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The Benefits of Infant Massage
By Elaine Fogel Schneider, Ph.D

Psycho-Socially

Benefits to the infant receiving the massage

     Promotes bonding and attachment
     Promotes body/mind/spirit connection
     Increases self-esteem
     Increases sense of love, acceptance, respect and trust
     Enhances communication

Benefits to the parent/caregiver giving the massage

     Improves ability to read infant cues
     Improves synchrony between caregiver and infant
     Promotes bonding
     Increases confidence in parenting
     Increases communication - verbal and non verbal
     Improves relaxation
     Provides time to share, and quality time
     Promotes parenting skills

Physically

Benefits to the infant receiving massage

     Improves body awareness
     Improves relaxation and release of accumulated stress
     Stimulates circulation
     Strengthens digestive, circulatory and gastrointestinal systems

(which can lead to weight gain for low weight babies)

     Reduces discomfort from teething, congestion, gas, colic and emotional
     stress
     Improves muscle tone coordination
     Increases elimination
     Increases respiration
     Improves sleep patterns
     Increases hormonal function
     Improves sense of well-being
     Improves overall health

Benefits to the parent/caregiver giving the massage

     Improves sense of well-being
     Reduces blood pressure
     Reduces stress
     Improves overall health

Spiritually

Benefits to the infant receiving the massage

Senses a bonding and a connection to another

Benefits to the parent/caregiver giving the massage

     Senses a bonding and a connection to another
     Senses the power of touch and energy from him/herself to his/her child
     Comprehends the gift of birth and the higher order of things while in the
     presence of one's child

Elaine Fogel Schneider, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, ADTR, CIMI, holds a doctorate in
psychology, and masters' in the fields of speech/language pathology and
dance/movement therapy. Schneider is a certified infant massage instructor,
and the founder and executive director of First Nurturing Touch Communication,
a nonprofit educational corporation that assists families in developing safe and
nurturing relationships, and Baby Steps, a family-focused early intervention
program that introduces families to the world of touch and the importance of
bonding and attachment, as they learn to see their child first and their child's
disability second.

This document is from Community Therapies
Web site - http://www.communitytherapies.com
Reprint in whole or in part, without written permission
from Community Therapies, is prohibited.
Email: drelainefschneider@hotmail.com