"Infant massage" involves the caregiver using their hands to perform systematic, skillful, and scientific strokes on the infant's skin. This transmits abundant gentle, positive stimuli through the skin to the central nervous system, producing beneficial physiological effects.Daily, systematic infant massage can effectively promote both physical and emotional development, improve sleep patterns, and enhance the infant's immune system. So, what are the benefits of infant massage?
1. Reduces Irritability: When a baby cries, the body produces stress hormones, which can lower immunity. Massage helps reduce these stress hormones, restoring immunity and calming the baby's emotions.
2. Weight Gain: Skin stimulation through touch increases vagus nerve activity, promoting greater hormone and insulin production. This aids food absorption, contributing to healthy weight gain in infants.Babies deprived of hugs or touch during their first three months may develop irritable temperaments.
IV. Observing Physical Condition As babies are often unclothed during massage, mothers can assess their physical condition. Talking to the baby during massage not only enhances bonding but also allows observation of responses and potential hearing issues.
5. Familiarize Baby with Body Part Names While massaging, moms can name each body part as they touch it—for example, "This is your little hand," "This is your little foot"—helping baby gradually recognize these areas.
VI. Boosting Appetite and Relieving Gas The physical activity involved in massage can increase a baby's appetite to some extent. Additionally, appropriate massage techniques can help alleviate gas in the baby's stomach and intestines.
VII. Promoting Recovery Premature infants who receive massage can be discharged from the hospital an average of 6 days earlier. Full-term infants with illnesses also experience better recovery through massage.
8. Pain Relief: Touch can alleviate discomfort, observable through the baby's reactions. A fussy, uncomfortable baby can be calmed through gentle touch.
10. Strengthening Parent-Child Bonding: Touching allows babies to feel their mother's love and patience. Under this loving care, babies feel valued, which also builds their future self-confidence. As mothers gaze at their infants during touch, babies sense the maternal love in their mother's eyes, and this interaction also allows observation of whether the baby's visual tracking responses are normal.
Mother-led massage offers numerous advantages: no need to travel, visit public places, or spend money; it can be done anytime, anywhere. The mother's scent provides security, her voice brings joy, and the emotional exchange and eye contact between mother and child are incomparable to what professional massage therapists can offer. Therefore, doctors recommend that massage is best performed by the mother.