The reality is that all babies cry and they cry for a multitude of reasons. Sometimes babies cry for reasons that are immediately obvious and other times they cry for no apparent reason at all.

As adults, it is important for us to remember that babies cry because they are unable to talk and have no other way of expressing their needs and desires. Essentially, crying is the only method available to a baby to let us know that something is not right and they need our help.

Babies have different cries for different reasons:

The better you get to know your baby the better you will understand their different cries. In fact, mothers in particular are usually able to interpret their babies’ cries in ways that others simply cannot and research shows that babies cry in different ways for different problems.

A baby may cry because they are tired, hungry, uncomfortable, in pain, over stimulated, sick, frustrated, lonely, bored, worried or scared or for a medical problem such as colic.

So what can you do?

Baby massage:

Research and experience shows that in many cases infant massage is an effective way to soothe a baby. Babies generally respond very well when nurturing touch is delivered by parents who have undertaken baby massage training and have learnt correct baby massage techniques.

Baby massage can almost always be enhanced through the use of baby massage oil. It is important that any oil is tested on a small area of the baby’s skin to check for any irritation or adverse reaction, but in most cases massage is made all the more enjoyable with the use of oil. In fact, the effects of baby massage can be as relaxing for parents as they can for a baby and many parents really enjoy the opportunity to connect with their baby in a different way.

Infant massage can also be enhanced through the use of a baby cushion as this will promote the child’s comfort and make it easy to deliver the massage effectively.

Cuddle your baby:

Regardless of why your baby is crying, being held by someone who is warm and reassuring helps your little one to feel secure. Although babies do love to be held in your arms, there are other alternatives that give you more freedom such as slings and carriers that attach to your front.

Ultimately, it is physical contact that the baby is seeking and when they get the cuddles they seek, most babies are effectively soothed.

Move around:

It is often instinctive for a parent to sway, rock, swing, jiggle or dance with an upset baby. Most babies love rhythmic, repetitive motion and respond well when held and moved around.

Many parents also find that the rhythm and motion of the car helps to soothe a distressed baby.

White noise:

As adults we sometimes forget the fact that the womb was actually a noisy place to be. Newborn babies are used to hearing all sorts of noises, many of which are mottled and so it follows that white noise can be remarkably calming.

Such white noise needs to be uniform and continuous and may include sounds such as: a heartbeat, static, vacuum cleaner, the sea or the rain.

There are many different ways to soothe an upset baby and very often a parent will be guided by their natural instincts and understanding of their baby. However, the techniques such as baby massage that are listed in this article provide some good ways to calm and reassure an unsettled baby.

How to Soothe an Upset Baby is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

Many parents would agree that there is nothing like being with your baby and observing joy pass across their face. There is a huge range of things and activities that delight babies and help to strengthen the bonds between parents and their children. In fact, many of these activities are just as enjoyable for parents as they are for children and those that have a calming or soothing effect can help to relax all people involved.

So, what are some of the things that babies love most?

1: Baby massage

Just as most adults find massage relaxing and enjoyable, babies often love the nurturing touch of their parents. Baby massage is growing in popularity and is increasingly well respected for its therapeutic benefits in treating conditions such as colic and wind. Of course, a baby does not have to be ill or experiencing discomfort to enjoy infant massage.

It is highly recommended that parents undertake some infant massage training to know and feel confident in correctly administering different strokes and infant massage techniques. Baby massage oil can also enhance the positive effects of  massage but it is always important to check that the child has no negative reaction to the oil used. It is wise to try an oil that is recommended through specialised and qualified providers of training for infant massage in Australia.

Many families enjoy building time for infant massage into their daily routines and recognise that their child is still and relaxed as massage strokes are given and after the massage is complete. Parents also report that this activity leaves them feeling relaxed and highly engaged with their child.

2:  Bath time

It is no secret that the vast majority of babies and toddlers love time spent in the bath. Of course, there are many different toys, games and songs that can make bath time all the more fun, but it is not uncommon for parents to seek new and interesting activities for the bath.

A very simple but effective activity that children love in the bath is use the suds from your baby’s shampoo to create different characters – such as Mickey Mouse, a unicorn or a rock star – and use a mirror to show your baby the result. They will love it!

3:  Magic carpet rides

Another simple activity that children love involves using a blanket to slide your child around the room. Sit your child in the middle of the blanket and pull him or her from place to place.

