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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
