Massage as your baby grows
By the time your baby has reached 3 or 4 months of age, you are likely to notice longer periods of awake time during the day, and hopefully longer periods of sleep at night. Some newborn reflexes will be starting to subside as more voluntary activity takes over.
Your baby will probably be more interactive both vocally and through facial expressions and they may try to roll over or wiggle away when you are massaging.
If you have been giving your baby regular massages for a while, they may be so used to it that they remain completely relaxed, calm, and focused.
However, if this is not the case, adapt your routine around their desire to explore their developing curiosities and physical abilities. For example, if your baby rolls onto their tummy, do a back massage.
When they are ready to roll onto their back, massage their front. If they want to sit, support them, and try massaging their arms and hands.
Remember to massage their cheeks and behind the ears when they are teething, as this can help relieve soreness and congestion.
Between 6 and 12 months, so much is happening! Your baby is likely to be wiggling, rolling, sitting, crawling, sitting up or standing.
If your baby wants to be active during a massage, try varying what you do by altering positions, introducing toys, making some strokes more vigorous and others soft. Add nursery rhymes, stories, or songs to go with the strokes. Share in their expressions of delight and pleasure.
Your baby will probably be more interactive both vocally and through facial expressions and they may try to roll over or wiggle away when you are massaging.
If you have been giving your baby regular massages for a while, they may be so used to it that they remain completely relaxed, calm, and focused.
However, if this is not the case, adapt your routine around their desire to explore their developing curiosities and physical abilities. For example, if your baby rolls onto their tummy, do a back massage.
When they are ready to roll onto their back, massage their front. If they want to sit, support them, and try massaging their arms and hands.
Remember to massage their cheeks and behind the ears when they are teething, as this can help relieve soreness and congestion.
Between 6 and 12 months, so much is happening! Your baby is likely to be wiggling, rolling, sitting, crawling, sitting up or standing.
If your baby wants to be active during a massage, try varying what you do by altering positions, introducing toys, making some strokes more vigorous and others soft. Add nursery rhymes, stories, or songs to go with the strokes. Share in their expressions of delight and pleasure.
The information of this article has been reviewed by nursing experts of the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN). The content should not substitute medical advice from your personal healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for recommendations/diagnosis or treatment. For more advice from AWHONN nurses, visit Healthy Mom&Baby at health4mom.org.
