Baby massage can be a good thing for both parent and child:

• It’s a good bonding experience - a good way for you and your baby to get to know each other and spend a bit of quality time together
• Studies have suggested that physical contact is good for babies, improving breathing, circulation, digestion and growth. It provides a good source of sensory and muscle stimulation, which is beneficial for all babies, but may be particularly good for babies with special needs, such as developmental disabilities and Down's Syndrome. Baby massage is even claimed to combat postnatal depression in mothers ¹
• It relaxes both parent and child
• It’s fun for both of you.

Some health professionals feel that you should not carry out massage on newborn babies, or should wait until they have had their first full course of immunisations (3-4 months). Conversely, others feel you should start as soon as possible as massage can help to provide a transition between the womb and the outside world, and that massage is particularly beneficial for premature babies. Massage is also a popular option for coping with colic, a problem only normally encountered by babies under 3-4 months. If you have any concerns about massaging your baby - and especially if your baby is sick - you should consult an appropriate health professional first. In any case: never massage a baby if the baby seems uncomfortable.

Setting up

You will need:

• Some massage oil. Make sure that your oil is suitable for use on a baby. Most massage oils - including those sold as ‘baby massage oil’ tend to include fragrance. Chances are that your baby will end up ingesting some oil - for instance by putting their massaged hands in their mouth - so you really want to make sure it is safe. A simple oil like pure almond oil is best, but if in doubt ask for advice when buying.
• A warm room. Your baby is going to be stripped right down to the skin. Your baby therefore needs to be in a warm environment - remember that babies are not good at regulating their body temperature and cool down much quicker than adults. Consider setting an extra heater going in the room some time before you begin. Close all doors and watch for draughts (especially if the baby will be on the floor). Make sure that you are dressed appropriately for the temperature of the room, and that your clothing is as comfortable as possible.
• A comfortable surface. You need something soft, warm and cushiony for the baby to lie on. At the same time the surface needs to be able to cope with accidents - remember: your baby is going to be without a nappy! Something like a thick towel on top of one of those plastic covered baby changing mats would be ideal. Have a spare nappy to hand in case of accidents. You also need a safe place to put what is likely to become a rather messy bottle of massage oil. Keep it away from carpets and soft furnishings!²
• A chunk of time. Try to pick a time when you will not be disturbed and when you both can relax. For your baby, it should not be too soon after a feed (who wants to be poked in a full tummy?) or so close to a meal that the baby will be hungry and distracted. Equally, don’t pick a time when your baby is really tired and just wants peace (though don’t be surprised if they nod off during the massage.) After your baby's bathtime might be a good idea, providing they are not too sleepy. For you, you need a time when you can put aside thoughts and worries about chores or work. Remember that your baby relies on non-verbal communication, and will pick up on your mood if you are tense. Relax, so that you are only transmitting good vibes to your child. Try to set aside around half an hour for a baby massage.
• A good atmosphere. Don’t try and watch telly and massage your baby at the same time. This is not an opportunity to catch up on the news, or on your favourite soap opera or quiz show. If you want something in the background, then play some gentle instrumental music or put on an ‘ambient music’ video. Dim the lights.

Before you begin

• Make sure you really are comfortable and relaxed, and have everything to hand. Do a bit of deep slow breathing to make sure you’re not tensed up.
• Undress your baby. Pop a clean nappy under the baby’s bottom
• Warm up: shake your hands vigourously to loosen them up. If it’s your kind of thing you may want to envision energy flowing from your body and down into your hands.
• Put a generous amount of oil on your hands and rub them together above your baby to warm the oil. This also gives your baby a visual and aural cue that there is a massage on the way.
• Ask your baby’s permission. This may feel a little bit silly, but it's actually a standard recommendation. Remember that massage is really quite a personal thing, and you wouldn’t do it to anyone older without asking would you? Don’t take it for granted that your child will want a massage, because at some point now or in the future they may not, and you will be taking an appalling liberty if you don’t ask - so get into the habit now.

Baby Massage - Some General Rules

Baby massage can be quite different from adult massage, both in strokes and techniques. Baby massage should never be probing, but should not be so light that it will tickle the baby. Of course you need to be most gentle on tiny babies: a standard recommendation is to place your finger on your closed eyelid and press lightly, stopping before it feels uncomfortable. Use this as a gauge for how much force to use on a new baby. For older babies, be quite firm as babies prefer confident handling. Think about what you would enjoy, and watch your baby for reactions.

