Baby Massage

The History:
Although it might seem like a new introduction to parenting techniques in the western world, baby massage has in fact been around for centuries. Many cultures use massage as part of their everyday parenting techniques; to bond with their children, calm and help them sleep, relieve wind and colic and generally assist with healthy development.

Touch is vital for babies to develop physically and mentally - the skin is the largest organ in the human body and without adequate stimulation, abnormalities can occur. Carolyn Gunther Molloy wrote: 'As late as the 1920s the death rate for infants less than one year of age who where taken into orphanages or institutions was 100%. In research and investigation into these deaths, it was found the babies had died from lack of human contact. Deprived of material contact these infants developed a profound depression, which resulted in a lack of appetite, which led to a wasting disease called Marasmus'.

With this in mind, we can clearly see how necessary it is to nurture our infants. Feeding them with love and touch, as well as food.

The Benefits:
Stimulation
- All baby systems are stimulated
- Speeds up development of the nervous system
- Enhances neurological and cognitive development
- Improves respiratory, circulatory and gastrointestinal systems
- Normalises muscle tone and develops motor coordination
- Enhances the immune sytem and respiration
- Improves sensory awareness

Relaxation
- Reduces levels of cortisol, the 'stress hormone' in the blood stream
- Helps babies/children sleep deeper and longer
- When parents massage they have a release of two hormones - oxytocin and prolactin. Oxytocin is the feel good, loving hormone; this can help mums feel better about caring for their child and 'helps with the baby blues'

Relief
- Relief from wind
- Colic can be cured in a short period of time, usually one to two weeks
- Eases discomfort from teething pain and congestion.

Interaction
- Offers a safe, special time for communication
- Builds trust in the parent / child relationship
- Bonding and attachment are greatly enhanced; offers all the essential indicators of bonding: eye contact, voice, smell and touch.
- Enables parents to read babies cues and language better
- Promotes confidence in the parent or caregiver.