Baby massage is a significant part of daily care for your baby because touch is one of the most important ways to reveal a loving and secure environment to your infant.

Benefits of Baby Massage
Baby massage benefits your infant in several ways.  Massaging stimulates nerve endings and improves circulation, both of which are extremely important in a new body still mapping its nerve-scape.

Also, through touch, massaging your baby is a simple way to strengthen the mother-child bond that is a critical part of your baby’s mental and emotional development.  Studies show skin-to-skin contact stimulates babies and a growing trend in postpartum care is to schedule skin-on-skin time between mother and child.  In one amazing story, touch may have saved a baby’s life.

Preparing to Massage Baby
Just before nap-time, create a quiet space for you and baby.  The room needn’t be absolutely quiet.  Whatever soft music or white noise you typically use during nap-time should be used during massage time.

Turn off the ceiling fan if there is one, lay baby on a pallet of blankets on the nursery floor and gather your supplies:

• baby lotion or oil,
• diaper, wipes, diaper ointment with zinc oxide, and
• a damp washcloth.

How to Massage Baby
Sit down next to baby, roll up your sleeves, and undress baby. Pour baby lotion or oil in your hands and warm it by rubbing your hands together.  Using a gentle but firm touch, begin to “milk” one leg at a time.  Place both hands around baby’s thigh and gently squeeze as you slide down the leg to the ankle.  Do this a couple of times for each leg.

Then, using your thumbs, rub your baby’s ankles, heels, arches, and tops of feet in a soft circular motion.  Finish each foot by squeezing baby’s toes, one at a time from foot to tip, as if they are tiny toothpaste tubes.  Be careful not to pull or squeeze too hard.

Using the same technique, switch to baby’s arms and hands.

Massage baby’s chest by lining up your hands in prayer position, sweep gently from the center of the chest outward, turning hands as you go so they end palms down.  Repeat this motion several times.

Continue massaging baby’s chest by wiping the chest from top to bottom, alternating hands repeatedly.

Finally, with baby turned over, trace tiny circles or tiptoe your fingers down either side of the spine, from neck to buttocks.  Finish the massage by firmly stroking baby’s back, shoulders to feet.

Ending the Massage
Now that baby is relaxed and ready for a nap, it’s time for a quick diaper change.  Wipe any excess oil or lotion from your hands with a damp washcloth.  Change baby’s diaper as usual and apply a generous amount diaper ointment with zinc oxide to prevent a diaper rash.  Dress baby and proceed with your normal nap-time routine!