Caresses and hugs are a form of manifest love for our children, and even unconsciously we already put it into practice since pregnancy, caressing the belly in an attempt to physically connect with our baby.
During the first months of the baby, many parents resort to massages to establish greater contact, relax them, relieve colic or simply take advantage of the many benefits that this wonderful practice has for all.
We tell you, step by step, how to massage your baby and what you should consider to make it the best moment of your day.
When to start
It is recommended to wait for the baby turns his first month of life to start with the massages, and once we have established this routine, keep it over time regardless of the age that our children meet, because massage is an excellent way to strengthen ties and relieve tensions.
What time of day is the most appropriate?
Any time of day can be perfect to give a massage to your baby, although you have to take into account some keys that can help us identify the best time:
The baby He is not tired or sleepy.
Not especially activeWell, in that case I could refuse our massage.
It shows relaxed and receptive to our words and physical contact.
Some parents decide to incorporate the massage into the bathroom routine, others prefer to do it late in the day, and others choose to start the game session with a good massage. It is a personal option that must be chosen based on the needs of each baby, taking into account that the important thing is to enjoy.
What should I consider before starting?
- Before we start we must make sure that both the baby and the person who is going to give the massage, they are comfortable.
For this we must take care of the environment, checking that the room temperature is correct (remember that the baby will be naked) and the lighting is soft.
It is also preferable remove any distraction object for the baby, as well as fleeing from noise and other auditory stimuli, so that the baby can concentrate better on our words. It is also a good idea to put musical thread that invites relaxation.
- From the Spanish Association of Child Massage recommend use a preferably organic oil, vegetable (for example, that of almonds) and without perfume, especially the first months, in order to establish the emotional bond through smell.
It is recommended to use oil instead of cream so that the hands slide better through the body, and the consistency is not so thick. Likewise, It is not advisable to give the massage without using any product, since friction of the hands directly on the baby's skin could bother and irritate him.
In Babies and more How to prepare the baby for a massage sessionBefore proceeding, we must wash our hands well and take off any bracelet or ring that we wear and that can damage or bother us when giving the massage.
The oil will not be applied directly to the baby's body, but instead we will take a few drops in the palm of our hands and we will warm it before starting to massage. We must also ensure that our hands are not cold when placing them on your body.
To receive the massage, the baby must be lying on your back on a comfortable surface and stable, such as the bed, a mat on the floor, or making a cot with our legs. The person who will give the massage will be placed in front, to establish good eye contact.
The pressure you should exert with your fingers At the time of giving the massage, it will be modulated as the baby turns months and gaining muscle tone, knowing also to differentiate those parts of the body that can be massaged with a greater pressure, from those that are not.
Baby massage in 19 steps
After having carried out all the steps and recommendations above, we will proceed to give the massage to our baby as follows:
To get started…
Gently place your hands on your trunk for a few seconds. In this way, the baby will get used to your touch and eventually interpret this signal as the beginning of a massage.
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The first thing we are going to massage are your lower extremities, first one and then the other, taking our time with each of them:
We hold the leg by the upper part of the thigh, surrounding it with one of our hands placed in a C shape. With gentle pressure, the we will slide in a smooth and slow movement to the ankle, as if we were milking. One hand behind another. We will repeat this decent movement several times, always from top to bottom.
Then we will move on to give a foot sole massage, using our thumb from the ankle to the fingers. If the baby is very small, we will notice that his fingers shrink and stretch with the pressure of the massage: it is a completely normal reflex that will disappear over time.
We will massage your fingers, from the little finger to the chubby finger, making a gentle twist from the bottom of the finger to the yolk.
Then we will massage the instep, in an upward movement similar to the one we have applied when massaging the plant. We will use our thumb, exerting gentle pressure from the bottom to the beginning of the fingers.
We will continue the leg massage with the same movement with which we have started but in an upward direction. That is, placing our C-shaped hand, we will cover the baby's leg from the ankle to the groin; one hand behind the other, as if we were milking.
Our massage will end by holding your leg with our hands around the thigh area, and doing rotary and energetic movements, as if we were relaxing the muscles.
Superior limbs
Arms we will proceed in the same way that we have done with the legs. When the movements are descending, we will start from the armpit to the wrist, and vice versa for ascending movements.
Abdomen
Massage in the abdomen should be gentle., putting our hands horizontally and descending one, and then another, from the top of the abdominal cavity to below the navel. We repeat the movement several times.
Then we will place our hands along his little trip, side by side. With our thumbs pointing to the navel, we will gently slide our hands to the sides, as if we were opening a book. We will repeat the movement several times.
Massages in the abdomen can be especially useful for relieving digestive and cramping discomfort.
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In the same way that we have proceeded with the abdomen, we will do it with the chest, placing our opposite hands in an upright position in the center of the thorax, and sliding them gently to the sides.
Back
The back massage will be the same as what we have done in the abdomen, and when placed face down we will be helping you strengthen the muscles of your neck. As the baby turns months, we will increase the duration of the massage in this part of the body, since at the beginning our baby will only endure a few minutes with the head lifted.
When the baby is able to sit alone, we can proceed to perform the massage in that position.
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The massage on the face will be done specifically in the area of the cheeks, posing our hands and making gentle circular movements. This massage can relieve tensions in the jaw area as well as discomfort caused by teething.
Finish your massage with a hug and a kiss to your baby, thanking him for the wonderful moment you have given yourself.Photos | iStock
