)
Do not massage if your baby has fever or cold
Do not massage areas of bruises, swelling or open wounds
Do not use essential oils! Also do not use synthetic/mineral oils
Do not massage for 3 days after vaccination
In newborns wait for navel to heal. Do not massage in cases of jaundice
Do not massage a baby with cancer. Check first with a medical Doctor
If you have any concerns and doubts, consult your pediatrician to know if a massage is ok for your baby.
What you & your baby will need?
Massage oil and ubtan (optional)
Little bowl for the massage oil
Towel for the baby
Yoga mat if available (or another towel for mom)
The environment for baby massage
The room needs to be warm (80 F/26 C), the baby should not feel cold (during warm days, can be practiced outdoors);
Best performed with the baby naked or wearing only diapers
Baby should not be on empty stomach
Massage should be done in the morning
Massage could be repeated in the evening before sleep
Massage should be followed from a bath to complete the relaxation effect
Your posture during the massage
Wear comfortable clothes (e.g.: t-shirt & loosen pants, prefer cotton over synthetic materials)
Take your shoes off
Wash your hands
Take of any jewels, watch, etc
Seat on the floor in a comfortable position (with legs extended in front of the body or crossed legs)
Always remember to keep your back straight and shoulders relaxed
Be aware of your breath (should be relaxed and deep)
The choice of the massage oil
Be sure that the massage oil is vegetable, organic, preferably cold-pressed and suitable for your baby skin. Avoid the use of mineral oils and the use of any product formulated with chemical ingredients (artificial colors, preservatives and/or fragrances). If the list of ingredients shows words that you cannot read and/or understand, chose another brand!
Be aware and always observe the skin reactions and check for allergies.
“About 90% of food allergies are to eight foods: cow’s milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, eggs and fish. Please be aware that any child can be allergic to any food, even if there is no family history of food allergy.” — Ruth Yaron, Super Baby Food
As “skin eats”, this affirmation is also valid to everything we apply to our skin.
Another important thing to be aware is the presence of chemicals (fragrances, colorants, preservatives, etc.) and other pollutants.
Warnings
Never use any essential oils (diluted or undiluted) to the skin, either yours or specially your baby skin, without the advice of a specialist. Some essential oils can be very concentrate and toxic!
Very important note: clean your baby with a towel after massage as the oil can make the body slippery.
Step-by-step
This step-by-step is a memo guideline to help you remember the sequence and strokes. Forget your expectations on what the session should be. Every session will be different (the moods, the moment, and the environment will all influence the dynamic between giver and receiver (e.g.: if the room is not warm enough, if baby is tired or hungry, if giver is anxious, stressed, tired, not focused). Check for baby cues before starting (through eye contact).
1. Welcome your baby (grounding) and connect
2. Chest (“open book”, “crossed movements”)
3. Arms, wrist & hands (round and flat movements)
4. Belly
5. Legs, ankles and feet (round and flat movements)
6. Back (“hand over hand”, “hand after hand”)
7. Face
8. Closing postures (crossed arms; leg and arm gentle stretch; lotus pose)
Use the palms of your hands in slow, firm, continuous movements. Use relatively stronger pressure towards the heart and lighter pressure on the opposite direction.
Be present!
Do not stress. Empty your mind.
Take a few deep breaths. Focus on the present moment.
Focus on your intention. Be connected. Take your time to find an easy rhythm.
Talk to your baby through your eyes and hands.
When you feel calm, your baby tends to feel calm too.
The massage session will take anything between 5 to 20 minutes (or more), depending on the baby’s mood/moment and environment. This is normal.
Bibliography:
Alan Heath & Nicki Bainbridge. Baby Massage, the calming power of touch. Dorling Kindersley. New York, 2004
Françoise Barbira Freedman. Yoga for mother and baby. Cico Books. London, 2010.
Frédérick Leboyer. Shantala, un art traditionnel. Le massage des enfants. Seuil. Paris, 1976.
Kiran Vyas, Danielle Belforti, Sandrine Testas-Lemasson. Le Massage des bébés selon la tradition ayurvédique. Marabout. Paris, 2005.
Ruth Yaron. Super Baby Food. F.J. Robert Holdings, LLC. Peckville, 2013.
[1] Massage oil (check article on massage oils)
[2] Ubtan is a traditional Ayurvedic scrub made of organic chickpea flour and spices.
About the author: Carol Jamault is a Certified Health and Life Coach (CHC), Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT), and Yoga Instructor (RYT-200) with extensive training in Ayurveda and Herbalism. She focuses on supporting her clients with stress management tools and self-care routines through an integrative approach to wellness. She guides those in a quest for personal growth and better health, by providing curated information and teaching a therapeutic lifestyle that naturally allows to restore balance, improving wellness and fostering longevity. Carol has been studying alternative healing, ethnobotany, circadian medicine, Ayurveda and herbalism since 2001. She is the founder of Hridayam Bodywork & Apothecary and partners with corporations and wellness studios to provide therapeutic bodywork, private coaching, workshops, and lectures.