This very uncomplicated game is so enjoyable for babies because they love to see commonplace items and familiar toys used in very different ways. Your child will also love seeing the rooms with which he or she is so accustomed to from a very different perspective.

When you or your little one has had enough of the magic carpet rides, the blanket can always be used for a game of the ever-popular peek-a-boo.

4:  Photo albums

Almost all babies love to look at pictures and a great way to entertain them is to show them photograph albums. Showing your little one baby pictures of you is a great way to amuse them and something that you will probably enjoy too.

Be sure to talk to your baby about the fun things that you used to do and the things that you remember about your childhood. Remember that the more animated you make your stories the better!

There are many things that babies love and activities that are simple and fun to do. Parents often find that the games that they play with their little ones are rewarding, particularly when the excitement and enjoyment of your baby is evident on their faces.

4 Things that Babies Love is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

Babies are adorable, lovable and sweet not only by nature but because they need to be touched in order to thrive and achieve an optimal state of well-being. An ever-increasing body of evidence illuminates the importance of parents touching their baby and this is especially pertinent to the bonding that occurs between a mother and her newborn baby in the baby’s very first moments of life.

The bonding that occurs between a parent and their child is a process that should continue and grow in the days, weeks, months and years that see the child grow from an infant to a toddler, child, adolescent and beyond. Touch is widely understood to be fundamentally beneficial to the development and strengthening of this bond and the development of the child’s confidence and self-esteem; baby massage (taught by professionals) is one of the most significant ways for this touch to be delivered.

What do we know about touch and bonding?

1:  So long as an infant is healthy, when placed and left undisturbed on their mother’s chest immediately after birth it will begin a series of predictable movements that include: smacking their lips, turning their head and salivating. The newborn will eventually find its mother’s nipple and start to feed. When these infants are given the time to locate the breast on their own, they will usually develop a more correct sucking technique just one hour after birth than infants who have been separated from their mother to be assessed or dressed.

2:  The way that a mother touches her baby when handed her newborn is also quite predictable and meaningful. Some research studies show that mothers typically touch their babies softly, using the extremities of their fingertips and then progress to using palm strokes that are firmer and broader. The patterns that can be observed even in these earliest forms of infant massage demonstrate the power and significance of parental and infant touch.

3:  The attachment bond that is so vital in its existence between a parent and their baby is not only beneficial for the parent. The attachment that forms encourages you to devote close attention to your baby’s needs and to learn about their different needs expressed through different cries.

4:  Although processes of bonding and attachment usually occur naturally as a parent cares for and nurtures their baby, these processes do not always occur without stress or difficulty. In order to build and maintain a secure bond with your baby, it can be incredibly useful to do an infant massage course to learn correct infant massage techniques and those that babies typically respond to most well. By taking classes with a trained and skilled instructor, you will grow in confidence and learn new skills that can be readily applied when massaging your baby.

5:  Infant massage training will provide you with extensive knowledge and appreciation of why and how touch strengthens bonds and fosters a child’s positive development. At baby massage classes you will also learn about baby massage oil and how it can enhance the effects and experience of baby massage.

6:  When a secure attachment bond exists, your child is provided with the best foundations possible to: be eager to learn, a healthy level of self-awareness as well as the ability to trust and consider others. Conversely, an attachment bond that is insecure does not sufficiently address an infant’s need to feel safe and be understood; in later life this can transpire to personal uncertainty and problems with learning and interacting with others.

There is no denying that touch is a crucial factor in the development of the bonds that exist between parents and their children. Baby massage offers a great way to apply this touch in a way that will nurture and enhance the relationship between parent and child and promote the child’s positive psychosocial and emotional development.

6 Facts About Touch and Bonding is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

Many parents have heard of baby massage and suspect that it may be good for their baby. Almost all parents are eager to do things that benefit their baby and so it follows that baby massage is growing in popularity.

There is no shortage of valid reasons to learn baby massage. Actually investing in some credible massage education will make the experience all the more enjoyable and nurturing for both yourself and your baby.

Here we take a look at five very important reasons to learn baby massage:

1:  A break from routine

As many parents will testify, routines become tremendously important when you have a baby; the baby comes to know, rely and feel secure when a routine is in place and routine can help a parent feel organised and as though they have some control over all that will happen in their day.

However, routine with a baby can seem like an endless repetition of feeding, winding and settling. Factoring baby massage into your daily routine can be beneficial for both parents and children. It gives you both an opportunity to enjoy something other than these repetitive, although necessary, elements of your day and can be a precious gift to be enjoyed for twenty minutes or so of your day.

