Erin Frosch
Cork, Ireland

The centuries-old practice of baby massage has been used as early as 2670 BC in China¹ to promote bonding between parent and child and demonstrate affection through physical touch, words of affirmation, and quality time. It has been passed down from generation to generation in cultures across Africa, Asia, and the South Pacific, and while methods have varied, the act of physical touch remains.² The first year of an infant’s life is a major period for psychological development, and stimulating a baby’s sense of touch in the first few days after birth has been seen to positively impact this psychological development.³ Baby massage was also found to benefit interactions between mothers and their infants as well as improving maternal mental health.¹

When parents implement baby massage into their routines, they promote bonding with their baby. During the massage, parents should make eye contact with their baby as another method of bonding, as the gazes babies give are their own way of showing affection. Parents can also speak to their babies, as sound is one of the very first stimuli babies experience in utero.⁴

Yet the benefits of baby massage extend beyond attachment and bonding. Recent studies have shown that baby massage can help infants gain weight, improve sleep patterns, and relieve pain.^5,6 Baby massage stimulates the production of the hormone insulin, which aids in food digestion, causing babies to get hungrier quicker and leading to more feeds that result in weight gain.⁵ Serotonin levels are increased as an effect of baby massage, and as serotonin produces melatonin—the hormone that regulates sleep—babies are able to sleep longer and more peacefully.⁶ Good quality sleep is vital for infants, as the majority of their brain cell development and growth hormone production occurs while sleeping. Lastly, massage stimulates endorphins, which aid in relieving pain, thereby calming crying infants.⁶

While taking time out of a parent’s busy schedule may be easier said than done, the opportunity baby massage offers to connect and bond with an infant, as well as promote healthy weight gain and quality sleep, is remarkable. It is an act of love that can be expressed with just your hands and requires only taking time to look at and appreciate what is right in front of you.

References

1. Cooke A. Infant massage: The practice and evidence-base to support it. British Journal of Midwifery 2015 Mar 2;23(3):166-70.
2. Underdown A, Shai D. Infant Massage: Is the Medium the Message? International Journal of Birth and Parent Education 2014 Jan 1;1(5):31-4. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268506556_Infant_Massage_Is_the_Medium_the_Message
3. Gürol A, Polat S. The Effects of Baby Massage on Attachment between Mother and their Infants. Asian Nursing Research. 2012 Mar;6(1):35-41.
4. Wurzer T. Bonding and infant massage. Bethlehem University Journal 1983;2(1):41-6. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26444492
5. Ifalahma D, Cahyani LR. Effect of baby massage on baby’s sleep quality (based on baby massage duration and frequency). Proceeding of International Conference on Science, Health, And Technology 2019 Nov 16:25-8.
6. Fatmawati N, Zulfiana Y, Pratiwi YS. The effect of baby massage on improvement baby weight. Journal for Quality in Public Health 2021 Apr 30;4(2):227-32.