Newborns have a very natural response to touch from the very first days of life. In any culture, one of the gentlest acts of love and kindness is to give a massage to an infant. Baby massage is recognized across cultures as a way of enhancing a baby’s health, growth, and emotional well-being. While many mothers do prefer massaging their babies on their own, hiring baby care services in UAE is also helpful. They have trained professionals who know the right techniques to take care of the little ones.
In this blog, we will share some reasons why baby massage is important and how it impacts on their health.
What Is Baby Massage?
Infant massage means taking time to rub and stroke your baby’s body with your gentle hands. It can be done with or without oil and is best when your baby is relaxed and awake, most likely right after a bath or just before bed.
Let’s explore some baby massage benefits for newborns and how it can enrich your baby’s care routine.
1. Helps You Bond with Your Baby
Touch is one of the first ways that babies will start to relate to emotional understanding. A simple baby massage will help your baby achieve a feeling of safety and assurance in their attachment to you. Touching your baby will also induce the ‘love hormone’, oxytocin, which will generate feelings of happiness and bonding between you and your little one.
This bonding is especially important during the early months and can be a wonderful experience for new parents.
2. Improves Baby’s Sleep
A gentle massage is perfect before your baby’s bedtime and can help your baby sleep longer and with more quality. Soft strokes will create a sense of relaxation in both their cortex and their body – a lovely feeling, making it easier for them to sleep. Just about all parents have seen improved sleeping behaviour after introducing infant massage to their baby’s nighttime routine.
This is one of the most useful infant massaging benefits; particularly if you are a parent advocating for restful nights with your baby.
3. Reduces Gas and Colic
Babies often have tummy upsets, such as gas, constipation, or colic. Gentle massage on the tummy can help to move gas along, and increase digestion, so that many babies will have less stomach pain, and cry less often the more they are massaged.
This is one of the major benefits of baby massage, especially in the early months.
4. Encourages Muscle Growth and Movement
Moving and stretching your baby’s limbs softly as you massage your baby will help strengthen their muscles, improve flexibility and balance, and prepare them for major milestones, like rolling, crawling, and walking.
Many forms of professional baby care services in the UAE incorporate massage as part of their physical development services for newborns, especially as this form of baby care is of particular value if the baby was premature or is considered to have delayed gross motor development.
5. Boosts Immunity and Circulation
Baby massage enhances circulation and enables the lymphatic system to support your baby’s immune health. Baby massage can also facilitate faster weight gain, particularly in premature infants.
There are some baby care services in UAE that offer massage treatment provided by trained professionals, designed to aid babies recovering from ill health, or those babies who may require extra care in their first few months.
6. Stimulates Brain Development and Senses
Babies learn through touch, sound, and sight. Massaging your baby helps in activating the baby’s senses which helps in early brain development. It also helps in teaching them how to recognize your voice and understand movements.
This sensory stimulation plays a big role in your baby’s emotional and cognitive growth.
7. Calms Crying and Relieves Fussiness
If your baby cries or seems fussy, without reason, a massage could help your baby. Massage helps in reducing stress hormones in the body. Massaging your baby only takes a few minutes and it makes the little one feel calm and happy.
How to Get Started with Baby Massage
If you are feeling stressed out and are unsure about massaging your baby, no need to worry! Numerous baby care experts in the UAE are super experienced in baby care and can support you. They can demonstrate safe techniques, which oils are best to use for your baby, and how to monitor your baby’s responses.
Services may have caregivers who assist at home or provide clinical appointments. Learning from a professional benefits your baby and gives you more confidence as a parent.
Simple Tips for Safe Baby Massage
- Choose a warm, quiet room with soft lighting.
- Use oils that are suitable for babies. Some commonly used oils are almond or coconut oil.
- After your baby has fed, wait for a minimum of 30 minutes before the massage.
- Gently stroke your baby and observe her reactions. In case the baby looks upset, stop the massage.
Final Thoughts
Baby massage is a beautiful and natural way to promote your baby’s health and happiness. Baby massage has several benefits, including better sleep and digestion, increased bonding, and helping promote cognitive development. This also provides you and your baby with a special time together each day.
Whether you’re doing it within your home environment or getting support from trusted baby care services in uae doing frequent massages to your newborn helps foster your baby’s early development and emotional happiness. It is a simple act of affection, with long-lasting benefits.
Baby care services in uae provide the essential support for many families and SnappyCare is a trusted name providing childcare services. They come with easy booking options and follow strict safety measures. Irrespective of whether you need a part time help or a full time support, Snappy Care provides professional childcare services.