Baby massage step by step tips

Mainly, Baby massage helps for the overall development of premature babies and also makes the baby healthy and active. Baby massage has its own merits. It forms a stronger link between parent and child.

Baby massage not only provides the baby health and love but it also helps the parent to be familiar with baby's visual symbols and movements. Baby massage relaxes the baby and helps them to get a calm and quiet sleep. Massaging the baby improves the digestive system and helps them to pass gas. A good oil massage helps them to be more flexible and even increases the blood circulation. Baby massage helps to improve the immune system and also helps to improve the skin color of the baby. Baby massage is extremely important and you can continue it till the time the baby is three to four years old.

Step by Step Tips for a perfect baby massage

Baby skin is very soft and gentle. Baby massage has its own benefits and is very easy to perform. One may experience the baby gaining weight, becoming healthy and increased growth because of massage.

1. Remove his/her belongings before you start massaging the baby. Also cut your nails as long nails may be harmful for the baby
2. Start the massage by rubbing the oil on the baby's body. But before doing massage you should keep all the necessary things ready like baby massage oil, tissues, towel, diapers and fresh clothes. You can use vegetable oil, almond oil, olive oil, coconut oil or any other good baby oil available in market for massaging the baby. You should consult your doctor to find which oil will suit the needs of your little baby 
3. Place a carpet on the surface where you will be massaging the baby. On the carpet spread a towel which is soft and furry, so that the baby feels comfortable. Remove the clothes of baby and put him on the carpet with his face-up
4. Now start the massage by applying the baby massage oil. Do not forget to warm this oil, as applying warm oil is of great help in the whole process of massaging. Make sure that the oil is not too warm
5. Take little oil in hands and apply it on baby's body. Like if you are starting the massage from hands, then apply oil on that hand, then massage that area and then go to the next body part
6. Give smooth and gentle strokes. But at the same time, the strokes must be firm and do it with the help of your palm and fingers or may be with your thumb most of the time
7. The strokes must be soft and light; especially when the movements are on the chest and the stomach. The movement on the chest and stomach should be circular
8. When we are massaging arms and legs, then there should be. While massaging the back and the rest of the baby's body, and then there should be upward movement
9. You should always take care and not put much pressure on baby's body; especially the spine area and the neck area. The neck area is very delicate and can easily get hurt
10. Maintain eye contact with the baby and sing songs or lullaby for the infant. Basically keep him engaged with you and at the same time make him enjoy the massage. Initially, the baby might cry when you are massaging him, make sure that later he enjoys the massage
11. Do not stop the massage suddenly. Slowly and steadily stop the massage. If stopped suddenly then the child might get scared and start crying
12. After the massage is done then make him/her take a bath with warm water. One should take towel, dip it in warm water and then make baby take a sponge bath
13. After the bath, one should clean the baby with dry towel and then put powder around his body. After that one should put diaper and then make him wear his clothes. Cuddle him for some time and let him go to sleep
14. Do not wake up the child specially for doing massaging. Do not do baby feeding after or before the massage, or when the baby is not well. Do not massage the baby at the places where they have got injections or vaccines as it might hurt them

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