Massage and Bodywork

Definition

Gentle stroking and rubbing of infant.  Infant massage is a touch you do with your baby, not to your baby. It’s an interaction, not a task. You learn which strokes your baby enjoys and, as if dancing, go with the flow of your baby’s body language. While it is nearly impossible to rub your baby the wrong way, I can help you learn the right touch for your baby.

According to William Sears MD & Martha Sears, R.N., touched babies thrive, and here’s why:

• Touch communicates love to infants

• Touch improves infant behavior

• Touch stimulates growth-promoting substances

• Touch promotes brain growth

• Touch improves digestion

• Touch promotes baby’s self-esteem

• Touch helps special-needs babies.  (Handicapped infants—and their parents—particularly benefit from infant massage.)

General Benefits of Massage

• Gives a sense of well-being

• Decreases stress

• Decreases aches and pains

• Increases relaxation

• Increases circulation

• Increases cellular detoxification

• Increases range-of-motion