Baby Massage
Bonding is a unique relationship between two people that endures through time. It is key to a baby’s development. Baby massage is known to be an excellent way to develop the bond between parent and baby.
MoorMums spoke to Andrea Fletcher who teaches the baby massage classes in Yeadon to find out more about massaging your baby and how it can benefit both mum (or dad) and baby.
MoorMums: When are the baby massage classes run?
Andrea Fletcher: They are run on Thursday mornings at 10am at the Yeadon health centre (next to Morrisons). The teaching room is on the 1st floor and is bright and airy.
MM: How did you come to teach baby massage?
AF: I’m a Nursery Nurse and I have been base here in Yeadon for 8 years. I did a baby massage teaching course in April last year and I have been teaching baby massage ever since.
MM: What do I need to bring if I want to come to your classes?
AF: We recommend that you use a natural oil to massage your baby – such as coconut oil. This is because natural oils are absorbed by the skin. Mineral based oils (such as baby oil) are not as good as they are not absorbed. You’ll also need a towel and you might want a cushion to sit on.
MM: What are the benefits of massage for babies? Are young babies even aware they are being massaged?
AF: Of course they are! Babies respond to the touch and loving contact of their parent. This has been shown to enhance their sense of love and trust. On top of that, baby massage can increase a baby’s self-esteem, improve their body awareness and reduce their stress. There are also particular strokes that can help with common baby complaints such as colic and indigestion. Best of all, massage can improve a baby’s sleep patterns!
MM: Wow! That’s great. Are there any benefits for parents/carers?
AF: Yes, there are. The most important aspect of baby massage for parents is increased bonding with their child. But massaging baby can also improve a parent’s ability to read their baby’s cues, reduce the parent’s stress levels and even reduce blood pressure.
MM: How long can you continue to massage your baby?
AF: For as long as parent and baby/child are happy to! Some parents continue massage until their children are teenagers.
MM: Can there be difficulties with massaging older babies?
AF: As your baby becomes more mobile and more alert, it can be tricky to keep them in one place for a massage! There are ways round this though – you could try distracting them with a toy or having shorter sessions.
MM: Some mums might be a little nervous of massaging their newborn as they seem so fragile!
AF: Up to six weeks, babies often don’t like having their clothes taken off, so you could try just massaging their feet. Follow your baby’s lead, you’ll soon learn what they like and don’t like. We always tell our parents to ask their baby’s permission before starting a massage. This may seem silly, but developing that respectfulness between parent and child is very important.
Classes
Details of the baby massage classes in Yeadon are listed on MoorMums. There are a number of other baby massage classes run in the area, some as part of the postnatal support groups run by the health visitors.
