Whenever we stop to think of the natural ways that we have to bond with
our
babies and develop a loving relationship, we must remember that the
miracle of
touch is just at our fingertips. The process of infant massage is a
technique
that is known in ancient cultures. Ancient civilization believed that
one way to
promote health and prevent disease was by stroking, rubbing, and kneading
of
the body.
Massage can be found in Western and Eastern histories as far back as
3,000
years ago before the birth of Christ. Families in India have learned
over the
centuries how to massage babies. Mothers learned from their mothers
as far
back as 1800 B.C. If you are interested in learning such a natural
technique for
bonding and attaching to your baby, don't be surprised to learn that
there are
so many wonderful benefits too!
The Benefits of Infant Massage by Elaine Fogel Schneider In the Psycho-social
Domain:
Benefits to the infant of receiving 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 of giving 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
In the Physiological/Physical Growth Domain:
Benefits to the infant of 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
Reduces discomfort from teething, congestion, gas,
colic and emotional stress
Improves muscle tone coordination
Increases elimination, circulation and respiration
Improves sleep patterns
Increases hormonal function
Benefits to the parent of giving massage:
Improves sense of well-being
Reduces blood pressure
Reduces stress
Improves overall health
The Technique and Effects on the Body In the infant massage process,
communication plays an active part. Parents talk to their infant, ask
permission to start the massage, question their infant, and facilitate
dialogue.
The massage process is composed of about 20 percent technique and 80
percent communication. Parents are taught by an infant massage instructor
to
make sure that they are relaxed both physically and mentally before
they
massage their baby. The instructor provides education regarding the
power of
touch, the importance of this sense in the development of a healthy
infant or a
child, and its impact on bonding and attachment.
Prior to beginning any massage, permission is asked of the infant. To
do this
the parent places a small amount of cold-pressed natural fruit oil
or vegetable
oil in the palm of one hand and rubs both palms together near the infant's
ear
so that he or she may hear the sound and associate that sound with
a
pleasurable experience. The parent may hold up both hands with opened
palms for the infant to see. Next, the parent asks, "Do you want a
massage?"
or "Are you ready for a massage?" A parent need only watch the infant's
body
language to know whether the infant is engaging or disengaging. For
infants to
be massaged, they must be in a quiet alert state. If the infant does
not want a
massage, or is fussy and uncooperative, then another time is chosen
for the
massage.
Massage Research Proves the Efficacy of Infant Massage Research has
focused on a variety of populations with infant massage. Research has
found
that massage benefits those infants who were premature; infants with
motor
problems; those who were gastrointestinally ill; and infants drug-exposed
in
utero.
Study Chief
Year Application Results
R.Rice
1976
Premature babies were massaged; control group was not. Massaged babies
ahead in weight gain and neurological development.
R.Hansen
G.Ulrey
1980s
Mothers massaged infants with motor problems. Parents and their babies
had
more positive interactions. Parents' expectations and behavior toward
their
children changed, enhancing parent-infant interactions.
T.Field
F.Scafidi
S.Schanberg
1986
Studied effects of stroking and passively manipulating premature newborns
for
15 minutes, three times daily for a 10-day period. Massaged infants
gained 47
percent more weight than average, scored better on the Brazelton Neonatal
Assessment Scale, were more alert and active, stayed six fewer days
in the
hospital, continued into their first year with higher scores on testing.
Unvas-Mosberg
1989
Stimulation of the inside of the mouth of newborns with gastrointestinal
problems.
Increased release of gastrointestinal food absorption hormones (gastrin
and
insulin).
T.Field
F.Scafidi
S.Schanberg
1990
Added physiological and bio-chemical measures to their 1986 study.
Confirmed earlier study: premature infants had a 21 percent greater
daily
weight gain, were discharged five days earlier, had superior performances
on
Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale, showed less stress behaviors,
and
catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine) increased-which is desirable
for
the neonatal period. T.Field F.Scafidi S.Schanberg 1990
Touch therapy to infants exposed to cocaine in utero Massaged babies
gained
weight and scored better on the Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale.
