Introduction to Baby Massage

Annabel Hargrave is a qualified active birth teacher, birth doula, yoga instructor and baby massage instructor and yoga birth tutor. She has three grown-up children and lives in South West London (where Boo Boo’s Jenn attended her fab antenatal classes).

Here’s Annabel’s step-by-step guide to baby massage..

Why and when should you massage your baby?
Massaging your baby can be a wonderful bonding experience for both of you. Ideally it should be done when your baby is happy and not hungry or just been fed, not tired but relaxed and bright eyed. You should always try to get eye to eye contact with your baby or get their attention before starting. Most of all is should be an enjoyable experience for both of you! Start by introducing your touch with your hands on their body.

Legs - the squeeze and twist

Make a bracelet shape with your hands around the thigh and calf rotating your hand forwards and backwards - this help increase circulation, iis relaxing and is a pleasant ntroductory stroke. Circular strokes making the hand like a bracelet around top of the thigh, then around knee and then calf in an outward movement, finishing with the ankle. Next, try Swedish milking strokes, gently stroking from ankle up to hip finishing with imultaneous strokes down both legs. Then taking hold of baby’s ankles draw knees toward tummy and hold for the count of three – repeat a few times – this is great for relieving wind!

Feet - the caterpillar walk

Massage the top of  Baby's foot with your thumbs using caterpillar-type walks down the centre and side of foot. Then, place your thumb on the sole of Baby's foot and slide towards the toes. Press all over the base of the foot with alternate thumbs. Massage around heel and ankle  (this helps with digestion) Finish by gently squeezing and rolling each toe.

Abdomen - the tummy rub

Making sure your hand is relaxed rub in circular movements in a clockwise direction. Then, walk fingers across the baby’s tummy. Massaging strokes down one side of your baby’s tummy and then the other side.

Chest and Arms - heart shape strokes

Start off by making a heart shaped stroke using both hands over the ribcage area. Placing left hand to anchor left ribcage draw right hand up ribcage towards shoulder and then gently draw arm out to the side. Repeat other side a few times then draw both hands across front of chest and draw arms out to the side. Repeat a few times then let your thumbs slip into the palm of their hands and massage. Holding baby’s hand with one hand stroking movements on the top of the hand, and along each finger gently pulling them out.

Back - flying formation

Massage from neck down to bottom, up and down then move on from bottom down to feet, then finally from neck to feet. Then try small circlues up one side of the spine and back dwon the other with your fingertips. Move your hands across Baby's shoulders and draw their arms out to the side to create a flying formation.