MASSAGING YOUR BABY IS A WONDERFUL THING TO DO.

BABY MASSAGE IS SIMPLE TO LEARN and to do.

The benefits to babies are great, and massaging their children has a positive impact on parents, too.

- have a calming and soothing effect

- help to improve weight gain

- boost muscle tone

- enhance growth and development

- encourage greater responsiveness

- improve digestion and metabolism

- reduce pain by stimulating the production of endorphins, the bodys natural pain killers.

BENEFITS FOR BABIES

Massage can :

WHEN NOT TO MASSAGE You should stop the massage immediately

if:

- your babys colour changes

- he vomits

- his breathing becomes more rapid or stops

- his muscles become tense

- his pulse rate increases or becomes slow.

WHEN TO MASSAGE

- after a bath in a warm room

WHERE TO MASSAGE

- Choose a warm, quiet room where you both feel comfortable

HOW TO MASSAGE PRESSURE OF STROKES

- Massage strokes should be firm yet gentle, deep and slow. Always be guided by your baby. Babies find too light a touch unpleasant and irritating.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT POSITION

Make sure you are comfortable when you massage.

Choose a position that allows you to keep your back straight, particularly while you are leaning forwards.

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

CHILDREN WITH DOWNS SYNDROME

often have low muscle tone, which massage can help to develop.

PRESSURE OF STROKES

Children with special needs often have a sensory difficulty, in that they can be either highly sensitive or insensitive to touch.

They need either light or deep pressure, depending on their sensory integration. Some children actually dislike light touch, so firm pressure is needed.

Massage is simple in terms of technique, yet powerful in what it conveys: your love, understanding and attention

Massage is something you and your baby do together

its about sharing feelings, and even thoughts, on an intimate, unspoken level

Rus Lidia Gr 8 Anul II BFKTR