Benefits of Massage Therapy: Part 5- Benefits of Infant Massage

For the next installment in my Benefits of Massage Therapy series,  I want to talk a little bit about infant massage.

As an infant massage instructor, I teach parents and caregivers how to massage their babies.  Infant massage has many benefits, not only for the babies, but for the person doing the massage.

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Benefits for Babies

The benefits of massage for babies can be broken down into 4 categories; relief, stimulation, interaction, and relaxation.  Let's take a look at what kinds of benefits fall under those categories.

Relief of:
•   Gas and constipation
•   Colic
•   Growing pains
•   Teething discomfort
•   Psychological tension

Stimulation of:
•   Language development
•   Muscle development
•   Growth
•   Sensory integration
•   Mind/body awareness
•   All Systems of the body 

Interaction:
•   Encourages verbal/nonverbal communication skills
•   Introduces positive, nurturing touch
•   Provides one-on-one time
•   Promotes feelings of:
               Love
               Trust
               Respect
               Tolerance
               Empathy

Relaxation:
•   Improves sleep patterns
•   Improves the ability to calm oneself
•   Reduces levels of stress hormones
•   Decreases hyperactivity and hypersensitivity

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Benefits for parents/caregivers, families, and society*

Parents/caregivers:
•   Decrease in stress hormones
•   Relaxation
•   Improved sleep
•   Stimulation of lactation
•   Decrease in symptoms of depression
•   Achieving a better understanding of your baby
•   Promotion of bonding and attachment
•   More involvement for parents who work full time and don't get as many opportunities to spend time with their babies
•   Quality time

Family:
•   Better sleep for everyone
•   Decrease in sibling rivalry
•   More relaxed environment
•   Increased respect

Societal Impacts*:
•   Increase in respect and empathy
•   Reduction of national health costs due to a healthier society
•   Reduction of:
               Abuse
               Violence
               Vandalism
               Crime

* Societal impacts are based on studies that have been done in cultures where infant massage is more prevalent.  

To learn more about my infant massage course, with a description of the class structure.  Visit my page on infant massage.    

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