Massage for Babies and Children
Just as it is for adults, massage therapy can be a very beneficial therapy
for infants and children and has been shown to boost their emotional,
physical and psychological well-being. The medical profession already
knows about the benefits – for example Russian doctors routinely teach
new moms how to massage their babies because they believe it
enhances the development of their central nervous system.
Giving and receiving a massage can be very relaxing for a child and a
parent. Plus, a massage could help soothe a crying baby with colic,
teething and sleeping problems. It also helps parent and child to bond
naturally by enhancing the natural connections between them, while
the little one gets a feeling of security and feeling loved.
Infant and Baby Massage
If you’re going to massage your baby yourself, remember the golden
rules;
1. Massage towards their heart – you’ll probably see baby massage
videos where the movements pull downwards on a baby’s leg, the best
way to massage, and to boost circulation and general health is to
always exert slightly more pressure on the way up the body than on the
way down. Your massage therapist can show you some basic strokes
that are great for baby.
2. Use good quality carrier oils. Don’t use baby oil, it’s not designed for
massage at all and can cause rashes. Use a good quality carrier oil,
preferably organic for babies, best picked up from a health store.
There’s no need to use essential oils in a baby massage, in fact it’s best
not to. The only time using essential oils is recommended on a very
young child is if it’s been professionally blended by a therapist.
Massage and Older Children
Massage is equally great for older children, and as massage therapy is
well known to lower stress hormones, helping to reduce anxiety and
also boost the immune system, it’s the perfect way to help build your
child up against the bugs and stresses of childhood. In some cases,
massage therapy has even been shown to reduce asthma symptoms in
children.
Other benefits of massage therapy for children include:
Improved Motor Skills
Children develop their motor skills as they and their bodies grow, and
regular massage can help to reduce any pain or tension in the
developing muscles that make learning motor skills possible. A study by
the University of Miami showed that massage even helped to boost the
motor function of some children with Downs’ syndrome.
Improved Cognitive Development
Research has shown the pre-schoolers who had a 15-minute massage
before an IQ test performed better than when they were just given
books to read. The International Journal of Neuroscience also reported
that having a massage appeared to improve brain function, which
resulted in increased alertness, speed and accuracy during math
problems.
Massage for Teens
They are at that tricky stage between childhood and adulthood, and
just as in early childhood, teens experience massive physiological and
psychological changes. Massage therapy can be a valuable addition to a
teen routine.
High school sports can be demanding, and we can probably all
remember our own sport-related mishaps. Teen athletes can be more
vulnerable to injury than adults, so a massage is the perfect antidote
and offers post-sport healing and pain relief.
Teenage years are also a very stressful time – everything seems so
much of a big deal when you’re that awkward age, and with exams,
study, first relationships and even body image worries, massage is a
great way to de-stress your teen. Also, for girls, menstrual pain can be
intense as they settle into their cycle. Massage is one of the best
therapies for menstrual cramps and girls can also benefit a lot from
learning self-massage techniques for period pain.
So, if in doubt, find a good baby or child massage class near you, or
book your teen in for a session, and you’ll both soon be feeing the
benefits…
Click here to schedule a massage for your child or teen.