2:  It can be simple

Although it is important to learn some recommended and effective techniques, applying some baby massage oil and using some relatively uncomplicated strokes and techniques to relax and sooth your baby is really quite simple. Baby massage can easily be embedded in your daily routine and when parents chart the difference it makes, they are often acutely aware of its benefits.

3:  Bonding is enhanced

Touch is imperative to all people, but especially babies. The bond that already exists and continues to develop between parents and their children is strengthened and able to flourish through the practice of baby massage.

Regular nurturing, positive touch helps to cement emotional ties and supports babies to feel secure. It is also possible that infants who receive massage early in life grow up to be well balanced, confident and secure adults.

For parents, the act of relaxing and getting in touch with your baby’s energy, helps the breath to be regulated, the blood pressure to drop and a sense of calmness and peace to develop.

4:  Growth and development

More than we realise, babies spend a lot of time in prams and car seats – situations where they are sometimes curled up and their movements restricted.

Baby massage helps with the mobility and flexibility of the baby’s joints. Many parents also notice the enjoyment of their baby when their limbs are being stretched and manipulated in the course of a massage.

5:  To aid colic, wind and digestive discomfort

One of the very important benefits of baby massage is that it can help to relieve babies who suffer the discomfort of colic, wind, constipation and other types of pain.

Many parents realise that a child afflicted with these symptoms is a grizzly baby and are relieved to learn that baby massage can help to alleviate the symptoms and pain of wind, colic, digestion and constipation problems.

There is a multitude of reasons to learn baby massage; it is good for both baby and parent and delivers so many physical and emotional benefits.

5 Reasons to Learn Baby Massage is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

An increasing body of evidence is showing that touch is a vital sense and one that is pivotal to the social, emotional and physical development of children. It is well known that babies love to be held and cuddled and for good reason – there are an incredible number of benefits of touch.

In a human embryo and of the five senses, touch is the first to be developed and, when the baby is born, the most developed of the senses. Following the birth of a baby, why is touch so important?

#1:  As humans, we are tactile creatures and it seems that there is a direct relationship between the amount and quality of tactile stimulation that a person receives and their development from birth.

#2:  Baby massage is one of the best and most beneficial ways for touch to occur. Following some training, a parent is better skilled at massaging their baby using techniques that are soothing, comforting and relaxing. Baby massage oil can help a parent deliver a massage that is enjoyed by both the baby and parent.

Some research suggests that massage is effective in stimulating nerves within the brain that encourage food absorption and thereby help the baby to gain weight more quickly. Also, baby massage has been shown to reduce levels of stress hormones and thereby enhance the immune function of the baby.

#3:  Because our touch receptors are contained in all parts of our skin, the extent of touch that is experienced by our bodies is more than the other senses, which are centralised in the head. The simple and everyday act of touching skin leads to emotional and hormonal reactions. Touch also produces endorphins, chemicals produced by the brain that bring about feelings of happiness and reduction of pain. By skilfully massaging your baby, you are assisting the production of endorphins.

#4:  One of the possible benefits of baby massage is that it may play some role in furthering your child’s intellectual development. Infant massage helps to stimulate your child’s nervous system and fosters brain development. Some research shows that when babies have lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their blood, they achieve better results in tests of their mental and motor abilities.

#5:  Although touch is beneficial for all babies, it is especially important for premature babies. Babies that are massaged have been shown to gain weight far more quickly than similar babies who are not massaged. More rapid weight gain often leads to premature babies spending less time in hospital.

#6:  The power of touch has beneficial effects for mothers and fathers too. As well as calming and soothing a baby, there is some evidence to show that administering massage helps a baby to fall into a deeper and more restful sleep. In order to help your baby fall asleep and stay asleep, massage is frequently more effective and appropriate than rocking a baby to sleep.

#7:  Postnatal depression is a problem for many new mothers and the good news is that touch and baby massage is significant in overcoming this type of depression. Mothers that experience postnatal depression often find that their feelings and mood improves when baby massage is used as a component of their daily routine.

#8:  Dads also can deliver beneficial touch with positive results. It is not uncommon for babies who have been massaged by their fathers to make eye contact, smile, touch and vocalise with their fathers.

Touch is an incredibly powerful sense. When used with babies, infant massage carries many desirable benefits such as: a calmer baby, increased bonding between parent and child and a positive influence on a child’s social, emotional and physical development.

