Benefits of Baby Massage

Baby massage is an important skill to master and holds many potential benefits for both babies and parents.

It can promote bonding and secure attachment with caregivers, give your baby quality time and attention from parents, and provide a means of pre-verbal communication.

The massage strokes taught focus on all major areas of the body, stimulating the circulatory, digestive, lymphatic, and respiratory systems. By massaging your baby, you can help to trigger the release of oxytocin (the love hormone), leading to reduced cortisol (the stress hormone).

Massaging your baby may help to reduce pain related to gas, colic, digestive cramps, teething, physical/emotional tension and excessive crying.

Helping your baby to relax is a key goal for many parents, and the act of massaging can help to reduce stress, induce calm, and help to regulate behavioural states.

The benefits to you as the parent or caregiver are equally important. Massaging your baby may help you to recognise and respond to cues, regulate behavioural states, improve sleep for your baby (and in turn for you!), and to give you an relaxing and confidence-boosting activity to enjoy with your baby. Dads may find infant massage especially helpful as an early bonding activity.