How does massaging a baby benefit her physically?
MOLLIE BOLLERS: Touch is very therapeutic. Baby massage helps decrease stress hormones and helps regulate breathing, digestion, sleep, and elimination. This means it calms babies and reduces crying, helps them sleep longer and more soundly, improves gastrointestinal functions and alleviates gas, and boosts circulation and immune function. Research also shows that nurturing massage stimulates the production of infants’ growth hormones, which helps babies grow and thrive. In fact, premature infants who are massaged gain more weight and develop more quickly than those who aren’t massaged. P&C: And emotional benefits? BOLLERS: Massage is a wonderful way for parents to bond with their babies. The gentle movement, eye contact, skin-to-skin contact, and verbal communication (talking and cooing) get parents and babies more in tune with each other’s rhythms. P&C: When is the best time to do a baby massage? BOLLERS: When she is in a good mood or in a quiet alert state. Some people like to do a m