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

Many parents find that massaging their baby is instinctive and their baby responds well whether or not they have received specific Baby massage training. Massage for infants is very different to massage for adults and it is recommend to seek advice from a qualified instructor in regards to specific stroke techniques. Proven to be more effective with the use of baby massage oil, in this article we outline one technique that many babies enjoy.

Start at the feet:

• The legs and feet are an appropriate place to begin the massage as your baby is used to having them touched every time their nappy is changed.
• Use strokes that are firm but gentle – most babies find this relaxing and can be irritated by light ticklish strokes.
• Sometimes babies signal that having their legs and feet massaged is quite enough for them. This is perfectly normal and acceptable and you may find that as your baby gets older, they grow to enjoy and accept more massage.
• Work your way from the hip to ankle with long firm strokes alternating between one hand and the other.

Stomach:

• When massaging your baby’s abdomen (or tummy), make the shape of lower case ‘n’ always go in a clockwise direction.
• Start at the lower right side of the baby’s abdomen and, using one hand, gently massage up and across the tummy, finishing on the lower left side.
• The tummy should feel soft. Your baby will give you signals if they are not enjoying or content enough to receive a massage. If this happens, you can finish the massage and try to offer massage again at a later stage.

Arms:

• Stroke from the shoulder and down the arm to the baby’s wrist with long firm strokes, alternating hands as you go. It is important to use a natural, cold pressed, organic fruit, nut, vegetable or seed oil that is free from essential oils. This will ensure that the oil is edible and safe for the baby to ingest when they inevitably puts their fingers in their mouth during massage time.

Face:

• Many babies enjoying having their face stroked across the forehead and then across the cheeks.
• Your index finger and thumbs can be used to massage the baby’s face.
• Start in the middle of the baby’s face and stroke outwards to the side of the face.
• You can also try starting beside the nose and moving your fingers out to the side of the face, down along either side of the nose and along the cheeks.

Back:

• If your baby is content to continue (and you are too), the baby can be turned onto their tummy. While they are in this position, use long, smooth, soothing strokes that run from the baby’s head to their toes. Babies that can hold themselves up on their elbows are more likely to enjoy this position and the massage that they receive.
• Start at the baby’s head and slowly travel down their back to their toes.

Finishing:

• Perform some long firm strokes from head to toe (avoiding the chest) to finish the massage and hold and rock your baby.

Massage for infants is very different to massage for adults and it is recommend to seek advice from a qualified instructor in regards to specific stroke techniques. It is important to watch your baby for cues and and respond appropriately. Parents that do use massage with their baby often testify to the benefits and the ability of baby massage to soothe their child. Almost invariably, parents report that the time spent massaging their baby is special and enjoyable.

How to Massage Your Baby is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

So many parents testify to the benefits of baby massage. Commonly thought of as an effective way to settle and calm your baby, baby massage offers additional benefits such as bonding, communication and interaction between parent and child, physiological benefits and encouragement of the child’s emotional development. Massage for infants is very different to massage for adults and it is recommend to seek advice from a qualified instructor in regards to specific stroke techniques. Proven to be more effective with the use of baby massage oil, the caring touch of a parent using massage will always benefit a child.

While there are no hard and fast rules, here we offer ten tips for massaging your baby:

1. Before attempting a massage, make sure that it is a good time for you and your baby. It is important that the baby is settled and content enough to lay down and be massaged.
2. If you choose to use a baby massage oil, choose an oil that is readily absorbed by the skin. Pure cold pressed organic vegetable, nut, seed or fruit oil do this and provide additional benefits for your baby during the massage and after it is finished, but always check that your child does not react to the oil by testing it on a small area of their skin (inside the crease of their elbow and behind the knee are good places to try). Particularly if there is a history of allergies in your family, avoid peanut oil.

Also to be avoided are mineral oils and olive oil. Olive oil is usually too thick to be readily absorbed by the skin and, if used, will need to be washed off afterwards.

