Touch is widely understood to be beneficial for infants and children and contemporary research emphasises the benefits of touch for babies that are born prematurely. Just as much as other babies, premature infants tend to respond well to the comforting touch of their parents and this nurturing touch is now recognised for the possibilities it holds for the stimulation of growth, increase in weight and expression of comfort.

As a child grows, whether born prematurely or not, baby massage is acknowledged as helping to strengthen parent and child bonds and foster the child’s physical, social and emotional development.

Has this always been the case?

Because of the risk of infection and the fragility of their immune systems, historically, premature babies were touched as minimally as possible. It was also thought that touching the baby too much would place unnecessary strain on their heart and lungs.

However, knowledge of the positive effects of touch has certainly grown so that a return to the knowledge and practices of early civilisations is evident, whereby touch and particularly the physical closeness between a baby and its mother, is prioritised.

Ways for premature infants to be touched:

Although premature babies may be very vulnerable and need specialised and intensive care that involves them being attached to machines and equipment, there are a variety of ways that touch can be experienced. These include:

• Kangaroo care – In kangaroo care, the baby is held in an upright position in constant skin to skin contact with their parent’s chest. This position has been found to be particularly effective in countries that are characterised by poor socio-economic circumstances. In Bogota, Colombia, a decline in the mortality rate, from seventy per cent to thirty per cent, was observed.
• Infant massage – Just as full term infants often respond well to baby massage, some research has shown that premature babies who are massaged at least three times a day, gain significantly more weight, display better patterns in terms of feeding and sleeping and are discharged from hospital sooner than premature infants who are not massaged.

Premature babies who are massaged are also understood to have better sleep states as a result of decreased levels of stress hormones.

Baby massage oil can enhance the experience of the massage for parent and child, but particularly for premature infants, the use of a massage oil should be discussed with a health professional. Infant massage courses can help parents to feel more confident in delivering baby massage and provide them with recognised infant massage techniques.

For both premature and full term infants, those that are massaged will commonly be more active, and gain weight more quickly.

• Co-bedded twins – For twins or other multiple birth children that are born prematurely and even for those who are not, being placed in the same bed as their sibling(s) rather than being separated most often leads to them more effectively managing the stress of being in hospital and the various procedures to which they are subjected.

Touch has incredibly positive and far reaching benefits for all babies, but is particularly important for premature babies. Premature infants frequently gain weight at a more rapid rate and become stronger more quickly when they are nurtured with comforting touch, particularly the touch of their parents.

How Touch Nurtures Premature Babies is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

As parents, we all want to do the best that we can for our babies and children. Many of us are acutely aware that the experiences that are had during childhood can shape their life and so we want to make sure that our children experience positivity, warmth and security.

Particularly when the enormity and significance of this responsibility is considered, numerous parents are constantly seeking things to do with their babies and children. To help all parents, we have compiled a list of four wonderful things to do with and for your baby.

1:  Massage your baby

Baby massage is a wonderful practice that, when delivered correctly, can have far-reaching emotional, physical and developmental benefits for an infant. It is important that parents receive training so that they know the most effective and correct techniques to use, but when baby massage oil is applied and the enjoyment of the child is obvious, few people will dispute that baby massage is positive for children.

The power of touch is incredible and evidence increasingly shows that baby massage can help children to become more secure and confident as they grow. Similarly, baby massage commonly strengthens the bonds that exist between parents and children and can help to relieve the pain and discomfort that comes with wind, colic and digestive problems.

2:  Talk to your baby

When an infant is exposed to an environment that is rich in language, their vocabulary and understanding will simultaneously grow.

You can talk to a newborn baby about any subject at all; the topics of your conversation really are not important. However, it is important to note that the radio and television are not appropriate substitutes – your baby needs to hear your speech and that of other people in their environment. It is a great idea to talk to toddlers about their environment. Point out the different objects and their descriptive features and your child’s vocabulary and understanding will grow.

