Infant massage

This leaflet gives you information about Infant Massage and some of the benefits for you and your infant.

Infant massage is a way of enjoying relaxing time with your baby. Talking softly, humming, or soft singing adds to the calming action of infant massage. It has been shown to have a very positive effect.

What is infant massage?

Infant massage is when a parent or primary carer uses gentle, rhythmic, soothing stroking on their infant's body using their hands. Infant massage is a long standing parenting tradition in many cultures.

Why should I use infant massage?

Before babies are able to understand language, we often communicate and provide comfort to them through touch, for example, holding or cuddling them when they cry. Touch is a vital part of a newborn infant`s development. It supports communication, bonding and physical and emotional development. Within the neonatal unit, we use massage to support parents to provide positive touch experiences. An infant can sense and recognise their parents touch, voice and scent. Massage creates an opportunity to support that parent-infant bonding process.

What are the benefits?

There has been lots of research highlighting the many benefits of infant massage for both you and your infant.

Benefits for your Infant

Interaction

• Allows one to one quality time between parent/primary carer and their infant.
• Can promote feelings of attachment, love and trust that support emotional regulation.
• Strengthens the physical and emotional bond between infant and parent/primary carer.
• Close early contact with parents can encourage the development of empathy and confidence in children later on.
• May get some improvements in pre-language skills due to interaction that occurs with the caregiver.

Stimulation

• Stimulates all body systems – including digestive, breathing, immune, hormonal and circulatory.
• Can support increased weight gain, and improved feeding outcomes and decreased length of inpatient stay.
• Provides positive sensory experiences especially to hands and feet.
• Supports physical development as infants may experience improved body awareness, leading to better coordination and balance.

Relief

• May help to provide relief from gastrointestinal issues such as colic, constipation, teething discomfort and growing pains.

Relaxation

• Linked to improved sleep patterns for infants and their parents.
• Can promote relaxation by reducing stress hormones and increasing “happy” hormones (oxytocin) which have calming and pain relieving effects.

Benefits for you

• Strengthens the physical and emotional bond between parent/primary carer and infant.
• Supports positive interactions with your infant by allowing one to one quality time between parent/primary carer and their infant.
• Gaining a deeper understanding and awareness of your infant`s needs, behaviour, crying and body language
• Can promote relaxation by reducing stress hormones and increasing “happy” hormones (oxytocin) which have calming effects.
• Increased parental confidence in your ability to care and support your baby from learning a lifelong parenting skill.
• Improved sense of wellbeing and can have a positive impact on mental health and production of “happy” hormones (Oxytocin).

When can I start infant massage?

Nurturing, positive touch can be given from birth. Therapist`s and nursing staff can provide information and support about ways that this can be given. More formal, structured massage can begin from around 32 weeks corrected gestation.

Contacts/further information

If you have any questions about infant massage, please contact: Cath Ward, Neonatal Physiotherapist, or Jane Fenton-Smith, Neonatal Occupational Therapist by emailing the NICU therapy team.

References/sources of evidence

• International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) (opens in a new tab)
• Abdallah, B., Badr, L. and Hawwari, M., 2013. The efficacy of massage on short and long term outcomes in preterm infants. Infant Behavior and Development, 36(4), pp.662-669.
• Field, T., 2017. Newborn Massage Therapy. International Journal of Pediatrics and Neonatal Health, 1(2), pp.54-64.