Compiled by Elaine Fogel Schneider, Ph.D, C.I.M.I Sometimes the infant
may
be able to tolerate only a small amount of touch, and again the adult
must
respect the child unconditionally. For some infants who were born with
prenatal
exposure to toxic substances, or severely medically fragile premature
infants,
the actual massage may be too disorganizing for their nervous systems,
and
skin-to-skin contact may not be the massage touch of first choice for
their
parents.
Direct touch may be disruptive and unbearable to the sensitivity of
that infant.
Sometimes just placing one's hands over the body, and not touching
it, may be
all that the infant will tolerate at that particular time.
As the infant grows stronger, so does the touch. Basic strokes include
a
variety of movements. Strokes are usually long, slow and rhythmic,
with just
enough pressure to be comfortable but stimulating, as a gentle, firm
touch.
With healthy infants, massage can be started as soon as parents desire,
beginning with a daily massage for the first six or seven months, using
unscented natural oil, in a warm environment, and making sure not to
massage
over the umbilical cord ending until it falls off naturally.
During the massage the parent engages the infant, smiles, explains what
every
body part is, and communicates with the infant through the power of
touch
relaxation. Massaging the legs, stomach, chest, arms, face, and ending
with
the back, is one sampling of a natural progression of massage for the
infant.
As the child becomes more active, through crawling or walking, the massage
may be reduced to once or twice a week, as desired. A toddler may enjoy
a
rubdown before sleep each night, or after bathing. A massage provides
a model
for becoming more sensitive to the subtle cues of the infant, and techniques
for
eliciting positive reactions from the child. It is important for the
parent to read
cues, and adjust accordingly. Each infant's unique needs must be addressed.
FUTURE GENERATIONS Infant massage enhances the parent-baby bond,
helping to create more family-centered values. Babies are aware human
beings
who deserve respect, tenderness, warmth and, above all, a listening
heart.
Many parents are in need of support in our society today, so that they
can
carry out the important work of parenting. These interactions contribute
to
future generations expressing more compassion toward and responsibility
for
their fellow human beings. Infant massage is a foundation from which
parenting
skills emerge.
Infant massage instructors train parents and caregivers to massage their
babies, and read their babies' cues while developing interactional
skills
enhancing communication. Although many infant massage programs were
first
designed for healthy babies and their parents, infant massage may be
used
with children with special needs. These populations may include infants
and
toddlers who are communicatively challenged, physically challenged,
cognitively challenged, drug-exposed or HIV positive infants; medically
fragile
infants in intensive care. Other populations who benefit from learning
infant
massage are teen-age mothers and fathers, incarcerated mothers, homeless
families, women in recovery and foster parents.
Infant massage instruction encourages nurturing touch and communication
through training, education and research. Throughout the world, by
using infant
massage parents, caregivers, and children are loved, valued and respected.
Every parent, child and infant will have the opportunity to experience
the
lifelong joy that comes from having an early relationship that is loving,
healthy
and secure.
Infant massage is not only about massaging a baby-it's about working
with
families; building nurturing relationships; assisting with bonding
and
attachment; furthering respect, trust and love, and training a parent
to read the
cues of the baby so the child in turn feels love and security. It is
the parent
who has the greatest impact on the life of a child-and it is the child
who can
has the greatest impact on that parent, laying the foundation upon
which the
parent-infant relationship grows.
Through infant massage, parents can engage their children in quality
time, a
time when a child's cues are being read and respected, and when the
person
administering the massage may relax and gain numerous benefits.
Infant massage is necessary in today's fast-paced world. The power of
touch
and the benefits of infant massage are being widely studied. If current
research
about infant massage continues to demonstrate the benefits of massage
(increased bonding and enhanced growth and development for infants,
as well
as benefits for those giving the massage), then these new findings
may place
infant massage as a worldwide cornerstone in the building blocks of
parenting
skills and child development.
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.
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