2:  Read

Reading to your baby or child is incredibly important. Most children love to have you read to them and as you do, they will be soaking up words although they may not be able to read themselves for a number of years.

3:  Play games

Children love it when you engage in play. With very small children, you can imitate your child’s expressions and movements (for example, smiling, poking out a tongue). Talk to your baby when they look into your eyes – they will love to see you react and witness the changing expressions and movements of your face. When your baby looks or moves away, feel free to stop. Their focus has shifted and there is no benefit in trying to regain their vision or attention. Looking or moving away can also indicate that your child is becoming overstimulated.

Games such as peek-a-boo are perennial favourites that also have social and communication benefits. Babies and children love the predictable nature of such games.

4:  Cuddle your baby

Cuddling your baby when they are upset is a primal instinct and one that helps your baby to feel comforted and secure. Of course, many parents choose to set boundaries for their children, but comforting your baby or child when they are visibly and audibly upset can help them to become more independent, competent and secure as they progress through childhood and adolescence to adulthood.

Many parents recognise the importance of giving their baby or child the best experiences possible during childhood. Because childhood is such a vital and life-shaping time, positive activities, a loving environment and nurturing experiences will help your child to grow into a secure and confident individual.

4 Wonderful Things to Do with Your Baby is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

If you have a genuine interest in baby massage and have considered becoming an infant massage instructor, there are many good reasons why you should become certified. Interest in baby massage is growing and, as people become more and more aware of its benefits, the demand for massage courses delivered by comprehensively trained instructors is sure to grow.

#1:  When you choose to complete a baby massage instructor training program that is credible, respected and endorsed, your own credibility will be strengthened amongst health professionals and parents who are seeking to learn high quality, effective and correct baby massage techniques.

#2:  Further to this, by gaining certification as a baby massage instructor you open yourself up to the possibility of applying for membership to some professional bodies. A professionally endorsed certification that is recognised within the industry is a powerful indicator of your professional development and status and the level of rigour with which you have been trained.

#3:  If you are certified as an infant massage instructor and have trained through a credible and respected organisation, it is possible that your qualification will be recognised not only within Australia but also internationally. If you are contemplating international travel, it can be great to have this assurance behind you and, even if you are not, it can indeed be positive to know that you have earned certification through an internationally recognised course.

#4:  When your infant massage instructor training provides you with certification through a quality institution or training provider, you are more likely to be guaranteed that it has equipped you with the knowledge and skills required to work safely and effectively with babies and parents. Baby massage should be delivered through evidence based techniques – there is far more to it than lathering on baby massage oil and hoping for the best.

#5:  When you train through a quality provider, you can also feel assured that your certification has a level of rigour to it. As a certified instructor, it is important that you feel equipped to deliver a quality baby massage class; to do this, training needs to incorporate much more than paying the course fee, sitting through one or two sessions and being provided with a piece of paper. If you are making the commitment to become a certified baby massage instructor, you should want and expect your training program to be of the highest standard and sufficient in preparing you to deliver a class of exceptional quality.

#6:  Quality infant massage instructor training is backed by research and evidence. If you are working towards certification as a baby massage instructor, it is in your best interests to ensure that your training program is grounded in research and has been comprehensively evaluated. You will want to know that your training is robust and founded on the best practice and knowledge available. Certification from a highly respected program is important so that others (and you) know that you have been trained and certified through a credible provider and program.

As infant massage becomes more popular and its benefits are more widely recognised, an increased number of people are likely to want to provide baby massage classes. It is important that you are certified and trained to deliver high quality classes that are safe and effective for parents and children.

Six Reasons to be Certified as an Infant Massage Instructor is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

Baby massage is fast becoming popular with parents, therapists and babies themselves! So much more than just administering a massage to a baby, baby massage is as much about communication, bonding and trust as it is about relaxation and soothing touch.

There are many good reasons why babies love massage. Many parents vouch that their little one becomes more relaxed and content as massage is performed. Many babies respond wonderfully well to massage and while many parents do use a baby massage oil to enhance the experience, baby massage can be done with absolutely no aids or equipment.

