Infant Massage

Benefits of infant massage

·         Infant-Parent attachment or “bonding”

·         Relaxation

·         Helps baby feel loved

·         Promotes better sleep

·         Facilitates body awareness

·         Boosts immune system

·         Sensory stimulation

·         Improves skin condition

·         Improves blood circulation

·         Helps digestion

·         Balances respiration

·         Relief for teething pains

·         Help waste elimination

·         Helps build parents’ and baby’s self-esteem

·         Helps you learn about your baby (their needs and desires)

·         Relaxes parents

·         Pleasurable experience

·         Stimulates production of oxytocin (Oxytocin is a hormone which can be produced by both male and female persons during massage. It is useful as a pain reliever and has a calming effect on the person.)

Stimulates all the systems of the body including the:

• Nervous system
• Circulatory system
• Respiratory System
• Elimination System
• Immune System

Stimulates the release of oxytocin, known as the cuddle hormone (is released in both parent and child), prolactin (promoting milk production in the mother) and other endorphins.Reduces muscle stiffness and normalizes muscle toneRelaxingHelps relieve tension built up from all the stimulation in the baby’s environment

• Helps babies handle sensory stimulation and respond in a relaxed manner
• Helps babies sleep better
• Helps regulate sleep/wake cycle

Relief

• Touch combined with vocalization helps reduce pain levels up to 80%
• Helps tone digestive tract
• Helps alleviate gas and promote elimination
• Releases hormones for food absorption.
• Releases endorphins, natural pain killers, to ease emotional distress

Bonding and Attachment

• Infant massage draws on all the elements of bonding and attachment
• Eye-to-eye contact, skin-to-skin, body scent, vocalization, taste, responsiveness
• Hormones stimulated by infant massage promote bonding and attachment between parent and baby