Baby

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Meet Spencer and Crawford, eight-week-old twins. Their mom, Py Chau, has been massaging them regularly since they were four weeks old and experiencing a lot of gas. “They love it,” she says. “Spencer actually coos when I’m massaging him. Crawford loves to have his feet massaged.” Besides helping to relieve gas and colic, infant massage can help babies relax and sleep better and promotes good circulation and digestion. Best of all, massaging your baby is a wonderfully enjoyable way to build the loving connection between the two of you. The hands in these pictures belong to registered massage therapist, Cindy McNeely, who specializes in massage for infants and pregnant women. Here, McNeely demonstrates some basic strokes you can try out at home.

1

McNeely begins by asking Crawford’s permission: “Is it OK for me to give you the massage instead of your mommy?” This first step, says McNeely, reflects one of the primary goals of infant massage - to provide healthy touch. “Respecting the willingness and unwillingness cues of the baby is very important,” she explains. She rubs safflower oil on her hands, and talks gently to the baby during the massage, explaining what she is doing. The baby is in the perfect state for a massage, notes McNeely: calm, attentive and alert.

Crawford is warm and comfortable on a cozy blanket, with another to help him stay warm. McNeely notes that parents often find their babies calmed and relaxed after the massage. Crawford fell into a deep, peaceful sleep shortly after this session.

2 and 3

Massaging Crawford’s arms, McNeely uses a milking motion, gently squeezing the muscles from top to bottom and then stroking along the whole length of the arm to the hands. Crawford’s arms relax, and his fists open as McNeely continues to gently work on his muscles. She uses a circular motion in Crawford’s palm to help him unclench his fists. McNeely then strokes upward across the baby’s chest toward his shoulders and continues the stroke down along his arm using firm but gentle pressure. As the massage continues, McNeely feels Crawford release the tension in these muscles; she notes as well that it’s evident from the way he happily responds to the strokes that Crawford has been massaged regularly.

4 and 5

McNeely does the same muscle squeezing or milking motion along the baby’s leg, first on his thighs, and then on his calves. McNeely then uses her thumb to apply gentle pressure along the sole of Crawford’s foot, stroking from heel to the base of the toes while supporting his ankle with her other hand. The baby’s toes stretch out and his foot visibly relaxes in response to these strokes. Before moving on to the next area of the baby’s body, McNeely places a hand on the top of the baby’s head and the other on his tummy. “Quiet contact or touch relaxation helps to reassure the baby before the next stroke starts,” she explains. “This is a good thing to do if the baby seems restless or over-stimulated during the massage.” McNeely is very attentive to the baby’s mood and cues throughout, and notes that babies will signal when they’ve had enough.

6 and 7

McNeely demonstrates two strokes that can be very helpful if your baby has gas or colic. On the left, McNeely gently pushes Spencer’s knees together and up into his tummy, then stretches them out straight. She also gently bicycles the legs, pushing one, then the other knee into his tummy. On the right, McNeely is doing the I LOVE YOU stroke on Spencer’s abdomen. Using the pads of her fingers, she presses gently on the baby’s left side to make an “I” from top to bottom, staying below the baby’s ribcage. She then strokes across the upper abdomen under the ribcage then down along the left side forming an upside down “L”. The final stroke is an upside down “U” that wraps around the belly button. As McNeely massages his tummy, Spencer’s arms and legs float downward and his fingers and toes uncurl. He has a contented, relaxed look on his face.

8, 9 and 10

Spencer clearly loves the buttocks massage, which can be done with the baby lying on his tummy or his back, depending on how much head control he has. McNeely uses a circular motion with the pads of her fingertips on first one, then the other buttock while holding his ankle gently with the other hand. “This is a great technique for babies who are experiencing a lot of gas or are constipated,” says McNeely. Spencer is very comfortable in this position and is able to lift his head right off the bed, a sign that he is ready to receive the back massage. Moulding her hands to the shape of his back, McNeely strokes the whole length of the baby’s back, using one hand and then the other down either side of Spencer’s spine. Then McNeely massages in little circles upward from the lower back to the shoulders. The entire back can be covered in this way while not applying any direct pressure on the spine itself.

Tips for Happy Massage

• Do the massage when your baby is quiet, alert and well-rested. After a nap is often a good time to do the massage.
• Have everything ready before you begin: a cozy surface, a warm blanket, massage oil, and diapers.
• Make sure the room is warm enough that your baby will be comfortable with few or no clothes on.
• Ask your baby’s permission before beginning: “Are you ready for your massage today?” Doing this helps your baby understand healthy touch.
• Pay attention to your baby’s cues. Both of you should enjoy the experience and there’s no need to feel pressured to do a complete massage. You’ll be able to tell if she’s enjoying the massage by watching her facial expressions, noting any startle reflexes, and tuning in to how her body responds to the strokes.
• Take your time; punctuate the massage with moments of stillness. Massage therapist Cindy McNeely calls this quiet contact “touch relaxation.” A hand cradling the top of the baby’s head, her tummy or back reassures the baby and gives her a break from the strokes.
• “When adding movement to the massage,” - for instance, when bicycling the baby’s legs -”never push past the baby’s resistance,” says McNeely.
• Feel free to do only the strokes your baby really likes, play along the way, and always stop when it’s clear your baby has had enough.

Want to learn more?

Consult with a registered massage therapist (look in the yellow pages) and ask about the therapist’s experience with infants.

Baby massage courses and workshops may be offered through continuing education programs or family resources centres. Massage therapy programs for babies with special needs are sometimes available through hospitals or infant stimulation programs. If you’re in the Toronto area, and would like to know more about McNeely’s services, visit www.trimesters.on.ca.

Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents, by Vimala McClure, 4th edition, Bantam, 2000. This book contains wonderfully detailed photographs to help you learn the strokes.

Fall 2001