Basic Benefits for Baby & Mom - When Baby is Happy...Everyone is Happy!

Relaxation

Helps balance nervous system. Helps relieve built up tension in an infants body from all the stimulation and sensory integration that takes place in a baby’s daily environment. Has a reciprocal benefit; for the mother, father or caregiver giving the massage, oxytocin and prolactin is released creating healthy, nurturing, maternal feelings and a sense of well being. May also improve sleep patterns and reduce stress hormones.

Relief

May relieve physical discomfort such as severe gas, colic and reflux. Helps tone the digestive tract and stimulates the release of food absorption hormones such as insulin. This provides improved assimilation of nutrients at the cellular level and alleviates built up gas (from Tiffany Fields NICU research). Releases endorphins that are the body’s natural painkillers. Some strokes help with constipation, muscle tension, growing pains, teething, sinus congestion or excess mucus.

Stimulation

The skin is the largest organ of the body. Touch is the earliest developed function and the most crucial of all sensory systems. Nurturing touch can increase brain and muscular development.

Interaction

Promotes bonding and attachment. Helps parent/caregiver and child learn and understand cues, both verbal and non-verbal, improving communication between them. Studies have shown a father plays a significant role in the bonding process and touch is a vehicle to promote his nurturing capabilities. Studies have shown that babies that are massaged by their fathers excel in learning foreign languages and test higher on IQ test .  

Postnatal Depression

Infant massage by the mother has been popular in many cultures, especially India, and is growing in popularity in the West. Mothers with postnatal depression often have problems interacting with their infants. A controlled study has shown that attending a massage class can help such mothers relate better to their babies. The mechanisms by which this is achieved may include learning to understand their babies' cues and the release of oxytocin.