Baby Massage Guide: Six Weeks Plus
At six weeks, your baby is starting to become even more responsive, he may be more settled and ready for a fuller massage, giving you even more opportunities to bond and engage his senses, making massage mean more.
Massage is a great way to communicate together and introduce fun and play. Here are additional strokes to add to your massage routine.
Tummy
Massaging the tummy is a lovely way to help baby feel safe and secure as well as helping with tummy troubles such as colic and constipation.
If your baby is happy, you can make gentle paddling strokes on the tummy, with one hand following the other.
‘I Love U’ on the tummy
Begin with a resting hand.
- Make a single downward stroke with your right hand on the left side of your baby’s tummy (your right).
- Make a backward, sideways ‘L’, going from your baby’s right to left side.
- Make an upside down ‘U’, going from your baby’s lower right side, up, across and down the left side of the baby’s tummy. Say the words ‘I love you’ as you go through the strokes.
Chest
Gentle massage of the chest can help relieve congestion problems. When sensitively touching the chest, sometimes you will need to pause and with resting hands, share your feelings together.
With both hands at the center of his chest stroke out to the sides as if you were flattening the pages of a book. Keeping contact with your baby, glide your hands down, around and meeting in the center again.
Touch Relaxation
Touch relaxation can be used at any age and at any time during the massage. Sometimes babies can hold a lot of tension in their bodies and this technique on the arms and legs encourages your baby to relax.
Gently mold your hands around your baby’s arm or leg, asking baby to relax. Using a calm voice repeat the word ”relax.” When you feel your baby responding, reward him with positive feedback, a smile and a kiss.
Hands
This is a great way to show your baby how to relax his hands. Using the pads of your thumbs gently open their hand, roll each tiny finger between your index finger and thumb and finally stroke the top of his hand from the wrist to the fingertips.
Face
Massaging the face can help relax tension caused by sucking, crying and with the discomfort of teething.
Babies mirror your movements and expressions. It is a lovely moment to make eye contact and have a happy time together. Make small circles along his jaw with your fingertips.
Back
Massage on the back can encourage strengthening of the neck, shoulders and arms as baby lifts their head; as well as having a calming and relaxing effect. There are many ways to position your baby, to encourage them to enjoy being on their fronts. You would learn these different positions on a baby massage class.
With baby on her front, start with both hands together at the top of the back, at right angles to the spine. Move your hands back and forth, in opposite directions, going down the back to the buttocks, then up to the shoulders, and back down again. Then swoop your hand from their neck all the way down to their feet.
These massage strokes are based on INFANT MASSAGE: A Handbook for Loving Parents by Vimala McClure, the founder of the IAIM.
The IAIM is a non-profit organization and does not endorse any product.
Bonding Through Massage
Show him how much you care using your baby’s first language — touch
Full tummy? Check. Clean diaper? Check. Still stumped? Check out the 12 reasons babies cry from BabyCenter® so you can stem the flow of tears more quickly.
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