Babies love to be touched by the compassionate loving hands of their parents. Immediately upon being born, newborns thrive when held in the arms of their mothers or father. Studies at the Touch Institute at the University of Miami have demonstrated the powerfully beneficial qualities of touch therapy for babies and children. They discovered that babies in the NICU who were given massage every day then left the hospital an average of 2 weeks earlier than other babies, and gained weight 50% faster.

Bodywork is a word that includes all kinds of hands-on healing therapies, including massage therapy, shiatsu, acupressure, reflexology, craniosacral therapy, energy healing, reiki, and more. I like to use the term “bodywork” in my writing and practice to encompass all the many different kinds of healing touch available beyond the well-known and loved art of massage. Massage is a wonderful universal touch therapy practiced all around the world. Energy medicine is a very gentle non-invasive touch therapy that can even be performed off the body for very sensitive babies and adults, as well as everyone.

Continuing throughout infancy, babyhood, the toddler years, and childhood, it is easy, fun, and healthy to provide loving touch, massage, or bodywork to your children. Learning to practice bodywork for your baby is fun and enhances your communication with your child. If you are interested in learning about baby massage or other kinds of bodywork you can find books and movies at your local bookstore or library, or you can seek out professional bodywork in your community.

Getting Ready for Baby Bodywork

All you need to get started are warm clean hands and a flat surface to lay your baby down. Adapt the room temperature, lights, and sounds to be soothing for baby. I recommend working on a bed or the floor, with a soft towel underneath the baby if you are going to use oil for massage. When choosing a safe massage oil, please avoid synthetic oils, such as mineral oil or chemical perfumes, such as found in common “baby oils”. Instead choose an all-natural cold-pressed vegetable oil such as coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, or a natural baby massage oil blend by Mama Rose's Naturals, Weleda, Burts Bees, or other natural body care product companies.

When introducing your babies delicate skin to a new product, try testing the oil on a small patch of your babies skin, then waiting 24 hours, to make sure there is no irritation or skin reaction. You can also do gentle touch, massage, or energy work while your baby is dressed in comfy clothing. Bodywork can be integrated into your regular day. I used to massage my baby's feet when carrying him in a sling around during the day. At night time, I like to gentle massage my son's back in small circles down along each side of his spine at night to help him fall asleep. During the busy toddler years, I would massage his legs, arms, back, and head as he was playing, following him along as he played with trains, read a book, or played with a toy.

Feel free to be creative and anytime can be bodywork time! Just remember to have fun!

Bodywork for Baby

Babies only need a very light touch when massaging. A newborn needs no more pressure than the amount you can press on your own eyelids without feeling uncomfortable pressure. You can use a little bit of oil to make your strokes smooth and fluid as you massage your babies belly, back, head, arms, legs, feet, and hands.

Here are a few suggestions for Baby Massage techniques:

• Wrap your hand around your babies arms or leg and glide down to the hand or foot and back up to the shoulder or hip.
• Massage your babies belly in clockwise circles to enhance digestion and relieve gas.
• Bicycle pump your babies legs to relieve gas.
• With baby on belly or across your lap, massage down their back and up. Glide your hands down and up, and then make little circles with your fingers down along each side of the spine.
• Make little circles with your fingertips on your baby's scalp.
• Massage each finger and toe.
• Massage the soles of your baby's feet.

Baby Energy Medicine suggestions:

• Hold your hands on either side of your baby's body, where ever you feel energy is needed and send love and clear light to your baby.
• For a tummy ache, hold one hand one the belly and one hand on the small of the back.
• For a headache or for excited children, do the head-hold, with one hand on the forehead and one hand on the back of the head.
• Palm both calves with your hands to calm baby, ease digestion, and sooth colic.
• Listen to your intuition and use energy medicine freely with positive intent.

Create a regular time for baby bodywork in your family. Remember that with gentle touch and attunement, no harm can be done. Offered simply and with love, massage is a powerful bodywork practice for whole family health. Energy medicine offers many tools for parents through raising babies and children, as well as self-care.

Remember to have fun and trust your intuition!