3. If your baby is less than five months of age, it is best that they are not massaged around bath time. However, others find that (particularly for children who are older than five months of age), a massage works well after a bath as the child is relaxed and content. Also, the child is already undressed which is a benefit as this presents a convenient time for massage.
4. Take your cues from your baby. They will indicate what they do or do not like and if they want more massage or have had enough. If they appear to be enjoying the massage and you are willing to continue, keep going! If your baby is indicating that they are tired of the massage, stop regardless of how many strokes you have completed.
5. Do not try to massage a baby who is so upset they are crying. However, if a baby receives massage for wind, constipation or colic, it may be appropriate to continue even if they are crying.
6. Babies are used to having their legs touched and so baby massage should always begin with the legs. While adults may believe massages that begin at the centre of the body would be most comfortable, many babies and infants find massages that begin at the chest or abdomen intrusive.
7. Babies respond well to long firm strokes. Avoid soft, ticklish strokes as many babies appear to find these annoying.
8. When you are massaging the chest of your baby, be watchful for any movement of the arms going in and out from the chest. This is often the baby’s signal to you that they have had enough of the chest area and it is time to work on another part of the body. Other signals that they have had enough include the baby covering your hands with theirs or using other ways to stop you from massaging their chest.
9. If you are massaging your baby’s tummy, their tummy should be massaged from left to right. It is also advisable to only massage the lower part of the stomach.
10. Many parents find that playing soft music and speaking in soft tones works well when massaging their baby.

Baby massage is a great way to connect with your baby and help them to develop on physical, social and emotional levels. Many babies respond well to massage and find the experience soothing, comforting and useful in building a sense of trust and confidence with their parents.

Ten Tips for Massaging Your Baby is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

There’s little that compares to the feeling you get when your baby looks up at you and smiles for the first time. It’s as though the whole world has dropped away and nothing else matters but trying to make the smile happen again. Of course, babies being babies, what is hysterically funny one minute will bore them the next, so as mothers and fathers we often spend fruitless hours trying to recreate the situation that made our babies smile, to no avail. While getting your baby to smile is wonderful, the real goal is to create an environment in which your child is comfortable, stimulated and happy—that’s when the smiles will start coming thick and fast! Through engagement (such as playing and singing), touch (baby massage, tickling, cuddling) and stimulation (interactive books and DVDs), you can create just such an environment for your child, and raise a happy, healthy and smiley baby!

Engage With Your Baby

Most of the time, the first time we see our babies smile is when we’re engaged in some kind of silly game or chatter with them. Things like peek-a-boo, ‘this little piggy’ and singing songs will help you engage your child’s attention and are likely to make him happy and excited, even if he’s not yet sure of what it all means. One of the primary developmental tools your child has at this stage is mimicry, and if you always have a smile on your face and excitement in your voice, your baby will soon start to show the same emotions.

Stimulation

It is generally not recommended for children under 2 to watch television, but there are some cases in which exceptions can be made, such as with the Baby Einstein DVD series. These are specifically catered for babies in this age bracket, and are highly stimulating and educational. Another great idea for keeping your baby stimulated is to encourage playing with books, especially those which offer different textures and colours to boost your baby’s imagination. While they may not understand the story yet, reading to your child and encouraging he or she to interact with the pages and pictures will not only foster a love of books for years to come, but will aid in development and excitement.

Touch

Making sure your baby is always comfortable is something most of us do instinctively. Hand a new mother a toy doll, and chances are she’ll start rocking it and patting it absentmindedly, so ingrained is that behaviour with her own child! Touch is an important way to show our babies they are secure and loved, and a comfortable, calm child is more likely to be a happy one. Other ways of using touch to make your baby smile include gently tickling their feet or tummies, or using  infant massage to relax their little muscles.
These are just a few techniques for ensuring your child is comfortable, happy and stimulated. If your baby doesn’t show it through smiling, don’t worry–some people smile when they are happy, some express themselves in other ways—the main thing is that mother and child are bonded and content.

Happy Babies: 3 Things to Make Your Baby Smile is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

One of the most common concerns new mothers experience is wondering how best to communicate with their babies. Having a tiny creature so utterly dependent on you for everything can be a daunting experience, and some women worry about how they’ll interpret all of their child’s needs and communicate with them without the benefit of being able to sit them down and have a conversation! Firstly, if you’re worrying about this, don’t. So much of the communication that happens between a mother and child is instinctual, and over time you’ll learn which cries mean your baby is hungry, sleepy, wet or just looking for some extra cuddles. In turn, your baby will read all it needs to know in the tone of your voice, your touch, and the way you look at each other. These non-verbal methods can be just as effective as a conversation between the two of you, so we’ve got a few tips that can help you strengthen the channels of communication even further. Through baby massage, patient and consistent structure to your day and even baby signing, you can enhance your wonderful and communicative relationship with your baby.

