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Mom of 2 a 7yr old and a 5wk old preemie (born at 34 wks)

Giving Your Infant A Massage Helps Reduce Crying And Boosts Your Baby’s Development. . .

You’ve probably heard it said that all babies need touch to feel safe and loved. This need for touch begins at the moment of birth and is essential for normal growth and development. In fact, touch is the only one of the five “far senses” we can’t live without.

The types of touch your baby needs include simple caresses and hugs to babywearing and infant massage.

Beginning with the act of birth, a baby’s life can be stressful (think about vaccines, heel sticks and all those diaper changes!)

Massage is one way to give your baby, and you, a calming experience. Plus, you can teach your baby how to relax his or her body when faced with stress. 
 

There Are Many Reasons To Give Your Baby A Massage

• Less Crying – Babies who are touched more usually cry less. “The desire to be close to one another is the same whether you’re a mother in a hut in Africa or a high rise in New York,” says Vimala Schneider McClure, well-known authority on infant massage.

• Smarter - Soothing touch is strongly connected to your baby’s intellectual development.

• More Bonding – Massage brings you closer to your baby and helps you feel more confident as a parent. You get to know your baby’s body language and your baby begins to understand what healthy touch is all about.

• Gas Relief – Your baby should have less gas and burping when massaged on a regular basis. This is especially important for colicky infants.

• Good For Preemies – Massaged premature babies gain more weight and are more active & responsive than premature babies who are not massaged. Their nervous systems also mature faster, so baby’s brain and body communicate better.

• More Cooperative & Compassionate — Studies across various cultures show that in societies where the infants are held, massaged, rocked, breastfed and carried, the children grow up to be less aggressive and violent. In fact, they are more cooperative and compassionate.

I first became interested in infant massage when my son and I took a class with other moms & babies. We both enjoyed the experience so much that I was “hooked” and proceeded to make massage a daily tradition.
 

Some Tips To Get You Started. . .

1. Choose a warm & quiet place and put on some relaxing music, if you’d like.
 

2. Gather a soft towel, oil (cold-pressed fruit or canola is best) and a few wet wipes.

3. Lay your baby on the towel and relax & breathe deeply as you remove your baby’s clothing.

4. Oil your palms and rub together to warm them.

5. Show your palms to your baby and ask permission to begin (“It’s time for a massage. May I massage you now?”)

While an official class is a great way to see demonstrations of the actual techniques, it’s also possible to learn from a good book, like Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents by Vimala Schneider McClure. 
 

Here Are Several Strokes & Gentle Movements From The Book. . .

• “Squeeze and Twist” for baby’s legs: Hold each leg as if you were holding a baseball bat-one hand above the other. Move hands up the leg together while squeezing slightly and turning in opposite directions.

• ”Water Wheel” for baby’s stomach: Lightly stroke down the tummy, one hand following the other.

• Technique for hands: Open baby’s hands with your thumbs. Roll each tiny finger between your index finger and thumb. Stroke the top of each hand. Massage each wrist, making small circles all around it.

• ”Open Book” for the chest: With both hands together at the center of the chest, push out to the sides, following the rib cage. Almost like you are flattening the pages of a book.

Remember to perform each of the above techniques gently and consciously, as babies are quite delicate! Your strokes should be soft and gentle.

Also, no matter what strokes you use, it’s your whole attitude that’s important. Enjoy this special time with your baby.

Have you heard of a baby pouch, but you’re not quite sure what it is? Just like ring slings, pouches allow you to “wear” your baby, and baby pouches are considered a sling. However, there are some important differences between a ring sling and a baby pouch.

A quick description of a baby pouch is a folded piece of fabric that is attached together at the ends. The fold of the fabric creates an envelope style pocket, and it’s into this pocket that the baby is placed. The baby pouch is very simple to use and wear, making it popular among first time parents and those new to “baby wearing” as a lifestyle. With a baby pouch, it is particularly important to get a good fit so the baby stays securely next to your body.

Baby pouches are extremely user-friendly. They are comfortable to wear, easy to put on, and easy to use. There are very few adjustments to make, so the learning curve is very short. Unlike other types of slings, a well-fit baby pouch holds the baby securely, and allows your child to move easily from a lying down to sitting up position, (called “popability” in babywearing circles) when he or she gets to the age where that is important. The wide band of fabric spreads out across the wearer’s back, distributing weight evenly and minimizing back pain.

A baby in a baby pouch carrier can be carried on the wearer’s front in either a lying down position or a sitting up position. You can also wear the baby on your hip or back using a baby pouch. The baby can be facing you or looking out, away from you.

Many parents prefer the sleek look of baby pouches to the slightly bulkier profile of a ring sling. Dads particularly like the look of feel of the baby pouch and are more likely to wear it than a sling.

There are adjustable baby pouches and non-adjustable baby pouches. The adjustable styles have snaps, zippers, or Velcro on one end, while non-adjustable baby pouches are sewn together at both ends. The adjustable pouches can be used by at least two people of different sizes, eliminating the need to purchase two pouches. Baby pouches adjust as your baby grows, making the baby pouch a good choice from newborn to toddler.

There are two general kinds of fabrics used for baby pouches. You’ll buy either stretch fabric or a non-stretchy cotton pouch. Many experienced baby pouch users express a preference for stretchy fabrics that give with the baby, provide better support, are more comfortable for the baby, and do not cause baby to get sore legs.

Baby Pouch Pros: Quick to learn, easy to use, sleek look, lightweight (can be folded easily into a diaper bag if not in use), dads like them better, fit preemies to preschool age, no rings, comfortable for back carry, even young babies can be carried on the back.

Baby Pouch Cons: Less adjustability, fewer possible positions, not as easy to breastfeed discreetly.

If you are looking for a wonderful way to bond with your baby, baby pouches are a great way to achieve the closeness you want and have the convenience you need for all your days.

Here are some key points to remember to help keep your baby healthy and safe. Remember, newborns, preemies, and young infants are very susceptible to illness. Be sure to:

* Wash your hands frequently when caring for your little one (especially after going to the bathroom and changing diapers).
* Make sure all visitors wash their hands prior to touching your baby.
* Make sure visitors are not ill when coming to visit.
* Avoid large crowds for at least 1 month after your baby is born.

Help protected your baby from accidental injury. Be sure to:

* Always place your baby in an appropriate car seat when traveling in any vehicle.
* Never leave baby unattended (especially in the car, bathtub, changing table, or on any other elevated area).
* Always keep one hand on your baby when in the bathtub, on the changing table, or on any elevated area.
* Never shake your baby. Shaken baby syndrome can cause blindness, brain damage or death.
* Place baby on his/her back to sleep to reduce the likelihood of sudden infant death syndrome.
* Always test the temperature of the water before giving a bath.
* Use a non-skid mat in the bathtub.
* Never prop a bottle when feeding your baby.
* Never place pacifier on a string around baby’s neck.
* Check pacifiers and nipples for holes and tears frequently.
* Always test the temperature of breast milk/formula prior to feeding your baby.
* Never leave pets or young children alone with your baby.
* Ensure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are functioning properly.
* Do not carry infant when you are cooking or holding hot drinks.
* Make sure that your baby’s toys are unbreakable.
* Remove toys from the crib when your baby is sleeping or unattended.
* Never give an infant under 1 year of age honey. Honey has been associated with botulism.