h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Baby Massage - A872453
Author: Cloviscat - I'm a Scout, you know, but don't hold it against me - U146988

Here is an entry about baby massage - a nice fun way for parents to spent time with their new kids.
I did a training course on it recently and at the end, we were encouraged to transfer these skills to oter parents - this seems like a good way to do it!
I'm indebted to Simon the Silly Sausage (U192382) for his positive help in getting this written up, but he's too modest to accept a credit!
And thanks again to Gnomon for his definition of a Chinese burn.

All my recent entries have been terribly domesticated - I must live the wild life more in fututre!

Wonderful!

We did it with both of our kids and it really is a great bonding experience for both kids and parents.



- Jimi X

Thanks Jumi X!

Oh dear, my typing really isn't up to it today:

oter parents?
Blcakcat?
Jumi?

I do apologise

Must be all that massage oil on your fingers, making you slip and hit the wrong keys.

Hi, Cloviscat, that was a very useful and interesting entry. Tomorrow I´ll try to massage our two . Let´s see if they will like it.

How old is your baby? Is it the first one? I´ll look at your space, if you have written something about it. Our kids are two years old and ten months. Are you interested in writing more baby/children-related entries?

Anna Banana

Hi Anna!

Thanks for your postive comments!

yes there is a lttle about my baby on my Userpage, and also at F33475?thread=177540&skip=0&show=20

I see you've found the 'collaborative topics' thread at the parent and child group, so I'll write more there.

See you round!

Hi Cloviscat,

An interesting article I read once told how your child can reciprocate the favour in later life if you should ever be suffering with back ache and other miscellaneous back problems.

Lay down on the floor and get a child of six or seven to walk up and down your spine in their bear feet. I am told that this can be quite beneficial. Six or seven is the ideal age as they are heavy enough to have the desired effect, but not too heavy to do any damage.

Stuart

probably works best if you don't have a boisterous child!

I really like this one!

Just a few minor tidbits:

1) "postnatal" is not usually hyphenated anymore

2) For parents who are a little leery about jumping in on their own, there are classes offered in many areas by schools, hospitals, yoga centers, midwives, etc. I've also heard that there are some good videos available.

3) Infant massage can be extra-valuable for infants with developmental disabilities, as it provides a good source of sensory and muscle stimulation. I've heard physical therapists recommend it especially for babies with Down syndrome.


Mikey

Hello Mikey - nice to see you!

As you can see, PI made a point of linking to your excellent colic artcile, so your approval makes me

Let's see about your points:

1) - aargh - the curse of the spelling checker! Will remedy...

2) I hoped I'd covered this in te penultimate paragraph:

"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."

- perhaps I should make it jump out more?

3) - Special needs - excellent point - will add it!

OK

Postnatal corrected (although the entry to whih it links is hyphenated - don't know what the Sub will make of this)

Subheader added to highlight the 'Finding out more..." para

Special needs mentioned - d'you know there no edited entry on Down's Syndrome? I was quite surprised....

How does that look?

What about oil? Shouldn't use baby oil? You say almond oil is simple - use any simple nut oil? You mean one pure nut oil, not blended? How about seed oil eg sesame? Different oils have different qualities, might suit different babies, might be preferred by different masseurs/masseuses.

You didn't mention the scalp, I know it's soft when they are very young but it can be massaged?

We were advised off baby oil. I've heard others recommend coconut oil and olive oil. However, I don't want to be absolute, especially on the dangerous subject of nuts, which is why I recommend checking when you buy.

I never like being too dogmatic iun an entry for the edited guide. I always feel happier encouraging people to consider taking sp[ecialist advice.

I've not come across any baby massage why makes a point of scalp massage, probably, as you say, because of the fontanelle. The sample massage includes the sides of the head around the easrs, and the forehead, and that's as much as this baby likes!

Hope that helps.

Your Guide Entry has just been picked from Peer Review by one of our Scouts, and is now heading off into the Editorial Process, which ends with publication in the Edited Guide. We've therefore moved this Review Conversation out of Peer Review and to the entry itself.

If you'd like to know what happens now, check out the page on 'What Happens after your Entry has been Recommended?' at EditedGuide-Process. We hope this explains everything.

Thanks for contributing to the Edited Guide!

Thank you, whoever picked it!

A very worthy topic *and* entry for inclusion into the Edited Guide!

- Jimi X