One of the most significant reasons why babies love massage is because particular strokes and exercises can have a very positive impact in relieving physical ailments. There are particular strokes that can help to alleviate a congested nose and others that can help to relieve stomach pains. Many parents and practitioners testify to the digestive benefits that can come from massage and of course, it is a relief for babies when constipation is overcome.

Babies love routines and when baby massage is embedded within the daily routines and structure that your little one comes to know and expect, this can have a tremendously positive effect. For example, some babies associate a massage with the beginning of the day and that pleasant, quiet time they have, quietly looking around the room following a good sleep. Some babies associate massage with the time to relax and/or enjoy special time with their parent(s).

The touch of a parent can be incredibly comforting and enjoyable for a baby. A sense of security can be instilled through regular massage and the familiar touch of a parent can certainly help a baby to calm down and settle from wind pain.

Massage can begin from birth and there is some research to show that massage is most effective in the first few months of life. The reason for this is primarily because very young babies are more inclined to keep still than active toddlers! It is not uncommon for babies to begin to be massaged from as young as just a few days of age and some babies even at this tender young age show a very positive response to the massage administered.

There is substantial evidence that shows that regular baby massage significantly strengthens the bonds that are created between parents and children. In addition, the medical benefits of massage for babies are becoming more widely known and understood – massage has been shown to help relieve colic and other complaints.

Sleep is also something that the parents of babies quickly become very concerned with. Some research suggests that baby massage can help babies to not only fall asleep, but also to stay asleep and self soothe if they do wake.

As baby massage grows in popularity, much research is being done to ascertain the benefits of massage for an infant’s psychological, physical and emotional development. While more scientific study will be useful to prove the connection between massage and these aspects of development, numerous parents, practitioners and clinicians have long espoused the multi-faceted benefits of baby massage.

Perhaps the most significant reason why babies love massage is because it is fun. The enjoyment of the baby is often completely apparent and in many cases, parents speak of the way that massaging their baby is fun for them. It is always lovely for parents and children to share mutually enjoyable experiences.

Just as adults enjoy receiving massages, many babies clearly show their appreciation of massage. Increasingly recognised for delivering a host of physical and emotional benefits, baby massage can help to settle and relax a baby as well as relieve them of a range of physical complaints.

Why Babies Love Massage is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

Far from being only a technique for bonding with your baby, baby massage is increasingly respected for the range of benefits that it brings babies and their families. Baby massage is intended to be enjoyable for both baby and parent and is unique in the way that it offers an extensive range of physical, social and emotional benefits.

Baby massage is understood to help baby and their parent(s) get to know each other. Through massage, parents and children can grow to know each other and when a parent’s touch offers familiarity, this can increase security and comfort for a little one. Human touch is incredibly important for infants and there is considerable evidence to show the far-reaching benefits of touch and massage for all babies, but particularly premature babies. Low birth weight and pre-term babies who are massaged are often shown to gain weight more quickly than those who are not.

Baby massage can also benefit communication. As they respond to their parent’s touch, many babies express what they do or do not like and many parents report incredible insight into their child’s preferences through baby massage.

One of the most important benefits of baby massage is its potential to help a baby feel safe and loved. Human touch is incredibly important in conveying love and safety and when babies and their parents are not able to communicate through spoken language, baby massage offers an excellent medium for love, safety and security to be shared.

On a more physical level, baby massage helps to stimulate the immune, digestive and circulatory systems. In this way, massage helps to strengthen and promote the healthy functioning of these physiological systems.

There is also evidence to show that baby massage enhances a child’s development on a number of levels. In particular, massage helps to encourage movement and coordination which are of course important in childhood and adult life.

Baby massage is widely acknowledged for its capacity to help parents and their baby to develop trust and confidence in each other. When a baby knows that it can trust, depend and have confidence in his or her parent(s), a feeling of security naturally follows and bonds between parents and baby is encouraged.

