At six weeks, your baby is starting to become even more responsive, he may be more settled and ready for a fuller massage, giving you even more opportunities to bond and engage his senses, making massage mean more.
Massage is a great way to communicate together and introduce fun and play. Here are additional strokes to add to your massage routine.
Tummy
Massaging the tummy is a lovely way to help your baby feel safe and secure as well help ease tummy troubles such as colic and constipation.
If your baby is happy, you can make gentle paddling strokes on the tummy, with one hand following the other.
‘I Love You’ on the Tummy
Begin with a resting hand.
Make a single downward stroke with your right hand on the left side of your baby’s tummy (your right).
Make a backward, sideways ‘L’, going from your baby’s right to left side.
Make an upside down ‘U’, going from your baby’s lower right side, up, across and down the left side of the baby’s tummy. Say the words ‘I love you’ as you go through the strokes.
Chest
Gentle massage of the chest can help relieve congestion problems. When sensitively touching the chest, sometimes you will need to pause and with resting hands, share your feelings together.
With both hands at the centre of his chest stroke out to the sides as if you were flattening the pages of a book. Keeping contact with your baby, glide your hands down, around and meet in the centre again.
Touch Relaxation
Touch relaxation can be used at any age and at any time during the massage. Sometimes babies can hold a lot of tension in their bodies and this technique on the arms and legs encourages your baby to relax.
Gently mould your hands around your baby’s arm or leg, asking your baby to relax. Using a calm voice repeat the word ”relax.” When you feel your baby responding, reward him with positive feedback, a smile and a kiss.
Hands
This is a great way to show your baby how to relax his hands. Using the pads of your thumbs gently open his hand, roll each tiny finger between your index finger and thumb and finally stroke the top of his hand from the wrist to the fingertips.
Face
Massaging the face can help relax tension caused by sucking, crying and with the discomfort of teething.
Babies mirror your movements and expressions. It is a lovely moment to make eye contact and have a happy time together. Make small circles along his jaw with your fingertips.
Back
Massaging his back can encourage strengthening of the neck, shoulders and arms as your baby lifts his head; as well as calm and relax your baby. There are many ways to position your baby, to encourage him to enjoy being on his front. You can learn these different positions in baby massage class.
With your baby on his front, start with both hands together at the top of his back, at right angles to the spine. Move your hands back and forth, in opposite directions, going down the back to the buttocks, then up to the shoulders, and back down again. Then swoop your hand from his neck all the way down to his feet.
Through massage, you can gain increased awareness of how your baby communicates and ideas on ways to support your baby in his first few months. You and your baby will discover what is best for you both. It is important to be mindful that massage is something you do with, rather than to, your baby.
These massage strokes are based on INFANT MASSAGE: A Handbook for Loving Parents by Vimala McClure, the founder of the IAIM.
The IAIM is a non-profit organisation and does not endorse any product.
It is recommended that you learn more from someone with a qualification in infant massage to gain the full benefit. Going to a baby massage group is an ideal way to learn to massage your baby safely.
The International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) has been instructing parents around the world for over 25 years. For more information, go to www.iaim.net.
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