Touch is proven to give lots of benefits not only to adults but to babies alike. I recently bought a baby oil and it comes with a touch therapy guide. I tried to follow the simple steps and Gabe seemed to like the massage. He kept smiling while I massage him and he slept soundly after that.Some of the benefits of touch therapy are:
- It is the most intimate and loving way to bond with your baby in a way unmatched by any other type of interaction. Massage can help her become more affectionate, confident and well-adjusted as she grows up.
- It is clinically proven to help your baby develop a stronger immune system which helps her fight against diseases. It helps stimulate baby's circulatory, respiratory and digestive systems.
- It helps to strengthen your baby's limbs and improves coordination, motor skills and muscle tone.
- It teaches your baby to relax as infant-stress lowers her immune system and slows down your baby's physical and mental development.
It's a facial massage that helps relieve baby's tension from sucking, crying and teething.
- With your thumbs, make a smile first on baby's upper lip then the lower lip.
- Gently press flats of fingers across forehead and make circular strokes.
- Continue over the temples, the edges of the jaw, behind ears and the rest of the scalp.
It helps to tone baby's lungs and heart to make baby stronger.
- Put both your hands at baby's sides at the bottom of the rib cage.
- Then place your right hand over her shoulders and move down diagonally across chest.
- Do the same with your left hand over baby's right shoulder and repeat several times.
It helps tone baby's internal system and relieves her from constipation.
- Do an inverted half-moon with your right hand going from your left to the right.
- Make a full circle moving clockwise with your left hand.
- While the left hand is above, your right hand is below and follows the circular clockwise movement of your left hand.
It's a special form of touch therapy in which you tell your baby "I love you" in loving tones, while spelling out "I-L-U" on her stomach. This is my favorite technique.
- Letter "I." Do an I-shaped stroke with your right hand on baby's left tummy (your right).
- Letter "L." Make a backward "L" going from your left to the right.
- Letter "U." Make an inverted U going from your left to the right. Say "I love you"as you go through the series of motion in a warm soft voice.
It helps develop baby's back muscles that will eventually be supporting her spine.
- Start with both your hands together at the top of back, at right angle to the spine.
- Move hands back and forth in opposite directions, going down her back to the buttocks then up her shoulders and back down once again.
It helps strengthen baby's limb muscles and bones and helps baby become more flexible.
- Stroke one leg or arm of baby as if you were milking a cow.
- "Milk" leg or arm with both hands, one following the other.
- Touch her hand and foot using thumb over thumb motion covering entire hand or sole.
- Squeeze each finger or toe and finish with a soothing pull.
It helps make baby's arm and leg muscles stronger. This is my second favorite technique.
- Roll baby's arm or leg between your hand from elbow or knee to the wrist or ankle.
- Use oil to reduce friction and give a smooth and gentle glide to your touch.
- Begin with a very light touch and gradually increase pressure as you become more confident and your baby gets used to the massage.
- Maintain eye-to-eye contact with your baby.
- Be sensitive to your baby's cues. If he cries a little, try to calm him down before proceeding. If he cries forcefully, stop the massage. She might want to be held, breastfed or is sleepy.
- Massage can be done anytime of the day. But if done in the morning, it can help you and your baby get ready for a great day of adventure. It's also effective in the evening to help baby to relax and make her sleep better.
- Massage your baby right after she is fed.
- Wake her up for touch therapy.
- Start touch therapy against your baby's will and force her to a position for massage.
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