The Magic of Massage: How Touch Therapy Can Transform Your Baby's Wellbeing

When you welcome a newborn into your life, your entire world revolves around them. It is a time for new experiences, emotions, and sensations for both parents and baby. In the initial few months after birth, the only language that babies can communicate is touch. Your touch can make them feel comfortable and help you bond with them. Even in your households, your mothers would have emphasized the importance of touch through baby massages. These massages soothe the baby and make them healthier!

Why Touch Is Crucial For Babies?

Have you ever held a newborn baby? When you pick them up, you must have seen how they try to snuggle into your neck or just place their head on your chest. Have you ever wondered why? Well, because that is comfortable. 

Touch is one of the primary senses in newborns. This is because infants are born with experience in this sense. Even when they are in their mother’s womb, they have ample opportunity to be in physical contact with their own bodies and the surrounding prenatal environment. 

As a result, when they are born, they try to seek as much physical contact as possible with others. These experiences bring them comfort and develop their sensory experiences. Even, they go towards the mother's breasts’ using the same sensory signals.

Benefits Of Baby Massages

So far, we know that a baby's massages have a physical and emotional impact on the baby's wellbeing. Now is the time to delve deeper into the field. Here are some of the compelling benefits that baby massages offer:

1. Facilitates Weight Gain: 

According to research published by NIH, babies can gain weight up to 1000 grams after infant massage is done twice a week for four weeks. Confused about how baby massages are helping in this? The simple reason is that massages improve digestion and nutrient absorption. They help with common issues that babies suffer from, like colic, gas, and constipation as well. So, when the baby’s digestion system is working fine, they gain a healthy weight over time. 

2. Improves Sleep Quality:

While you may not believe it, your babies can also be stressed at times. The major reasons for stress could be a lack of proper sleep or rocky relationships with their primary caregiver. As a result, their body does not absorb nutrients properly, and thus they don’t gain weight as required. Baby massages can solve both problems for you. Massages are known to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation in babies. Moreover, they can feel a sense of connection with their caregiver. All of this allows them to grow and gain weight steadily.

3. Builds Immune System

For a baby to remain healthy, they must have a strong immune system. Scientific research has shown that babies who receive regular massages from their parents or caregivers have increased activity of natural killer cells. These are the cells that help babies fight off infections and keep illnesses at bay. Thus, massages are really important in the early stages of their life when their immune system is still developing. 

4. Provides Relief From Discomfort

Have you ever noticed that babies often cry and fuss when they have digestive problems or when they are teething? This is completely normal if they feel pain or discomfort. In these cases, massages help to relieve the symptoms and relax their tense muscles. For example, the I Love You stroke on babies’ tummy can help babies release gas and encourage good digestion. Similarly, during the teething phase, you can massage their jawline and gums to provide them relief. 

5. Increased Physical Activity:

Some of the initial milestones in a baby’s growth are crawling and reaching. Massages help babies reach these milestones on time as they promote muscle development in babies. This, in combination with proper feeding, can ensure that babies grow well physically, gain weight, and become strong. 

6. Supports Mental Development:

Apart from physical benefits, baby massages also have a positive impact on cognitive and emotional development. As told earlier, massages provide sensory stimulation and encourage babies to form new neural connections. This is very important in the infancy stage because the brain is still growing at this point. Plus, massages make a strong foundation for emotional well-being, as babies who get massages feel more secure and comforted. Such babies are less prone to crying and become emotionally stable adults. 

Importance of Selecting the Right Oil for Baby Massages

Different types of oil eventually help determine the effectiveness of any kind of massage. Some of the best varieties include coconut oil, almond oil, and sesame oil because of their skin-enhancing benefits. As the data of dermatological research of 2023 revealed, oils containing Vitamin E and Omega-3 fatty acids are effective in deepening skin hydration and reconstruction. Make sure that the oil you use does not contain attributes such as scent that may harm your baby’s sensitive skin.

Conclusion

The experience and scientific research show that massages can have profound effects on the child’s health. The gentle touch of your hands is one of the most effective tools when it comes to taking care of your babies. It helps to nurture the cognitive, physical, and emotional well-being of your child at an early age. It is also a special bonding experience that will be etched in your hearts forever. So, give it a try! Your baby will thank you later, probably when s/he grows up!