Baby massage has been proven to improve sleep patterns and is effective in helping infants settle into deep sleep. Both relaxation and stimulation are simultaneously enhanced when babies are massaged – with or without the use of baby massage oil, however research has shown that massage is more beneficial with the use of oil.

Another benefit of baby massage is its ability to relieve congestion, colic, constipation and wind and assist with reflux. Baby massage offers an excellent, natural alternative to medications and artificial substances that may be used to treat these conditions.

For mothers, there is some evidence to show that baby massage can assist with post natal depression. An often hidden but incredibly difficult and serious problem, baby massage helps to increase parent/child bonding and potentially helps to decrease the severity of post natal depression.

Massage is also recognised as a positive complimentary therapy for Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Down’s Syndrome. Many parents of children with additional needs testify that massage is an activity that they can enjoy with their child at home and a therapy that enhances any physiotherapy or occupational therapy that the child may also be receiving.

It is of course the decision of the parent as to whether or not they massage their baby. Regardless of the parent’s decision, being touched, held and stroked are known to be vital for a baby’s emotional development.

Benefits of Baby Massage is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

At some stage or another, your baby is going to experience separation anxiety. Biologically speaking, and definitely in terms of evolution, this makes sense—as a baby with virtually no defences, the idea of being left by a parent is highly stressful and will result in very real anxiety. The key to raising resilient babies and children is to minimise this anxiety and manage it in a way that shows your baby that you will always come back, and that they will always be safe while you’re away. There are several ways to do this at all stages of the experience–from calming anxiety through baby massage and other comforting techniques, to structuring the experience so that your baby gets used to the idea you’ll never be gone forever. Here is our step by step guide to minimising anxiety and reassuring your baby.
Easing Into It

The best way to minimise the amount of stress your baby experiences when he or she is separated from you is to take it in (pardon the pun) baby steps. Usually, separation anxiety in babies is at its worst at around 12-18 months, which coincides with the age most mothers decide to return to work. If your baby is going to be left with a nanny or someone else they’re unfamiliar with, try to organise a few times where you can be in the presence of this new carer with your child. It is best that your child doesn’t come to automatically equate the new person with you leaving, as this will make it difficult for them to bond. After a few short play-dates with the new carer, try leaving your child for a short period of time–maybe only half an hour–with the new carer. These smaller time periods will show your child that even though Mum leaves, she always comes back.

Support The Process

It’s so difficult to see your child in distress, and many parents become very distressed themselves, which is not really beneficial to the process. If your baby can see that you are upset by the process, or your guilt leads you to interfere too much, this will only draw the process out longer. For example, if you are leaving your child with a nanny, saying goodbye in the morning should be a happy, swift and calm situation. Once you’ve left the room, stay out of sight, and leave the house quickly. While this is always difficult if your child is upset, it is the quickest way to let the nanny do his or her job and soothe your baby themselves. The quicker your child learns that their carer will also comfort and protect them, the less time they’ll spend anxious. Some parents feel upset at the idea of another person comforting their child, and therefore unwittingly sabotage the situation. It’s important to remember that your baby’s emotional state is the most important thing to worry about, so trust the process and it will become a lot easier!

Help The Carer

Give your baby’s new carer as much information about what calms them down as possible. Books they like, music, food, blankets or activities that usually soothe your child will be an important tool for the new carer to establish trust and comfort. If you use infant massage as a soothing technique, show the new carer how you do it–the familiar touch and routine can help to show your child that they can be safe around this new person as well as Mum and Dad.

Baby Anxiety–How to Raise a Resilient and Balanced Bub is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

Parents of babies spend a good deal of time over those first few years looking out for ‘motor milestones’ as they are often referred to in parenting courses, or those indicators of development that everybody asks you about. ‘Is he walking yet?’ ‘Is he holding his spoon and feeding himself?’ ‘Can he roll over?’–these are common questions and sometimes they can cause unnecessary worry in new parents as they stress over the rate at which their baby develops compared to everyone else’s baby. While every baby develops at different rates, there are certain activities you can undertake with your baby to ensure their motor skills are coming along nicely.

