Baby Massage: A Beginner's Guide

by Heather K. Scott

  • As a general rule, use gentle, light strokes (not so light as to tickle, though). Your motions should, "move from the center of your baby's body outward; for example, when massaging arms, go from shoulders out to hands," adds Pantley. Also, balance any massage movements you perform—if you first massage your baby's right leg, be sure to next massage her left leg.
  • First start with a short session; five minutes or less. Then slowly work up to longer sessions. A BBC report suggests, "try to set aside around half-an-hour at a time for a baby massage." But, watch your baby for signs of enjoyment; if she appears to be losing interest or begins to squirm, stop your session.
  • Massage your baby when she's not too full or too hungry, and avoid massage when she's ill or has recently had an immunization.
  • "Always use an edible oil, as the baby's fingers will probably go into the mouth. Corn, vegetable, or virgin olive oils are great. Do not use mineral oils," writes Kelly Lott, Certified Massage Therapist, in her online article, "Infant Massage the Therapy of a Loving Touch."

    • Gayle Peterson, PhD, considers baby massage essential to a baby's good health. "The fact is—babies need touching! It is not a luxury or just a good idea. It is essential to their health and well-being," Dr. Peterson writes on her Making Healthy Families website. In addition to your everyday love and touch, here are five basic movements and massage techniques you and your baby will enjoy.

    Massage and Movement Exercises

    Gayle Peterson, PhD, considers baby massage essential to a baby's good health. "The fact is—babies need touching! It is not a luxury or just a good idea. It is essential to their health and well-being," Dr. Peterson writes on her Making Healthy Families website. In addition to your everyday love and touch, here are five basic movements and massage techniques you and your baby will enjoy.

    A "Milking" Massage

    You can perform this massage with your baby either sitting down in front of you or laying down on her back. Beginning at the shoulder or hip, squeeze your baby's arm or leg gently with your thumb and fingers positioned as a "bracelet" around your child's limb. Move your hand down to the wrist or ankle in a slow "milking" motion. "Imagine that you are milking a cow, or squeezing the filling out of a sausage," suggests the BBC. As one hand reaches your wee one's wrist or ankle, begin the same motion with your free hand to create a continuous touch.

    A "Rolling" Massage

    This is another technique that can be done either with your baby sitting or laying down. Just as with the Milking Massage, begin at your baby's thigh or shoulder and "roll" the limb, as if you were rolling out a coil of dough, gently rocking the limb back and forth between your two hands. Slowly move your way down from shoulder or thigh to wrist or ankle.

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