Baby Massage Guide: Six Weeks Plus

Massaging the tummy is a lovely way to help your baby feel safe and secure as well help ease tummy troubles such as colic and constipation.

If your baby is happy, you can make gentle paddling strokes on the tummy, with one hand following the other.

Begin with a resting hand.

1. Make a single downward stroke with your right hand on the left side of your baby’s tummy (your right).

2. Make a backward, sideways ‘L’, going from your baby’s right to left side.

3. Make an upside down ‘U’, going from your baby’s lower right side, up, across and down the left side of the baby’s tummy. Say the words ‘I love you’ as you go through the strokes.

Gentle massage of the chest can help relieve congestion problems. When sensitively touching the chest, sometimes you will need to pause and with resting hands, share your feelings together.

With both hands at the centre of his chest stroke out to the sides as if you were flattening the pages of a book. Keeping contact with your baby, glide your hands down, around and meet in the centre again.

Touch relaxation can be used at any age and at any time during the massage. Sometimes babies can hold a lot of tension in their bodies and this technique on the arms and legs encourages your baby to relax.

Gently mould your hands around your baby’s arm or leg, asking your baby to relax. Using a calm voice repeat the word ”relax.” When you feel your baby responding, reward him with positive feedback, a smile and a kiss.

This is a great way to show your baby how to relax his hands. Using the pads of your thumbs gently open his hand, roll each tiny finger between your index finger and thumb and finally stroke the top of his hand from the wrist to the fingertips.

Massaging the face can help relax tension caused by sucking, crying and with the discomfort of teething.

Babies mirror your movements and expressions. It is a lovely moment to make eye contact and have a happy time together. Make small circles along his jaw with your fingertips.

Massaging his back can encourage strengthening of the neck, shoulders and arms as your baby lifts his head; as well as calm and relax your baby. There are many ways to position your baby, to encourage him to enjoy being on his front. You can learn these different positions in baby massage class.

With your baby on his front, start with both hands together at the top of his back, at right angles to the spine. Move your hands back and forth, in opposite directions, going down the back to the buttocks, then up to the shoulders, and back down again. Then swoop your hand from his neck all the way down to his feet.