Help the Head

Of course, newborns have very little neck strength, and as a result one of the primary concerns when handling a precious new baby is making sure their head is supported. After a while, your baby will develop stronger neck muscles and be able to strain this way and that at every little noise. In order to help further strengthen neck and head control once it starts to develop, place your baby face-down on the floor and entice the little one to look up, either by placing visual stimuli at eye-level or getting down on the floor with them. Repeat this throughout the day in order to build up strength, but make sure your baby doesn’t get tired or sore from straining.

Increase the Reach

An important developmental factor is the ability to reach and grasp. This is often fueled by your baby’s own sense of wonder and curiosity, but you can help this skill develop more quickly by providing your baby with a mobile above the crib with colourful objects hanging from it. This will entice your child to reach for the stimulating objects, but for safety reasons should be removed once the child is able to sit up. Another way to strengthen a baby’s gripping muscles is to give them toys like rattles and squeaky-toys which make noise at their touch or movement. The desire to hear the funny noise again will drive them to practice on their own!

Baby Massage

Baby massage stimulates an infant’s nervous system as well as helping them feel comfortable and more body-aware. Increased body awareness improves coordination and precision when it comes to those later milestones like crawling and walking, and can greatly assist bonding with the parent. In addition to this, baby massage can encourage flexibility and muscle control, which means your baby’s motor skills will come along in leaps and bounds.

Developmental and motor-skills milestones are different for every baby, so don’t worry if your child does not fit exactly into the specified parameters. If, however, you have a serious concern about your child’s physical development, do not hesitate to contact your GP, pediatrician or Child and Family Health Nurse about it, it is always better to be safe than sorry!

Baby Motor Skills is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

While parenting courses and books are incredibly valuable sources when it comes to fuelling your child’s development, many of the techniques that benefit babies the most are simple and intuitive. It’s easy to become overly obsessed with time lines–the ages at which your baby ‘should’ be walking, talking, crawling, smiling etc–but the most important thing is to do everything you can to make sure your child has a loving and supportive environment in which he or she feels able to learn and grow. Here are a few holistic tips on helping your baby’s development. Enjoy!

Interaction

As humans, we constantly model ourselves and our actions in relation to others. An infant’s list of acquaintances will primarily consist of family members for the first few months, so it’s your job to engage them as often as possible in interaction. We’re not talking here about reading complex algebra equations to your newborn or teaching them art appreciation, just about the general back-and-forth that occurs between humans. Sometimes people forget that your baby not being able to talk yet does not exclude them from being able to listen, so talking constantly to your child, letting he or she see different facial expressions and playing off different moods or expressions is a perfect way to start teaching them about relationships and engagement.

Playing

Once your baby becomes more aware of his or her surroundings, introduce toys and visually/aurally stimulating props to playtime. To start off with, toys don’t have to be particularly advanced–anything with an interesting texture, colour or sound is a great start, and you’ll find your child is naturally drawn towards certain toys. Providing a range of new and exciting things for your baby to interact with will encourage imagination and curiosity, two of the most vital tools for healthy development.

Touch

Helping your child to engage all of his or her senses is an important part of development, which is why it is so important to touch and hold your baby frequently. Through your touch you child will learn confidence, love and comfort, and understand ways of expressing emotion. You can also use touch to physically stimulate blood flow and enhance motor skills, by employing baby massage and building your child’s strength and flexibility. Development is not only about emotions or learning, it is about physical growth and health, which is why stimulating nerve endings and blood flow is so beneficial to a child’s body.

Watching your baby grow and learn is one of the true joys of parenthood. Anything you can do to aide this process is a pleasure and an honour, and you will find hours of enjoyment each day watching as your baby discovers this great wide world and all the adventures to be had.

5 Activities to Help Your Baby’s Development is a post from: Baby Massage Tips