| Infant massage seems to be sweeping the world at | | | | person is. |
| the moment - it's popularity has exploded within the last | | | | Benefits of Infant Massage |
| few years, much of which is due to Vimala McClure | | | | Relaxes Infant |
| and the IAIM. But, as with most natural healing | | | | Loving touch lessens tension, fussiness and irritability. |
| techniques, it is by no means a new thing. People have | | | | Digestion is aided and this can provide relief of gas and |
| been massaging babies for centuries. Once again, it is | | | | colic. Massage is also a wonderful way to lessen |
| the Western World that is slow on the uptake. But we | | | | stress parent and baby. |
| are learning, and more and more people are being | | | | Helps normalize muscle tone and improve blood |
| trained to be able to teach this art to the people who | | | | circulation. Babies cry less, as the parent is more |
| need to know. | | | | responsive to babies’ cues. |
| Infant massage is a wonderful, loving way to welcome | | | | Enhances Bonding |
| your baby into the world. Sharing the massage | | | | Touch conveys nurturing and love, the essential |
| experience is calming and benefits both of you, | | | | ingredients for emotional and physical growth and well |
| strengthening a bond that will last a lifetime. | | | | being. |
| Infant massage instruction for families with babies who | | | | When parents massage their babies, they promote |
| are typically developing, and follow up with continuing | | | | quality time, create better bonding and increase |
| education classes ranging from working with families | | | | confidence in their own parenting skills. They enhance |
| with infants and children born biologically or | | | | intimacy, understanding and the ability to nurture. |
| environmentally at-risk or with special needs, learning | | | | Aids Growth and Development |
| more in-depth facilitation skills to work with a wide | | | | Studies have shown increased weight gain, and |
| range of parent populations and situations, or receiving | | | | immune function. Myelination of nerves is also |
| personal supervision or consultation. | | | | increased. These things in turn are needed for brain |
| Massage can help ease the muscles into relaxation, | | | | and muscle development. |
| and when practiced on a regular basis, teaches the | | | | Massage can begin from the day the baby is born, but |
| infant what relaxation is and how to go about it. And | | | | many parents start later having been taught by health |
| as a side-benefit, the massager gets to take time out | | | | professionals or having been on a course |
| to gently massage their baby and they usually | | | | Massage is an excellent way of connecting with your |
| de-stress at the same time! | | | | baby if you are a working mum. A short massage |
| Infant massage encourages a good relationship | | | | each night before bath time can help your baby feel |
| between mother and baby. It gives them a place and | | | | loved |
| a time to be together, free from the worries and | | | | Infant massage improves communication |
| pressures of everyday life. It gives them space to just | | | | The close interaction helps improve the ability to |
| be together, not changing nappies or making dinner, | | | | understand your baby's body language. They will |
| shopping or sterilizing bottles. Infant massage | | | | respond with more sensitivity and confidence. Baby |
| instructors teach infant massage - once the mother is | | | | feels heard and respected, and grows up with a |
| confident to massage without thinking about what | | | | healthy self-image. |
| move comes next or if they are doing the stroke | | | | Improves Baby's Sleep |
| correctly - then comes a time of real communication | | | | As your infant learns to relax and release stress, |
| between mother and baby. Watching and learning | | | | sounder and longer sleep is often the end result. |
| from each other, and getting to know who the other | | | | Read about Home Remedies and Shilajit. |