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Baby massage techniques continuedThis is a continuation of baby massage techniques, if you have not yet read any of the previous articles; I would suggest that you take the care to do so. In this series of articles it is important, for you to fully understand the techniques of baby massage; prior to practicing it. If you are teaching classes on baby massage, you should first use a doll to demonstrate the massage and movement techniques. You should instruct the parent to lay the infant on either towels, mat, floor, bed, or on their lap. After the infant is undressed and is oiled it is nice to start with what is deemed as the “hello stroke”, which is preformed by maintaining eye contact while talking in a loving and gentle tone, and gently stroking the infant from head to toes. However if the baby’s body stiffens or cries, the massage may need to be ended for that session. Now that you have gotten your child’s attention in a loving manner, it is now time to move to the feet. It of course helps to start with your child’s feet, so that the infant can easily see what the parent is doing. Below I have listed some of the strokes that should be done on each foot, leg, as well as on the arms.
Chest, tummy and back techniques:Paddle Wheel technique: IE: you will place your left hand on your infant’s tummy, with the smallest finger at the base of their rib cage. You will then stroke downward , follow the left hand with the right. You will alternate your hands in a paddle wheel motion; after that you will hold your infant’s feet together in one hand, while lifting the legs up as if to diaper your infant. With your other hand, you will preform the paddle wheel motion on their back. This technique is a wonderful massage to get rid of any gas that your child may have. When you are using the paddle wheel on the back, do NOT press directly on the spine, you should stay to either side of it. I Love you technique: With your fingers, you will trace the letter “ I “ down your baby’s left side, starting at the base of the ribs. Then you will trace an inverted letter L starting at the baby’s right side, and stroking across the belly and then down on the left side ( your fingers should end up left of the belly button). You will then trace an inverted U by stroking from low on the baby’s right side, then up and around the navel and back down to the left side. Head and face techniques: Peekaboo technique: IE : The parent’s hand covers the infant’s face, gently pressing on the forehead with their fingertips. Next they will gently push out to the sides of the face and lightly press the temples. With the thumbs LIGHTLY press on the infant’s eyelids, and move the thumbs down the bridge of the nose, and then across the cheeks. Overall Head and face technique: While you are cradling your child’s head in your hands, gently massage their scalp using small circular motions. Avoid the fontanel (soft spot) on the top of your child’s head. You will then massage their ears between the thumb and index finger. After which you will trace a heart shape with your fingers, starting at the center of your infant’s forehead, out to the temples and down to their chin. You will place your thumbs between your infant’s eyebrows and stroke from the center out to the temples ( and repeat this same stroke lightly for closed eyelids. Stroke from the bridge of your infant’s nose, out to their cheeks using your thumbs, and after which use your fingertips to gently massage your infants jaw including the temporal mandibular joint. End the session with a heart shape stroke, and with light feathery strokes down the body. Related information topics:Matching outfits for parents & babies |
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