How to Massage a Baby

There's nothing quite like massage for soothing and calming both you and your baby. It can be done from about two months, ideally after bathtime in preparation for sleep.

Massage is a wonderful way of bonding with your baby and particularly good if this is a second or third baby who doesn't get a lot of special time alone with you, apart from feeding. Remember, you don't have to do a full massage every time if you're in a hurry. It will help you to unwind and you'll both look forward to it as a restful, reassuring moment of calm in your busy day.

Basic touch

The basic movement to use is a firm but gentle stroke with either the flat pads of your fingers or the whole palm of your hand. Small circular movements with the pads of your fingers can also be effective, as long as you don't tickle. Try not to break contact abruptly at any time. If you need to reach over and get a tissue, for example, keep the other hand on your baby's skin for reassurance. Try smoothing and squeezing your own arm to find out what feels nice - remembering that baby skin is more delicate and sensitive than yours. Too gentle a touch can be irritating and too hard will hurt.

Beginning

Have everything ready before you start. Find a warm, quiet place where you won't be interrupted and have everything at hand - massage oil, tissues, a clean nappy and clean clothes. Baby massage is usually done on the floor, with the baby laid on a towel on top of a changing mat or folded blanket.

Remove any rings or bracelets, make sure fingernails are short and wash your hands in warm water, dry them, then rub together to make them nice and warm.

Undress your baby and lay her on her back, kneel or sit facing her and taking about half a teaspoon of oil (either a baby massage oil or any vegetable oil that smells nice), rub it over the palms of your warm hands. Use just enough oil to let your hands glide smoothly over the skin. Talk to your baby, make eye contact and tell her what you're going to do.

Stroke gently upwards, around the shoulders and smoothly back down. Repeat a few times.

Say hello

First place your hands side by side, palm down, flat on the baby's tummy and stroke gently upwards, around the shoulders and smoothly back down to the toes. Then up again, over the body, round the shoulders and back to the toes. Repeat a few more times, making eye contact and talking gently, letting your baby's response guide you.

Chest and arms

Without applying more oil to your hands, place them together, palms down, side by side, on the baby's chest and gently press them down, round the chest and up again. From the same starting position, stroke up around the shoulders and down again, stroking the arms down towards the wrists. Repeat this movement two or three times, without getting any massage oil on the baby's hands (it will irritate her eyes if she rubs them).

Tummy

Put a little oil on your hands and make clockwise circles over the tummy with one hand and then, with the pads of two fingers, make small clockwise circles around the colon (beginning just up from the right groin, upwards to just under the ribs, across to the other side and down). Repeat a few times. This sometimes helps colicky babies. Then repeat the 'hello' strokes you began with, running your hands around the shoulders and back down to the toes. Turn your baby over.

Legs

Apply a little more oil to your hands if needed and, starting with hands at either side of the base of the spine, stroke up to the shoulders and back down to the toes a few times before smoothing each leg in turn.

Hold one of the baby's ankles in one hand and with the other hand, take hold of the top of the leg on the other side. Pull down gently but firmly and, as you get to the ankle, move your other hand up to the top of the leg on the same side, pulling down in the same way, while the first hand takes over holding the ankle. Repeat several times, swapping hands as you go. You may need to use a little more oil.

Go through the same massage on the other leg and then finish by running both hands up both legs at the same time, gliding right back down to the end of the toes in a satisfying way. Repeat this finishing stroke a few times.

Feet

With your thumb, rub small circles on the base of your baby's foot (counterclockwise circles should calm her down). Massage her toes with small, circular movements too, pulling them gently. Repeat on the other foot and then finish off with the same up and down the legs movement that you used before.

Back

Put a little more oil on your hands and, starting with hands at either side of the base of the spine, stroke up to the shoulders and back down to the toes. Glide your hands back up the legs to either side of the base of the spine and repeat the movements on the back a few times. Using the pads of your thumbs, make little circles up both sides of the spine, smooth hands back down and repeat. Do not touch the actual spine itself, only massage at each side.

With the flat of the hand, make large counter­clockwise circles around the base of the back. Finish off with a few stroking movements - up the back, round the shoulders and back down to the toes.

Finally, wrap your baby in a clean, warm towel and give her a cuddle.

Jim S. Dean is a stay at home father, freelance writer, and webmaster with an interest in a wide range of subjects. Visit his latest website Mountain Buggy Double Stroller [http://www.mountainbuggydoublestroller.com].