Infant Massage

What is Infant Massage?

Massage has been used since ancient times to improve well-being of babies. In fact, it is used so often that caregivers have been using it without realization. Massage starts with the very first contact with the baby – caressing, stroking the tiny hands and touching the velvety soft skin. When these strokes are added together, a massage is created.

Infant massage is a sequence of strokes adapted from Indian massage, Swedish massage and foot reflexology. When put together, it creates a powerful massage technique that has been proven by research to be highly beneficial to babies.

Also see:

• Benefits of Infant Massage
• Infant Massage for Premature
• Infant Massage Class

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: The information and advice contained in or made available through this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the services of a health professional/physiotherapist or to be a substitute for medical advice of physicians.

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Benefits of Infant Massage

Infant massage gives parents golden opportunity to bond with their child. In the past, stay-home-mother is a norm. However, with the busy city life, staying home to look after children is no longer common. It is normal that both parents in the family are working. More than often, babies are placed in infant care or taken care by home helper. The lack of quality time spend together results in a family without strong bond. Infant massage, as short as 5 minutes, provide parents the golden opportunity to redeem this lack of quality time. Through infant massage, parents will be able to communicate, bond and learn more about their babies.

A lot of parents took up infant massage because they heard about its miraculous effects on constipation and colic (stomach ‘wind’). It is true that a lot of babies do ‘poo’ after a good regime of tummy massage. Babies are also reported to cry lesser due to less colic.

Other benefits include the following:

• Relief teething discomfort
• Reduce excessive mucus
• Soften the skin
• Assist in muscular development and tone
• Improve sleep patterns
• Reduce sensitivity to touch
• Reorganization of nervous system
• Improve body awareness
• Normalizing muscle tone
• Increase flexibility

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: The information and advice contained in or made available through this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the services of a health professional/physiotherapist or to be a substitute for medical advice of physicians.

Infant Massage for Premature

Infant massage is highly beneficial for premature babies. In fact, (in my opinion) all babies born prematurely should be given infant massage. Hospitals in some countries has infant massage specialist to start massage as early as the intensive care stage. It is proven that infant massage helps increase weight gain in a premature baby.

How is Infant Massage done in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit?

Infant massage in intensive care usually starts with simple stroke or touch, such as placing parent’s hand gently over baby’s chest. As the baby learns and accepts touch, more strokes can be introduced cautiously. During the massage, it is important that the baby does not get over stimulated. Therefore, it is important to be guided by a physiotherapist or healthcare personnel who has the knowledge to recognize signs of stress during the massage.

What other benefit does Infant Massage has on premature babies?

Infant massage can help premature babies by stimulating their senses. Infant massage is a multisensory experience: they smell their caregiver (sense of smell), feel the stroke (sense of touch), listen to the caregiver’s reassuring voice (sense of hearing) and look around to see who is touching them (sense of sight). Babies then have to piece all these information together, helping them to integrate their under-develop sensory systems secondary to prematurity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: The information and advice contained in or made available through this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the services of a health professional/physiotherapist or to be a substitute for medical advice of physicians.

Infant Massage Class

Infant Massage class is a great way to know other families. It is a fun filled experience for parents to share their delights and problems encountered while taking care of baby. Babies also get a chance to socialise and interact with other babies.

Infant massage class is designed for infants 0-12mths old. However, upon learning the massage skill, infant massage can be done on children all the way to adolescent. As the child grows, techniques and strokes are changed accordingly to accommodate for change in size.

Why learn Infant Massage from Kids Home Therapy?

Infant massage class at Kids Home Therapy is conducted by paediatric physiotherapist who is experienced in handling babies from premature to special needs. Besides teaching the strokes, valuable parenting tips will be shared and topics on child development will be covered. Infant massage class at Kids Home Therapy is not only about the massage strokes; it is also about equipping parents with better child care knowledge.

How can I sign up for infant massage class?

You can find out more information about the class at http://www.kidshometherapy.com.sg. To sign up, please kindly email kidshometherapy@gmail.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: The information and advice contained in or made available through this website is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the services of a health professional/physiotherapist or to be a substitute for medical advice of physicians.