Key elements of infant massage: touch, sight, sound and smell
For many adults, massage is used as a way to relieve tension and stress, as an antidote to the everyday pressures of work, study and play.
At first it can be difficult to fully appreciate how beneficial massage is for babies – after all, they do not have to hold down a job, pay the rent or care for others.
Two way communication between infant and carer
Infant massage is much, much more than a method for relaxing your baby. It is a means of communication in itself, drawing on the senses of touch, sight, sound and smell to help carers and their babies to get to know and understand each other. When massaging your baby you are working with each other, in a mutually respectful communication that utilises a range of senses.
- Touch – the central element of the massage, the strokes are designed to relax your baby’s muscles, stimulate the immune system and calm the nervous system. The importance of touch for wellbeing in humans has been well documented and a massage done with loving intent will nurture your baby’s emotional, as well as physical needs.
- Sight – before massaging your baby, it is essential to relax yourself and be entirely present to your baby. Maintaining eye contact and giving baby your full attention allows you to develop an understanding of the many subtle cues and communications your baby makes through facial expressions. This can really help to connect you with your child on a personal level, enabling you to get to know each other as individuals. Improving the way babies and their carers relate is a central benefit of infant massage, and can be particularly helpful to mothers with postnatal depression.
- Sound – using a soothing voice throughout the massage lets baby feel nurtured and relaxed. The IAIM teaches carers how to use the intonation of their voice to interact with their child, demonstrating how to use particular combinations of sounds and touch to aid relaxation. Rhymes and songs are used when massaging the feet and hands and carers are encouraged to talk to their baby throughout the massage. Gentle music can be the perfect accompaniment to massage, and of course, it is important to create an atmosphere of mutual respect by asking baby’s permission beforehand, and thanking baby afterward.
- Smell – as an adult you may be unaware of it, but young infants are very sensitive to the smell of their principal carers. This sense is thought to be important in the bonding process, providing a great sense of comfort for baby. To make the most of the comforting effect of this sense the IAIM recommends unperfumed massage oils and asks carers to consider avoiding using strong smelling perfumes or soaps.
When it comes to appreciating how our senses work together to produce a mutually beneficial experience for infant and carer there really is no substitute for learning to massage your baby with a certified infant massage instructor (CIMI). For a list of CIMIs in your area click here.
Other pages to learn about infant massage:
