Why Baby Massage is More Than Just a Bedtime Ritual
Baby massage or Abhyanga is one of the most widely practiced daily rituals for babies in India and even before I had my baby, I knew this was one I wanted to incorporate into his or her routines. I had read that the act of touch and massage encourages oxytocin release and that helps to bond with your baby- that fact alone, I was sold.
It wasn’t until I had my baby though and I had learned through my mother why baby massage or a daily “maalish” was incorporated into the routines of many babies. When I learned of some of the benefits apart from bonding, I was wondering why these weren’t talked about more, especially to first time parents! Baby massage can feel like magic to babies and honestly the benefits are great for us parents too.
Skin conditioning
Baby skin is delicate and can be prone to drying out quickly as they face a drastic environmental change from the warm, moist womb to the dry and colder climate of the outside world. A daily massage with a nourishing oil blend can help retain moisture in their skin and improve their skin microbiome. Choosing an oil is just as important and in Indian tradition, a blend of sesame, coconut, and sunflower oils are preferred. If your child’s skin is on the drier side, applying a moisturizing lotion first and then massaging with an oil can help lock in the moisture from the lotion as well.
Relaxes muscles and encourages flexibility
Imagine how a nice massage feels after a good workout for adults. Now imagine for babies after being curled up in a small space for 9 months and then having all the room to kick and explore your outside world. It can feel strange to have so much movement and a daily massage can help relax muscles, increase flexibility, and the stimulation helps babies develop awareness of their bodies.
Parental bonding and communication
Just being around the baby smell can be soothing to parents but studies have shown that just touch is an effective way to increase bonding between a mother and a baby and that is the magic of Oxytocin, a hormone released by our bodies that encourage bonding and attachment. Continued baby massage can also help boost a mother's confidence.
Enhanced digestion and weight gain
A consistent massage routine and technique can help keep digestion issues like gas at bay through stimulation and this study has shown that massage over time can help infants gain weight.
Better Sleep
Infant massage has been shown to help babies develop better sleep patterns as well as achieve a deeper sleep. The deep touch allows the body's nervous system to regulate, reduce cortisol, and release oxytocin which can help reduce stress.
With all these wondrous benefits, its no wonder that this practice has persisted for generations and why our grandmother's insist we find a way to incorporate this timeless practice into our babies routines.
*Please note, these are not medical advice. Please consult your doctor if there are any concerns with completing a baby massage on your child