Each baby needs a massage for the harmonious development of not only the body, but also the emotional state. Consider how to conduct it, how to choose the right place and time. We will also give recommendations on how best to massage for a newborn: at home or with a specialist, and are there any contraindications.
Why does baby need massage?
As studies by scientists and physicians show, those crumbs who are regularly massaged for up to a year develop faster and grow more open to communication.
Massage for the newborn, who so far perceives this world through touch, because vision and hearing are not yet sufficiently developed, helps to develop the emotional state of the baby and establish physical contact with him. In addition, it is also an excellent prevention, which can prevent many childhood diseases. There are special massage techniques that help save the baby from colic, which torment most babies, improve the functioning of the digestive tract and help the muscles work properly.
It is proved that the child after a light massage session sleeps more firmly and more calmly. In addition, this is carried out as a game, and thus the baby knows the world around him.
There are also special sessions that are carried out as therapy only by specialists and are aimed at combating the pathologies that the child has.
Types of massage
Massage for babies can be carried out for different purposes.
If the baby up to a year has identified problems with the musculoskeletal system, then it is better to start therapeutic massage as soon as possible. In the early stages of many defects and pathologies in development can be avoided. Massaging as a therapy is carried out when pathologies such as flat feet, clubfoot, dysplasia or dislocation of joints, cerebral palsy, torticollis, hernia in the navel, hypertonicity or hypotension are detected. It is carried out only by a specialist in a clinic or at home. On average, they begin to carry it out after the baby is two months old, but with some pathologies that have been identified, it is possible to carry out the procedure starting from the 4-week-old crumbs.
This is the easiest type of massage that a parent can do at home. If the mother does not know how to do it, you can invite specialists or a nurse from the clinic to the house so that she shows how to properly carry out the procedure. Massage of the newborn baby is in the morning as a charge or, conversely, performs a calming function for the baby to have a good sleep. If you carry out short massage movements on the baby’s body every day, this will allow mom to establish closer contact with the baby, teach him to quickly roll over, sit down, crawl and walk. Also, massage can prevent the pathology of the musculoskeletal system of the baby.
- Correction or auxiliary massage.
It is carried out not as the main therapy, but as an adjunct during therapeutic massage sessions. The appointment is made only by a doctor in order to prevent the possible appearance of pathologies during development.
Indications for
There are some indications for various types of massage.
When is it worth carrying out the crumb procedure?
- With a large weight of crumbs, anemia or diabetes, a general preventive massage is performed.
- If the baby is tormented by constipation or gas, then he needs to massage the tummy before feeding for prevention.
- In case of disturbances in the functioning of the motor system and joints, therapeutic and auxiliary therapy is carried out.
- With pathology or underdevelopment of the lacrimal glands, a so-called massage for dacryocystitis of newborns is carried out, which belongs to the category of treatment.
- With frequent colds, preventive procedures are an important component of strengthening immunity.
- A baby’s poor sleep or hyperactivity is also corrected through a soothing massage.
What age should I start?
Knowing how to massage a newborn, the question arises when such manipulations can be performed and when it is better to start them. Pediatricians are sure that you need to massage the baby’s body only after a comprehensive examination of the condition of the crumbs by specialists (an orthopedist and a neuropathologist) and not earlier than he turns two months old. For children who were born prematurely, closer attention, and this process is better to postpone to a later date, even for prevention.
Site preparation
In order to prepare for a massage for a newborn, it is worth choosing the right place, and not just the time of the procedure. It should be a hard surface, can be done on a changing table or rug on the floor. It is important that the room is not too sunny or, on the contrary, gloomy, and also do not turn on loud music, so that this does not annoy the child. Often when massaging, they include children's songs or the parent himself sings them. Mom’s voice is already calming the baby.
It is also important to pay attention to the condition of the baby. If he cries, then he obviously does not like something. It is worth stopping and starting the massage at another time.
How to choose a time for a massage?
Massage for a newborn at home is most often done twice a day. In the morning it can be combined with gymnastics, which will help the baby tune in to an active day. In the evening, using the stroking technique, the session will calm the child, which will ensure his sound sleep.
It is also important to conduct massaging sessions in between feedings. It can be 25 minutes before a meal or 40 minutes after he ate. Duration is selected depending on the time, as well as the purpose of the massage.
Basic rules
When familiarizing yourself with the massage technique for newborns, which is based on stroking and rubbing, it is important to consider the sequence of actions.
- The good mood and well-being of both the baby and the mother are important so that the sessions bring only positive emotions to the baby.
- Massaging begins with the legs. Foot and each finger with light and smooth movements are palpated by the gentle arms of mom.
- Then the entire leg is ironed, from the foot up and back several times. Such manipulations are carried out with each leg separately.
- Next is the massaging of the pens. First palms, then fingers, the whole pen. At the same time, you can talk with the baby, he should always feel that his mother is nearby.
- You can combine massage with elements of gymnastics. Divorcing handles in different directions, patting two hands, imitating riding bikes with legs (this allows you to get rid of jeeps). It is important to remember that the movements should be soft and smooth, and if the child resists, you should not do this through force.