On the trunk, always massage from your left to right (that’s from your baby’s right to left). This follows the direction of flow in the digestive system, so that you are working with the baby’s organs - not against them. Use your ‘main’ hand - that is your writing hand - for the major part of the strokes.

Standard Strokes

These are the strokes mentioned in the massage routine suggestions. They can be used on many different parts of the body.

Open book (used on chest, back and forehead)

Place your hands together palm to palm, in a ‘praying’ gesture, with your fingertips pointing towards the baby’s head, your thumbs uppermost. Now imagine that your hands are a closed book, and your thumbs are the spine. Place your little fingers - that’s the edges of the pages - against the baby’s skin and ‘open’ the book by spreading your hands, until your thumbs - still touching each other - reach the baby’s flesh. Separate your hands and continue to move them outward across your baby in one smooth motion.

Milking (used on arms and legs)

Starting at the top of the limb and squeezing gently, move your hand down to the wrist or ankle. Imagine that you are milking a cow, or squeezing the filling out of a sausage. As one hand reaches the wrist or ankle, start at the top with the other hand so that there is a continuous stroking effect.

Rolling (used on arms and legs)

This is a classic massage stroke - you have probably seen it, even if you’ve never done it. Place your non-writing hand under the limb and your main hand above. Roll the limb between the hands, (you’ll probably find yo do this by moving your main hand rapidly, and your other hand hardly at all). Move gradually down the limb.

A Sample Massage

You may wish to practice first on a doll or teddy bear, so that you can relax and handle your baby confidently.

Different babies enjoy different things, so feel free to adapt the order of these sections, or miss out the parts your baby doesn’t enjoy.

To start with, try doing each major stroke five times - strokes on the hands and feet tend to be repeated five times anyway - one for each digit.

Place the baby on their back, feet towards you.

Chest and Stomach

• Open book on the baby’s chest, spreading out around the baby’s ribcage and under the arms
• Open book again on the baby’s chest, but this time going up to the collar bone, shoulders and tops of arms
• Stroking neck - place your hand on the centre of your baby’s chest, diagonally so that your finger tips point to one shoulder. Push your hand up and over the shoulder so that your fingers go under the chin and into the crease against your baby’s neck. Do the same with the other hand on the opposite shoulder.
• Arched window - Place two fingers of your main hand at the very top of your baby’s right thigh, and run then up, under the curve of the ribcage, and down to the same point on the left side. You should have drawn the shape of an arched window, or an upside down U.
• Scooping in the sand - Now place the side of your curved hand in the arch under the ribcage, and bring it down towards the groin, as if you were scooping a hole in sand. Do this five times with each hand and then again with your main hand, but holding the baby’s legs up with the other.
• Sunrise and sunset - Hold your hand so that the palm is above (but not touching) the baby’s groin and the upper half of all the fingers is resting on the point at the very top of the baby’s right thigh (your hand should be diagonal). Turn your wrist and sweep your hand around until your fingertips touch the same point on the left thigh, keeping your palm in roughly the same place, just twisting on the spot. Your fingertips should have drawn a low round arch. As one hand reaches the end of this arch, start the other off on the same path, so that one hand follows the other, over and over.
• Walking your fingers. Starting at the babies right side, walk our fingers in a horizontal line just above the belly button. Slide back.
  Thumb bird. Place your thumbs together and stretch your palms out, as if you were miming a bird. Place your thumbs on the centre of the baby’s stomach and wrap your hands around the waist. (the tips of your thumbs should come up just above the belly button). Now separate your thumbs, stroking across the stomach and round the baby’s sides.

Arms and Hands

• Milk the arm, making sure you get into all the creases, especially behind the elbow.
• Roll the arm
• Stroke the back of the hand, starting at the wrist and going down over the top of each finger in turn
• Do the same on the palm of the hand. As you reach the tip of each finger, give it a little roll between your fingers.
• Draw small circles around the knobbly wrist bone
• Armpit - raise your baby’s arm above their head and flat onto the towel. (If your baby stiffens their arm, try jiggling it gently from the elbow until they relax.) Now with the other hand stroke down the inside of the upper arm, into the cavity of the armpit, and off. Make sure this one is firm, so that it does not tickle.
• Movements: holding it by the wrist, take one arm down to the baby’s side, then up and across to the opposite collarbone, in the style of a Roman salute. make sure you return the arm to the baby’s side afterwards Do this five times with each hand. Now take a wrist in one hand, and the opposite foot in the other. bring the two together, meeting somewhere over the baby’s belly button. Make sure that you return both limbs to he ground between movements. repeat five times with each side.

