Getting In Touch With Your Baby

As a parent you probably get a lot of pleasure holding and touching your baby. Well, your baby enjoys and benefits from your touch more than you may know. And, the more your baby is touch or massaged, the healthier he is likely to be.

Massage therapy is an ancient art that has enjoyed increased popularity in this country over the past ten years. Some techniques of massage are as old as some cultures themselves. In those countries, massage usually has a spiritual significance, but in the United States, the approach to massage has been more scientific.

Studies have shown that there is a biological connection between touching, stroking, and massaging infants and their growth. Touch stimulates the production of growth-promoting hormones. It increases the enzymes that make the cells of important organs more responsive to the growth-promoting effects of these hormones. Researchers have found that depriving a baby of touch caused a decrease in growth hormone, which could lead to a condition called psychosocial dwarfism.

It appears that touch makes the babies´ digestive system work better. Babies who are frequently touched show enhanced secretion of digestive hormones, which may be another reason why these infants grow better.

Touch is good for the brain, too. Studies show that babies who received extra touch had enhanced neurological development. It´s believed that touch promotes the growth of myelin - an insulating material surrounding nerves - that makes nerve impulses move faster.

Touched babies sleep better at night, are less fussy during the day and interact better with caregivers.

Touch also helps parents. Daily massages help you get in touch with your whole baby, read her body language and learn her cues. An uncuddly baby becomes used to being handled and parents become used to handling their baby.

There´s something magical about a parent´s touch. Skin, the largest organ in the human body, is rich with nerve endings, and touch is the most sensational of the senses. Touch is as vital to a baby as are food and sleep.

Mothers and fathers touch and caress their babies differently. A mother usually strokes her baby´s entire body using her fingertips. Fathers often place their entire hand on the baby´s head, possibly symbolizing their commitment to protect their child.

Massage is a fantastic way to "talk" to your baby. It´s easy to learn and to do, yet very powerful in the message it sends. Through massage you show your baby your love, understanding, and attention.

Psychologically, infant massage nurture the parent-infant relationship and promote bonding. A comforting massage can relieve daily stress and teach your baby how to relax. It gives parents the opportunity to tune in to their infants and develop confidence as caregivers. You may learn to unwind and relax yourself as you help your baby relax.

Massage is a touch you do with your baby, not to your baby. It´s an interaction, not a chore. Here are a few guidelines to follow in preparing for an infant massage session.

Choose the right massage oil. Most infant-massage instructors prefer fruit or vegetable oil ("edible oils"). These oils are nourishing to the skin and safe if your baby puts her oily fist in her mouth. Look for "cold-pressed" on the label, which means the oil has been extracted by pressure, not by heat or chemicals, which change its characteristics. Avoid almond oil or nut-based oils, as these may cause allergies. Avoid oils that are petroleum based. Check for a possible skin allergy rash by rubbing a small amount of oil to a small area on your baby´s skin at least one hour prior to massaging your baby with it. The tried and true massage oils like sesame seed oil, olive oil, or other vegetable oils are best. Make sure you choose unscented oils. The use of scented oils and the massage may be too much stimulation (touch and smell at the same time) for your baby.

Choose a time when you aren´t in a hurry and won´t be interrupted. Wait until an hour after your baby has eaten so there will be minimal spit-up.

Choose a warm, comfortable area of the house. You may want to play soft music or sing your own special songs to your baby.

Respect your baby´s desire for a massage. Before starting, ask your baby´s permission, "Would you like a massage?" Your baby will learn to recognize this as the signal of the beginning of the "event". After several massages, you will notice your baby´s eyes light up when he sees you rubbing oil into your hands and hears you say the cue word, "massage." If your baby seems upset, the massage should be postponed.

The massage begins with the legs and feet since these are the least vulnerable parts of the baby´s body. The massage continues with the abdomen, chest, arms and hands, face, and back. This sequence may be tailored to each baby´s needs, such as when she is teething, congested, or suffering from colic.