ERICA EHM Q&AWITH - The MOMpreneur

RELAX
by Julie Riach
Cooing Babies, Rested Parents
Does that sound like new parent paradise? These days a lot of North
American parents are getting wise to all the benefits of baby
massage. In countries such as India, moms have been practicing the
traditional art of Shantala Baby Massage for centuries. Not only is it fun to
watch your child wiggle and coo in response to your touch, you as a parent
will also reap rewards (one of which is an infant
who sleeps better).
Digestive issues, such as colic, gas
and constipation, are never fun for baby
or parent. Massage can help combat
these issues. If you have a
digestively-challenged baby, try
laying him on his back and
moving his legs in a clockwise
direction so that his thighs
are rubbing against his
abdomen. Massaging the
abdomen with clockwise
circles can also help
stimulate the digestive
tract and get things moving
along.
Incorporating a daily
massage into baby’s routine
is one way to help ensure he
sleeps soundly and more
regularly. Try a 10 to 15 minute
massage before bath time or bedtime.
This will quickly become a popular routine with both of you!
Simultaneous benefits of massage include better circulation,
reduced stress hormones, positive body image development and improved
baby-parent bonds. A US study has also shown that infant massage helps
premature babies: infants receiving massage grew up to 47% faster and on
average left the hospital six days earlier than the premature babies that
were not massaged.
Just wait … there’s more! Parents not only get the immense pleasure
of giving their baby a rub-down. They also more easily pick up on their
baby’s cues and feel more confident when handling them (especially true for
first-time parents). A reduction of instances and symptoms of postpartum
depression in mothers has also been observed when massage is used.
Want to get on board? Here’s what you’ll need: a 100% cold-pressed
organic vegetable oil, such as apricot kernel or grapeseed oil, and a quiet
and warm room. Make sure you remove any jewelry that may scratch the
baby, and check yourself to ensure you are in a happy and relaxed mood
(babies pick up on negative energy very quickly). Keep the pace of the
massage slow. Try to cover the whole body including chest, arms/hands,
stomach, legs/feet and back. Keeping the same sequence for each massage
session is more relaxing for the baby as he will soon learn what body part
comes next in your massage routine.
Above all, life moves faster than we’d like sometimes, so enjoy these
precious moments together. MP
Baby massage courses are heaps of fun and a useful way to get comfortable with baby
massage techniques. Julie Riach is a Certified Shantala Baby Massage Instructor and the
owner of Thrive Fitness: www.thrivefitness.ca. She teaches private and group classes
throughout Calgary and the surrounding area.
The Mompreneur • September 2007
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