Legs and Feet

Start with the left leg

• Milk the leg, making sure you get into all the creases, especially behind the knee.
• Roll the leg
• Squeeze and twist the leg, in the style of a ‘Chinese burn’ - but with plenty of oil!³ Work your way down the leg.
• Stroke the top of the foot, going down over the top of each toe in turn
• Do the same on the base of the foot, starting at the heel. As you reach each toe, give it a little roll between your fingers - this can be quite difficult if your fingers are slippery! If you baby has their toes curled over, try putting your thumb at the base of the toes and pushing gently and repeatedly, until they relax.
• Use your thumb to press in all over the base of the foot.
• Draw small circles around the ankle bone on the outside of the leg.

Switch to the right leg and do the same.

• Place the palm of each hand at the top of a thigh, with the side of your index finger in the crease between thigh and stomach. Stroke inwards down the side of the groin. (Note - this is as close as you should ever get to the genital area in baby massage).
• Place one hand under each buttock and massage it, then bring your hand out along the underneath of the leg and down to the feet, pulling ever so gently. Give a little shake and then leave go when you get to the feet. Try saying “Round and round and round we go - and all the way out and down to your toes!”
• Movements: Lift one ankle and bend the knee so that the back of the heel of that foot onto the inside of the knee of the other leg - as if your baby was hopping. Repeat five times with each foot and then alternate left and right feet. Finally, cross legs to knees left over right and right over left - repeat five times.

The Back

Turn your baby until the lie on their front. Some babies love this; some hate it. It may depend on their age and upper body strength. If your baby won’t lie happily on their front, try holding them to your chest with their head over one shoulder or, if they are old enough, sitting up, perhaps in the crook of your leg to hold them steady.

• Use the open book technique, down below their arms onto their ribs, and up over their shoulders.
• Lay both palms perpendicular to the baby's spine and move your hands back and forth, working your way gradually down to the small of the back.
• Use the tips of two fingers to draw small circles all over the back, working roughly from top to bottom. Try to draw the circles by shifting the skin, rather than moving your fingers over the skin.
• Use the tip of all the fingers on one hand to come down the spine, and in a curve from the outer edge of the shoulders and down the spine. If your baby is lying down you can continue these strokes over the bottom and down the legs.

Face and head

This is perhaps the section that most babies like least. If you’re baby doesn’t want it, simply miss it out. If you baby likes it, try inserting it earlier on into the massage, when the baby is still lying on its back.

Most of the following strokes use the tips of the first two fingers of each hand, working symmetrically on both sides of the face at the same time.

• Use the open book technique on the forehead, but just using the upper half of your fingers.
• Use your thumbs to stretch the forehead gently, pulling outwards from the centre
• Use the tips of your forefinger to draw down the jawbone from tin front of the ear until your fingers meet on the chin
• Draw small circles on the skin above the hinge of the jaw in front of the ears
• Stroke from the bridge of the nose, down the sides of the nose and across the cheekbones
• Stroke from the bridge of the nose along the eyebrows
• Run the pads of your thumbs gently down from the centre of the eyebrow and over the eyelid, closing the eyes in the process (some parents swear by this as a way of encouraging sleep!)
• Stroke the top lip, finishing in an upward stroke, making the shape of a smile
• Do the same with the lower lip.
• Run the finger tip around the inside of the curve of the ear, top to bottom, and then without breaking contact, round the outside of the back of the ear, top to bottom
• Run the flat of all your fingers from the temples, up and round the side of the head, down behind the ears and along the jawbone, so that your hands meet at the tip of the chin.

Finding out more about Baby Massage

There is only so much of massage that can be learnt from a written description. If you would like to learn more, you may wish to attend a baby massage course near you. You could ask your midwife, health visitor, medical centre or maternity hospital for details of local teachers or courses - some of which may be free. If you are in the UK, you could check with your local branch of the The National Childbirth Trust or you could contact your national chapter of The International Association of Infant Massage. If you cannot find a course which suits, then there are a number of baby massage videos on the market.

When is my child too old for baby massage?

Some babies go off the massage when they start to crawl and get just too wriggly - don't worry if this is the case - it's nothing that you are doing wrongly! You may find that your child is willing to start again when they are a little older, and by then you may find that they are old enough to respond and tell you which stokes they like best. This researcher's massage teacher said that the best stage is when they are old enough to give a massage to you.