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Soon after the baby is born, parents start searching for a massage lady who can give their baby a good body massage and bath. In India, in joint families, the elderly women in the family (like an experienced grandmother) usually do this job. As soon as the mother recovers from the delivery, she can also start massaging and bathing her baby. An oil massage can be both relaxing and therapeutic to the baby and is important for proper growth and development of the baby. A gentle daily oil massage can do wonders to your baby. So here’s a look at how to massage your baby properly.
Massaging a new-born is extremely beneficial for the emotional and physical development of the baby. The babies who are massaged regularly tend to gain more weight and were found more energetic. Following are some benefits of massaging the newborns:
Before getting into the massaging procedure, there are three important factors to take care of.
The first rule of massaging the new born baby is to massage slowly and gently applying very light pressure
It is suggested to wait for ten to fifteen days after the birth to start the oil massage. This is because the skin barrier will not be fully developed when the baby is born. Therefore, the oil massage can make the baby’s skin dry or can develop an allergic reaction. Moreover, it is better to wait till the umbilical stump falls (which will take around two weeks) as the oil, if not properly removed from the stump can increase the risk of infection.
Infants usually enjoy massaging. The person who massaging the baby will come to understand if the baby is not comfortable. The baby will start to cry or show signs of discomfort. Once you change his position or the pressure applied is reduced, he may again start to enjoy the massage. Also, whenever you pick the cue that the baby had enough massage (he will start to turn away and cry), never continue the massage. Stop the massage and give him a quick bath.
There is a wide range of baby massage oil from which you can choose appropriate oil. Rub a little oil in the hand of the baby and wait for some time to see if the baby shows signs of itching or develops a rash. If not, you can apply it to the whole body. The oil used for the massage should be:
We hope this article will be your go to guide when it comes to massaging your baby. If you have anything more to share, please leave it in the comments section below.
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