BABY MASSAGE: Do not neglect magic touches!

Massage stimulates the senses of touch in babies. This contributes to both physical and mental development. Stating that massage also relieves colic pain, IAIM International Baby Massage Certified Midwife Hürcan Çit answered the most curious questions about baby massage.

• What are the benefits of baby massage, can you talk about it first?

The benefits of massaging babies have been scientifically proven. Regular massage of babies makes them healthier and more peaceful. In addition to the emotional, physical and hormonal benefits of massage, it is known that it is good for some ailments. Baby massage;

 * Provides bonding between mother and baby and promotes secure attachment,

 * Enables the baby to spend quality time with his parent, the baby feels that he is cared for and respected,

 * Improves baby's pre-speech communication skills, increases learning ability; encourages the baby to imitate.

 * It supports the strengthening of the immune system of the baby, it helps to regulate the respiratory and circulatory system, and stimulates the digestive and excretory system.

 * Helps develop motor skills,

 * It is a curative for colic, constipation, gas pain, growth pains, physiological or psychological tensions and teething pain,

 * It relaxes the tense muscles, improves the quality of sleep and allows the baby to sleep longer.

 * It provides less release of stress hormones, thus increasing the release of anti-stress hormones.

 * Increases the release of growth hormones in the baby.

 * Massage is very useful not only for the baby, but also for the parent who massages the baby. Positive touches; It nourishes the feelings of respect and love and increases the empathy.

• What is the importance of baby massage?

It is not necessary to limit the massage only to the mother. Fathers can also massage their babies. Massage strengthens the relationship between the baby and the parent, increases communication. The parents who massage their baby increase their self-confidence in baby care. Massage allows the mother and father to better understand her baby and to read the baby's signals. Parents have now learned how to calm her baby and in this process she only focuses on her baby. When a mother or father touches her baby with love, not only is the hormone of happiness released in the baby, this hormone is also released in itself. In this way, the baby experiences less stress. Massaging the baby, especially during the postpartum period, makes the mother spend more peaceful during this period and increases the release of hormones that produce milk.

On the other hand, fathers who always feel secondary in newborn care can turn their moments into opportunities by massaging their babies. Thanks to the massage, communication with their babies becomes stronger, they spend longer and quality time with the baby. It allows couples to go to baby massage training for parents and to share and socialize with other families.

• When to start baby massage?

In fact, the time to start massage varies according to the baby and family. Namely, the baby's belly is expected to drop in the first 10 days after birth. Parents of babies whose umbilical cord has not fallen can be afraid to touch the baby with a massage. In the first days, the skin of the baby is also very sensitive. For this reason, it may be necessary to wait a while, but this time is different for everyone. When starting massage, the healing process of the mother and the adaptation of the baby should also be taken into account. In addition, delicate touches should be given to the newborn, as hip dislocation may not be noticeable in newborn babies. The sense of touch is a sense that exists while still in the womb, and touch is the most important need for babies after birth. Therefore, it is very important that the baby makes skin-to-skin contact with his mother and father as soon as he is born, also positively affects the next process. It is possible to make nutritious touches during the period until the baby begins massage, and then to reconcile this contact with massage. The most important point in baby massage is the beginning. Before starting the massage, opening a relaxing music and getting the massage on the baby's lap and doing deep breathing and relaxation exercise will provide both sides to relax. If the baby is in a condition that should not be massaged, even just doing this relaxation ritual will be good for both the baby and the parent.

What is the best time for baby massage?

Massage time depends entirely on parental preference and the time the baby adapts; The first hours after waking up in the morning, in the middle of the day, after the bath or just before sleep ... If the baby does not like massage at that moment, he will try to explain this to his parents. The important point is that the massage is not done immediately after feeding. It can be ideal for massage 1-1.5 hours after feeding. Massage can actually be done every day, but parents shouldn't condition themselves to do it every day. Because sometimes the environment may not be appropriate sometimes. It is enough to do it as soon as possible. Babies learn routines quickly. If something is always the same at moments of massage, for example; massage time, music, atmosphere, sentences, etc. when starting the massage realize that the baby will be massaged and can start to give positive reactions when he understands this.

• What are the requirements for baby massage?

* First of all, both parent and baby should be ready for massage.

* The ambient temperature should be at a temperature where the baby will not get cold while naked. At about 24 degrees, babies do not get cold while naked.

* If possible, there should be nobody other than the parent in the environment.

* A soft cover (towel, pique etc) should be laid on the floor where the baby will be laid clean and comfortable.

* To prevent the baby from falling down, a blanket that can make a height around it can be folded and put in, or the massage area can be turned into a sheltered nest by turning it with pillows so that the baby feels safer.

* The baby's bottom should be clean and full. Care should be taken that the baby is not newly fed.

* A soft music should be chosen and if possible, massage should be done with the same music in every massage session.

* Eye contact with the baby should be established, he should smile and occasionally be told words of love.

* While massaging, care should be taken that there are no rings on the fingers and the nails are not long.

* When starting the massage, baby oil should be taken in the palm, heated by rubbing hands together and the baby should be touched with warm hands.

* If the baby is crying and restless, massage should not be started or continued.

• Do you have any suggestions for colic massage?

If the parent has the opportunity, he / she should learn both general baby massage and colic massage with a specialist. Thus, he learns which movements to do and how and what to pay attention to while massaging.

• Which areas should be massaged?

In general body massage; Massage should be done with soft touches on legs and feet, abdomen, chest, arm and hand, back and face. For the massage to be effective, the direction of movement of the fingers and palm should be well known.

• Which product should be preferred while massaging?

While choosing the product to be used, many factors such as baby's skin type, allergies, cost, and family traditions should be taken into consideration. The International Baby Massage Association recommends using high quality (organic), cold-pressed and essential oils for baby massage. If an allergy is suspected after the product used, a specialist should be consulted. It should be noted that the product used is odorless so that it does not reduce the sense of smell between the parent and the baby. The baby's recognition of the smell of his mother or father makes him feel safe during the massage.