Baby massage: the real benefits

Think about it. Your newborn has been used to being in your womb for nine months and being outside of it will seem strange. Being touched will remind them of being rocked and cradled inside you. Don’t forget, a baby’s sense of touch is already well developed at birth and so they should naturally respond well to massage.

But there’s more to it than just familiarity. Health issues affecting your newborn, like colic, can be improved with massage. It also aids the circulatory and lymphatic systems, it’s beneficial to your baby’s breathing and some of the movements can help the digestive systems.

It’s never too early to start. Find a class or qualified expert near you via International Association of Infant Massage or get stuck in right now with specialist paediatric physiotherapist Kath Frame’s tips..

Every day or a couple of times a week is fine if that’s all you can manage. Think about this as being an activity that’s ‘with’ your baby, not ‘for’ your baby. Get your partner involved too.

If your baby is too hungry, too full, too tired or too fractious, reschedule. Choose a time that suits you both, like just before bath time, when your baby will be relaxed but alert enough to appreciate it.

Your room needs to be warm (at least 24°C) and quiet. Dim the lights, play gentle music. Some babies don’t like too much skin to skin at first, try it over a vest or baby grow.

Lay them somewhere safe such as the floor, or in the middle of the bed, with a folded towel beneath. Don’t forget to turn your baby onto their tummy too, which helps them get used to different positions, is good for colic and helps with development. There’s also nothing more gorgeous than seeing their little bottoms and perfect backs!

Remember: when using any cream or lotion on your baby’s skin, always do a small patch test the day before. This will ensure you don’t run into any baby skin care issues.