The benefits of infant massage go beyond the child, it include the parents, siblings , extended family and primary caregivers. It not only promote growth and development both physical and emotional for the baby but it may as well extend to the well being of those who care for the child. It is a win-win bond  for all involved. These benefits confirm why I teach Infant Massage, privately or in group settings. The benefits and the extensive research that has been conducted of Touch and Infant Massage in recent years further adds credibility to my work. The proven benefits are the cornerstone of my class.

 

Current and on-going research supports that Infant massage is an important tool, and perhaps one of the most critical , for bonding and attachment. It promotes and develops positive interaction between parent and child by facilitating each other learn and understand cues, both verbal and non-verbal. This two way communication can support reciprocal respect, secure and healthy attachment and language development. Touch/Massage helps balance our autonomic nervous system. Touch releases hormones to help our body create this balance. From all the stimulation and sensory integration that takes places in a infant’s daily environment and activity, massage helps to alleviate built-up tension in an infant’s body.

BENEFITS: 

1. Interaction: Bonding and Attachment 

Infant Massage may promote and develop interaction between parent and child and anyone involved by helping  each person and the child to learn and understand each other cues, both verbal and non-verbal. This two way communication can support respect, secure and health attachments and language development.

2. Relief

May relieve physical discomfort for a baby with severe gas, colic and reflux by tone the digestive tract and as well stimulating  the release of food absorption hormone such as insulin. It promotes assimilations of nutrients at the cellular level, elimination and alleviates build up gas. Infant massage releases endorphins that are the body’s natural painkillers and ease emotional distress .

3. Relaxation

Touch/Massage helps balance  the baby autonomic nervous system; it helps to relieve build up tension in an infant’s body from all the 
stimulation  and sensory integration that takes place in a baby’s daily environment. It has reciprocal benefits as well for the mother giving the massage, oxytocin and prolactin are released creating healthy, nurturing, maternal feeling and a sense of well–being and contentment. It regulates behavioral states, improve sleeping patterns and reduce the release of stress hormones.

4. Stimulation

The skin is the largest organ of the body. Skin sensitivity is the earliest develop function and is the most crucial for all the sensory system for overall healthy development. This includes may system of the body: Digestive, Circulatory, Immune, Nervous, Lymphatic , Limbic and Hormonal.