Nourish your baby’s physical and emotional growth through the magical power of touch. Infant massage is a valuable skin-to skin connection that will allow you to bond and reconnect with your baby through touching, talking and singing.
Before beginning your special massage session, make sure of the following:
- Room temperature is comfortably warm, lit softly and quiet (you may play some relaxing music)
- Baby is not fussy. Best time usually after morning nap, before naptime or in the evening before bedtime.
- Make sure to have a comfy blanket or mat for the baby to lie on.
- Make sure your hands are nice and warm.
Remember to look for your baby’s cues and body language as you massage, it is very important that you and your baby are relaxed at all times and that the process is enjoyable for both. If your little one begins to get fuzzy, crying or kicking away, stop and resume massage at a better time.
1. Begin
Lay your baby down, face up, on top of a blanket or a soft mat. Make sure is a flat surface.
2. Soothing Drops
Pour a little of BabySpa calming oil and rub your hands together.
3. Milking
Wrap your hands around the right leg of your baby’s thigh and squeezing gently, pull down, one hand after the other. Grab left leg and Repeat.
4. Tracing Circles
Take your baby’s right foot, and using your thumbs trace small circles all over the bottom. When finished, take each toe and gently pull until your fingers slip off the end. Grab your baby’s left foot and Repeat.
5. Pumping
Wrap your hands around your baby’s right arm, and beginning at the armpit, gently squeeze and pull down to the wrist. Then, softly grab the wrist and rotate a few times in each direction. Switch to left arm and Repeat movement.
6. Palm Circles
Hold your baby’s right hand and gently but firm, use your thumbs to trace small circles over the palm of his hand. When finished, take each individual finger and pull, letting your baby’s finger slip off the end. Repeat with left hand.
7. I Love U
Bring your fingers to the center of your baby’s chest. Make smooth movements forming the letters I,L,U, and remember to say the words I Love You to your baby as you perform the following 3-part stroke:
- Stroke “I”: place your hands, under the ribs, on your baby’s left side and in a stroke down movement trace the letter “I”
- Stroke “L”: then, place your hands under the ribs on your baby’s right side. Stroke across your baby’s tummy and the down baby’s left side, forming the letter “L”
- Stroke “U”: place your hands on the lower part of your baby’s belly , to your left side, then move up under the ribs and over and down the right side again. Making an upside-down U.
8. Tummy Time
Very carefully roll your baby onto his tummy. Using your whole hand gently stroke down your baby’s back, starting at the head. Make long general strokes down the neck, over the leg and down to his feet. Avoid your baby’s delicate spinal area by working on either side of the spine. Alternate hands and Repeat.
9. Tiny Circles
While you baby still positioned on his back, use your finger tips to make circular movements from his neck down to the buttocks. Repeat circular movement through out entire back.
10. Feather Touch
Turn your baby over onto his back. Now, starting in the middle and out towards your baby’s temple, make gentle strokes across his forehead, using your fingertips. Take a second, and proceed to making feather-light circles around the temple area. Avoid eyes/eye-lid area.
As you are finishing, make long, firm strokes from your baby’s shoulder down to his toes. When you are done wrap your baby in a warm towel and make sure to shower him with kisses and hugs!
