Touch

“But touch’d with human gentleness and love…” (Shakespeare)

Yes, babies love to be touched and in its simplest form baby massage is just that, gentle touching and stroking.

This very intimate and loving form of communication has so many positive benefits for you and your baby. From easing the trauma of birth, to enhancing and developing a loving bond, offering relaxation from a very new and stressful world, and even giving relief to minor physical conditions.

Did you know the human skin has over 5 million nerve endings?
And that when those nerve endings are stimulated in the course of a massage each one sends a signal of pleasure and well-being to your brain. That’s pretty awesome!

Birth

Birth is a traumatic experience for both mother and baby.

However this soon changes to both wonder and delight as you hold for the first time this very precious gift of life.

Your first skin on skin contact when you instinctively start to stroke and hold your baby, the comforting feeling of your gentle touch and soothing voice all help baby to overcome the trauma of birth and adjust to this new and exciting world.

Over the next few weeks you can increase these loving strokes to a gentle 5 to 10 minute baby massage before progressing onto a full baby massage routine at the age of 6 to 8 weeks.

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Bonding

Bonding, as defined by research psychologists Kennal and Klaus, is a unique relationship between two people that is specific and endures throughout time.

We all seek relationships. It is in the nature of humans to want love, safety, and closeness with others. Your first relationship actually begins pre-birth.

As the baby develops in your womb it is receptive to your voice and to your touch and you in turn can hear its heartbeat and feel the beginnings of life.

'This is the start of bonding'.

Your daily baby massage routine can have many positive effects that help to deepen that loving bond. From providing warmth, passion, and security, to developing trust and respect.

This special time spent together will also encourage baby to hear your loving voice and get to know your smell.

Relaxation

Relaxation works both ways.

For you it means time out from your busy schedule. 20 to 30 minutes a day spent enjoying giving the calming and soothing effects of baby massage.

For your baby it helps to relieve stress and anxiety. Massaging baby before nap time will help calm him down and assist with a deeper longer lasting sleep.