Infant Massage

Infant massage is a parenting tradition found in many ancient cultures that has been rediscovered and adapted to the Western world. Massage stimulates growth and supports the healthy development of your baby’s body, mind, and spirit, leading to positive, lifelong effects! Research confirms the importance of a secure environment and nurturing touch for the healthy growth, development, and maturation of children. Numerous studies also show the developmental benefits of positive contact as part of a baby’s early life. Infant massage is one of the most natural and pleasant methods of providing this nurturing contact.

When infants are nurtured and cared for, they grow into adults who contribute positively to their community, family, and society. This investment of just 15 minutes a day can yield significant benefits for your child’s development and well-being.

Benefits of Infant Massage for Baby

• Relaxes your baby and helps decrease stress for both you and your baby.

• Relieves discomfort from constipation, gas, and colic.

• Improves immune function.

• Encourages the release of oxytocin, the “nurturing hormone.”

• Helps normalize muscle tone and improve blood circulation.

• Aids in better sleep by releasing stress that builds daily from new experiences—resulting in more rest for both baby and parents.

• Stimulates brain development and improves sensory awareness.

• Reduces crying as parents become more responsive to baby’s cues.

• Promotes bonding and attachment with essential one-on-one time, enhancing intimacy, understanding, and nurturing abilities.

• Enhances development of the nervous system.

• Stimulates neurological development.

• Increases alertness and sensory awareness.

• Reduces stress hormones.

• Can aid in increasing weight in infants who are in the lower percentiles for weight.

Benefits of Infant Massage for Parents

• Caregivers report feeling more comfortable and confident in their ability to care for their baby.

• Parents learn to understand and respond to baby’s cues more effectively.

• Empowers and enhances your ability to understand some of your baby’s special needs.

• Parents learn techniques to soothe and comfort their babies.

• Provides an additional avenue for close and nurturing contact.

• Massaging your new baby can help relieve the stresses of early parenthood.

• Infant massage is a natural and pleasant method of providing early nurturing, helping parents connect more deeply with their babies.