Baby massage: a guide for parents

Baby massage is thought to improve the wellbeing of both parent and child, with some studies finding improved maternal mood and improved attachment, as well as linking baby massage with weight gain in pre-term babies. More generally, it also offers an opportunity to hydrate your baby’s skin – using appropriate massage oil or lotion – and can be used to soothe stomach complaints such as wind, helping your baby sleep more comfortably.

While the scientific evidence at this point is fairly thin on the ground, there are no disadvantages to baby massage, so it’s worth giving it a go. Any activity where you are face to face and skin to skin with your baby is an opportunity for bonding that will support their development and attachment.

Create a calm space

Baby massage is only relaxing if you and your little one are relatively relaxed. It’s not a technique we’d recommend trying while they are distressed or when you’re feeling frazzled. Try to carve out a good 15 minutes in your day to make the most of this time together. We recommend doing it fresh out of the bath (if the room is plenty warm enough and they’re not chilly) so that they’re already naked. This is a good time to hydrate their skin in any case. Lay a warm towel over a changing mat so there’s a nice, comfy surface to work on. If they seem a bit cold, you could also lay a warm towel over the top of them (not near their face) and move it around as you need to.

You might like to play some relaxing music in the background, or you could sing to your baby. They always love hearing your voice. It’s good practice to talk to your baby throughout the massage anyway, telling them what you are doing and generally checking in with them to make sure they are happy.

Start with gentle strokes on the legs

Babies’ legs are less sensitive than other parts of their bodies, so it makes sense to start here. Using oil or lotion and making sure your hands are warm, start by gently holding one ankle in your hand and use the other hand to encircle the top of their leg (as much as those chubby thighs will allow!) and very gently squeeze as you move your hand down towards their feet. Always move from the abdomen down (or out if you’re working on their arms). Once you’ve done a few strokes on one leg, switch to the other leg, then take both feet in your hands and gently press your thumbs into the soles of their feet and up to their toes. If you’re creating a routine that you want your baby to grow familiar with, you could aim to keep the time spent on each area consistent – say, 4 – 8 sweeps of each leg and foot.

Move to the tummy with light circles

Next, move to their tummy. Your little one doesn’t have to be totally naked to enjoy a massage but, if they’re wearing a nappy, consider loosening it at this point so you can better access the whole of their abdomen. Now, place the heel of your hands on the lower part of their tummy and gently smooth your hands, one after the other, across your little one’s skin in a fan shape. Always move your hand in a clockwise motion to aid digestion. The aim is to get as continuous a motion as possible. As a guide, you could aim for eight fans before moving on to the next step.

Massage the chest and shoulders

Your baby won’t have nearly as much tension in their shoulders as you do, so this is a very light press and release, simultaneously working both sides, starting with the heel of your hands at their sternum and sweeping outwards across their shoulders. Remember that babies’ chests are sensitive; keep it very light touch and do just four or so of these before moving on.

Focus on arms and hands

You can treat arms the same as legs, so hold your little one’s hand in one hand and use the other hand to gently smooth down their arm, either with a flat stroke or by holding their arm in the circle of your fingers. On their hands, rub small circles on their palms and press up their fingers from the base to the tip. And of course, you can also play ‘round and round the garden’ and get a lovely giggle!

Soothe the back with long strokes

Back massages can be done either lying down on their tummy or by lifting your baby up to your shoulder and running your hands down their back. If they are on their tummies, you can prop your little one on your legs and remember to be very gentle as you smooth your hands from their neck down to their bottom. Not all babies like being on their tummy, so play this one by ear and see how they get on.

Finish with a gentle face massage

Using your thumbs, start from the centre of the forehead and gently press outwards across your baby’s eyebrows. You can repeat the motion across the cheekbones and then softly trace your baby’s jaw before ending with a little boop on their nose. Ah, peace and tranquillity.

Using oil or lotion will ease friction and make the massage more comfortable for your baby. If they are suffering from dry skin, this is also a good time to hydrate in a soothing manner. The NHS recommends not using any oils or lotions on your baby until they are 1 month old, but if you’re concerned about their skin before this age, consult your healthcare professional.

Avoid fragranced oils or lotions and try to stick with natural substances rather than synthetics. Things like almond oil and vegetable oils are good for baby massage as they are very neutral. Avoid olive oil, which can be hard on delicate skin, and potential allergens like peanut oil. It’s always best to do a little patch test on your baby before you slather their whole body in a new oil to make sure they don’t have a reaction.