- If you need additional massage of the tummy, you can do it after the main session. If the baby is tormented by constipation or colic, massaging is carried out clockwise, but if, on the contrary, diarrhea, then - against.
- With frequent bronchitis or a strong cough of the baby, you can massage the chest, but very lightly and carefully.
- At the end, you can turn the baby on the back, but for this he should already confidently hold his head, and massage the back and buttocks of the baby.
An average session lasts about 15 minutes. It is important that the baby experience only positive emotions. Stroking, rubbing, kneading and patting - everything is done easily and without strong pressure on the baby's delicate body.
At home or with a specialist?
Many parents wonder what is best - massage for a newborn at home or with a specialist. It all depends on the type of massage. Massage as a therapy with the existing pathology in the baby is carried out only by a specialist both in the clinic and at home.
Any massage for preventive purposes can be carried out by mom at home. This favorably affects the emotional state of the baby and his health. But here it is important to know the basic rules of exposure to skin crumbs, so as not to harm.
What should mom know when conducting a massage session at home?
- Until the child is three months old, a head massage, especially the area where the fontanel is located, does not hold the inside of the thighs, kneecaps, or elbow bends.
- Any pressure, patting or blow can lead to the fact that the baby will become painful and unpleasant.
- The temperature in the room where the massage of the newborn baby is carried out should not be higher than 23 degrees.
- Massaging is permissible only one hour after feeding, when the bulk of the food has already been assimilated.
- The very first massage should be no longer than 10 minutes, each time this time increases.
- On the hands of the mother, who massages the baby body, there should be no jewelry and open wounds.
- During the massage, the child should lie on a hard surface, not on the bed.
Session Duration and Result
Many parents should know that the duration of massaging the baby, both as a therapy and as a prophylaxis, depends on the age of the crumbs and the massage technique.
Tummy massage of the newborn is carried out before each feeding for 5-7 minutes. This reduces the risk of developing colic in a child. Preventive massage of the whole body of the baby up to a year should last no more than half an hour. For children from a year and depending on the existing pathologies, it can be up to 45 minutes in duration.
The effectiveness of the massage is as follows:
- The baby sleeps better and calmer.
- Proper development of muscle work, and, accordingly, of motor activity.
- Nutrition, protection and moisturization of the skin, because when massaging use special milk, butter or cream for children's skin.
- Proper bowel function.
- Improving the circulatory system.
- Tactile contact leads to an emotional connection with the parent.
- Helping the baby to know this world through tactile sensations.
Contraindications
It is important not only to know how to massage the newborn, but also in what cases it is contraindicated.
Do not conduct massage sessions when:
- The child is not yet one month old.
- The baby has problems with blood coagulation.
- Elevated body temperature.
- Rashes on the skin.
- Diseases of the kidneys or bladder in an acute form.
- Umbilical hernia (in this case, there are special techniques for umbilical massage for a newborn, but it is performed only by a specialist, since any improper movement can harm the baby).
- Diseases such as rickets or hepatitis.
- Injuries to the upper or lower extremities.
- Pathology of the heart.
- Hypertonic muscle.
Massage for colic in newborns
Most babies up to a year suffer from colic in the stomach. This is due to the fact that their work of the digestive tract has not yet been completely formed. In order to rid the baby of discomfort in the tummy, special massaging sessions are performed. This can be done by every mom, knowing the features and technique.
Anti-colic massage is carried out immediately before feeding, for 7 minutes. It can be performed as a massage of the whole body with a light stroking or focus on the stomach. A warm diaper is placed on the tummy and stroked hands clockwise. This will calm the baby’s digestive tract and help the intestines work properly.
After massaging the tummy, you can do stroking the legs, arms and back. It is worth remembering that a massage from colic to a newborn is carried out before each feeding. It does not go as therapeutic therapy, but rather is done as a preventive measure. The main thing is to do everything slowly and for a short time.
Massage for eye disease in children up to a year
Often children under one year of age develop inflammatory processes in the lacrimal sac. With this pathology, the eyes of the crumbs are constantly swollen and watery. Massage with dacryocystitis of newborns is carried out for the purpose of prevention or therapy. The diagnosis, treatment and technique of massage movements is shown only by a doctor.
Equally important is the preparation for this type of massage:
- Mom's hands should be without long nails, so as not to accidentally harm the eyes of the crumbs.
- Hands should be clean and warm.
- Previously, they can be greased with cream or baby oils, so that your hands slide on the surface.
- Before the massage, rinse the eyes and remove the mucus secreted from them with a special antibacterial wipe (each eye is separate so as not to spread the infection) - this cleansing is carried out up to five times a day.
- The movement and stroking of each eye is carried out easily and smoothly.
To achieve effectiveness, it is important to conduct such procedures regularly.
Conclusion
Proper massage of the newborn will not only help to establish tactile contact with the baby, but also make it more stress-resistant, confident, active, active and sociable. A child who spends most of the time up to a year lying down needs muscle massaging to develop his motor activity. To conduct a massage or not, of course, the parent decides. But it is scientifically proven that such children grow up healthier and happier.