Baby Sign Language

More and more early childhood centres around Australia are discovering the benefits of baby signing by introducing it into their programs for 0-3 year-olds. Baby sign language classes work with songs, rhymes and fun ways to learn the signs for different things, so that in time, your baby will be able to communicate exactly what he or she needs or wants even before beginning to speak. Not only do baby sign language classes build on this excellent communication method, they promote connections between mothers and have been shown to improve developmental speed and the ability to comprehend traditional language structure. There are DVDs and instructional websites you can turn to if you think it’s something you’d like to do with your baby, and the best part about it is that learning something with your child is one of the best bonding activities there is.

Patient Structure

While a lot of mothers worry about what their baby is trying to communicate to them, it is also important to think about how you communicate with your baby. Babies learn through structure and routine, and in regards to sleeping in particular, it is important that you communicate the right message, which is that Mum and Dad determine bedtime, and not the other way around. Whichever sleep-training method you subscribe to, the key is consistency, and to remember that every baby is different. Just because your girlfriend’s child was sleeping through at 2 weeks does not mean you’re doing anything wrong or are failing because your baby isn’t!! Try to remain patient and keep the structure going–sooner or later, it will start to work.

Baby Massage

One of the primary ways we communicate with babies, especially in those first few months, is through touch. The reassuring smell and touch of their mother is the ultimate comfort to a baby when little else makes sense, which is why infant massage is such a great tool. Using a safe baby massage oil, start by gently working your hands down your baby’s legs including their feet and toes. Rub their belly in a circular motion and stroke down their back to promote good circulation and flexibility. Baby massage is beneficial for so many reasons, and in terms of showing love through touch, you can’t go past it.

How to Communicate with Your Baby is a post from: Baby Massage Tips

While there are strong natural forces at work which will ensure a lot of the bonding between you and your baby happens intuitively, there are certain methods you can use to accelerate the process and further strengthen that precious bond between you. Some can be learned in parenting courses and others by trial and error. The bond a child shares with his or her parents lasts a lifetime, and it can be daunting as well as incredibly humbling to share such a powerful connection with another human being. Here are three simple bonding tips to get you started…

The Importance of Eye Contact

There’s something other-worldly about the state of a parent and child gazing into each other’s eyes. Both parties seem almost in a dreamlike state and to observe it is to realise there is an intense intimacy that excludes everyone but the two of them. It’s a beautiful thing to witness and to be part of, but it also serves an almost primal purpose in binding mother and child. Before your child understands language or even sound, he or she understands all the love you’re imparting when you look into their eyes. There are some sleep-training regimens that dictate avoiding eye-contact when you are trying to settle your baby into a sleep pattern, but if at any time this disrupts your child’s ability to make eye contact you should disregard that particular element–it is more important that you’re able to freely connect and say all that you want to with a look.

The Importance of Your Voice

It is thought that a baby can recognise their mother’s voice even before birth, so accustomed is your child to the exact tone and pitch. Every person has a voice pattern that is similar to a fingerprint–no two voices are exactly the same. It is incredibly reassuring for your child to hear your voice, the voice he associates with the protection and warmth of the womb, so don’t be afraid to speak constantly to your child. While he or she may have no idea what you’re talking about, the fact that it is YOU talking is a far more important message.

Baby Massage

Especially in those first few months of your baby’s life, his or her sensory environment is what makes the most impact on development, temperament and connection with you. We’ve discussed the importance of sight and sound already, but touch, that ever-reassuring connection between humans–is another vital element. Baby massage is not only beneficial in terms of stimulating your baby’s motor skills and blood-flow, but it strengthens the bond between parent and child at a significantly increased rate. Well into adulthood, the reassuring warmth of a mother’s touch can heal many of the world’s stresses, and as a helpless baby the knowledge that Mum or Dad is present and in physical contact gives the peace and confidence for your baby to excel.

The bond between parent and child is exceptionally powerful, and cultivating and maintaining it is part instinct, part practice. From baby massage to simple eye contact, there are several ways you can accelerate and strengthen the bonding process. If at any time you feel you’re unable to feel the bond, don’t feel it is a reflection on you as a mother–there are several psychological and hormonal reasons this could be happening, so you should consult your GP or Child and Family Health Nurse about the possible causes and courses of action.

Bonding With Your Baby: 3 Simple Tips is a post from: Baby Massage Tips