Does Baby Massage Work?

[calmbabes]

Hi, I'm interested to know if any of you have used baby massage and if it works.

I did a baby massage course and had good intentions of doing it every day as part of a relaxing bedtime routine. In reality when the course finished I never did it again! My friend that did the course with me was exactly the same as well.

Not sure what you mean by “works”? I did it for my babies and they enjoyed it. Have to be careful the oil isn’t drying for their skin

In some cultures it's really part of the newborn experience.

I like others did the course because it was something to do and then never did it again

@HermioneWeasley thank you for the advice about their skin. How long did you massage them ie what age did you stop?

Gosh, they’re grown up now to hard to remember - before they were 1 I think?

Yes I would do massage after bathtime and DD found it very relaxing. Until she was about 1 maybe. Never found oil to be drying, i use it as a moisturiser!

I did a course and intended to incorporate it into a nice relaxing bedtime routine … but my baby will barely stay still for long enough to dry him off and get a nappy on, so I haven’t managed it! 😂

DS2 had severe reflux and wind as a baby. Two massage techniques on his stomach were the only things that relieved him. I have even used them on DH when he has painful wind! IMO worth it for that knowledge alone.

@Clevs that's interesting. Do you think you would have used it more if your baby was always crying?

My DD did enjoy some elements. She loved the full body stroke where you run your hands from the top of their head, down the sides and to their feet in particular.

She wasn't keen on massage in the first trimester because she wasn't keen on being put down.

On balance it was lovely though.

She won't bloody stay still for it now

I found it difficult to do on the course because DD just wanted to wiggle around and look at everything in the room. She loved it on our own at home though and it did wonders for her when she had trapped wind.

I'd stopped doing it regularly by the time she was a year old. Now she's nearly 3 and she occasionally finds the coconut oil and asks me to message her.

Never stopped. As they got older it became back or feet and hands. Now they go to spas and get massages on holidays. Massage is a normal and regular experience for all of us

Oh and DD has mild eczema. I always used coconut oil and it worked wonders on her skin.

I was fortunate enough to have a one to one baby massage course in my home over a period on six weeks- I really don't know if that is the norm but I was so grateful.
DS had awful trapped wind and reflux issues, so the tummy massage exercises were put to use every day. In my opinion they worked really well.
It also really helped me to build a bond with DS during a really difficult time. I wasn't great at sitting around holding him for any amount of time and so having a repetitive process that involved skin to skin contact really broke down those barriers. Having a regular class / contact with a healthcare professional was also really good for me - a bit of a routine!

I did, both DCs liked it but it was useful as now they are teens and will still plonk themselves down on my feet and ask for a massage and then sometimes even talk to me while I do it.

Not sure it made any difference to dc but it was good for me. If dc was distressed and I'd tried all the usual (food, wind, nappy change etc) massage gave me something else to do, andsomethng that was relaxing and calming for me. Which I think calmed dc.

I live in a Flying Start area and we got it free as part of the service. I did it on her everyday for the first year. I don't know if it helped anything but it was nice to do together. The tummy and leg stuff helped her when she had constipation or wind though.

We used to do it every night when drying them after their baths. They particularly liked their legs done, and I kept that up till their legs grew too big for the technique we used. Tummy was useful too if they had wind!

They continued to ask for hand/back/foot massages regularly when they were little, and though all adult now, still plonk themselves down and ask for a back/neck rub.

Both my children enjoyed when little. My youngest who is autistic still loves head, hand and foot massages as he is a sensory seeker and has sensory processing disorder. My oldest it was great to help with gas and she found relaxing upto about 1 and then she was on the go and not overly interested. My son it really helps him regulate and he will often place hands to put pressure where he needs it so for that reason alone it was invaluable for us