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Why massage your baby?
Baby Massage benefits
Although baby massage is relatively new to this country, for cultures
such as those in India, massage is an important part of a baby's daily routine and the family's way of life. More than a pleasurable experience
for the participants, evidence shows that loving, touching, nurturing
contact between parents and babies has a positive impact on
subsequent development.
Benefits for babies can include:
- Develops their first language, which is mainly touch
- Enhances their feeling of being loved, respected and secure
- Helps to strengthen and regulate their digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems
- Relieves symptoms of colic, gas and constipation
- Calmed nervous system leads to more restful sleep
- Teaches babies how to be aware of their body's tension and how to release it, an invaluable gift as they grow into adulthood.
Benefits that parents identify:
- Develops confidence when handling their baby
- Enhances loving communication, helping parents to understand and respond to their baby's non-verbal language
- Provides 'permission' to relax together with their baby
- Increases awareness of baby's growth and development
As a parent, I particularly benefited from feeling able to ease my child's transition to sleep. As an instructor I have seen babies fall asleep by their mothers holding them or using the relaxed holding technique, Resting Hands. I have also known mothers who found the Colic Relief Routine – a specific set of strokes to ease colic – the only thing that helped their babies ' colic. Along with many parents, I often use the strokes that ease a sluggish digestion. One called I Love You is particularly effective. An upside down I, L and then U made in a clockwise direction around the abdomen eases constipation . Other strokes may help with teething and congestion.
Bonding
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Bonding is a loving emotional connection between parent and child, which is formed and strengthened over time. Research has shown that healthy physical and emotional development depends on successful early bonding. The establishment of this bond between parent and child is a complex process involving several elements. The IAIM infant massage programme incorporates all of these critical elements of bonding and attachment; namely skin contact (touching or holding), smell, making eye contact, facial expressions and vocalisation (talking, making soothing sounds, or singing) in a safe environment.
Oxytocin – the 'cuddle hormone'
Parents instinctively know that holding and stroking calms children and scientists have now shown that very gentle touch, even something as simple as a hug releases the hormone oxytocin. Its effects are to lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety and pain and promote relaxation. What is more, the benefits are two-way: when you massage your child your own stress hormone levels improve and your blood pressure lowers.
Stimulation
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Massaging your baby can stimulate their major systems, for instance, massage stimulates their nervous system. Each nerve has a protective covering around it, called the myelin sheath, which speeds the transmission of impulses from the brain to the rest of the body. The process of coating the nerves (myelination) continues even after birth and natural sensory stimulation, such as massage, speeds this process. In addition, the stimulation provided by your loving touch is a natural kind that is relevant to the baby's world, more so than artificially created toys or videos.
Studies with premature babies have demonstrated that massage also strengthens and regulates the respiratory, circulatory and gastrointestinal systems. Stimulating the immune system through massage increases your baby's resistance to disease. In addition, the increased intimacy with your baby that massage brings gives you the ability to recognise changes and potentially catch illnesses early on.
Research
Recent research has illustrated the particular benefits for premature infants; children with asthma, diabetes and certain skin disorders. Mothers with post-natal depression have achieved closer relationships with their babies through baby massage. Cross-cultural studies show that babies who are held, massaged, carried, rocked and breastfed, grow into adults that are less aggressive and violent and are more compassionate and cooperative.
More than anything else, you and your baby will have FUN
with this new, shared experience!
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