No, you read right. Baby massage. You may or may not have heard of this practice but you may be surprised just how much a slight massage for your newborn can aid in his/her growth and development. Just because babies don’t seem to do much doesn’t mean they have it easy. Try treating your newborn bundle of joy to a gentle baby massage (and get one for yourself, too!).

Just as adults can benefit from getting a massage, so can babies. Even though a newborn baby doesn’t deal with the daily stresses that adults do, being a baby in general can actually be pretty stressful. Massaging your baby can help not only bring parent and child closer, but can also alleviate problems such as disturbed sleep patterns, upset stomach, irritability and other conditions that can drive a baby (and mother) crazy. In addition, baby massage has been medically proven to aid in the growth and development of your baby in the long run.

So what exactly is a baby massage and how do you do it? The first thing to pay attention to is timing. Choose a time during the day or evening when you have plenty of time to spend with your baby that is free of errands, housecleaning and dealing with other children. Avoid giving your baby a massage when he/she has a stomach full of food or is hungry. Tend to these needs first and then proceed when the time is right. To create a relaxing atmosphere, sing to your baby or put on soothing music in the background.

Make sure that the both of you are comfortable. Try sitting on the floor or on top of the bed. You can even rest your baby in your lap is he/she is able to be comfortable enough to be still. Lay your baby on his/her back onto a terry cloth towel or blanket. The best massage oils to use that are safe for your baby’s skin include natural oils such as almond oil or a fresh bottle of vegetable oil, with a few drops of essential oil added, like lemon, lavender or vanilla. Pour a few drops of massage oil onto your hands and run them together until it is nice and warm. Apply the oil to your baby’s body but not the head or face. Massaging this area should be done with your bare hands only.

Start to massage your baby by making tiny circular motions on your baby’s head. Smooth your baby’s forehead with both hands by starting at the center and gently pressing outwards. Continue to make circular motions around your baby’s jaw. This process can also help during the teething stage.

Now you can move on to the rest of the baby’s body, starting with the chest. Using your warmed oil, stroke your baby’s chest gently using gentle pressed, outward motions (pretend you are spreading out the pages of a book). Take each arm and roll it in between your hands. Don’t forget to open and massage each finger and gently rub the inside palms.

For the stomach, use one hand first, followed by the other and work your way from the baby’s right side over to the left and back again if needed. Now move down towards the legs and roll each one in between your hands and gently massage each foot.

Next, turn your baby over onto his/her stomach and stroke the back. Begin with back and forth motions going across and then switch it up to long and sweeping lines that go from the shoulders to the feet.

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