The Happiest Baby on the Block and The Happiest Toddler on the Block 2-Book Bundle pdfdrive com

Infant Massage: Rubbing Your Baby the Right Way
Beautiful, big-eyed Mica was so sensitive and vigilant that she often
had difficulty shutting out the world, even when she was exhausted.

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When Mica was one month old, I recommended that her parents, Lori
and Michael, try using massage to help their daughter wind down:
At first Mica seemed leery of this type of touching. She
accepted some foot massage, but that was as far as I could
get before she became unhappy. I stuck with it, though,
and after a week, Mica began to enjoy the touching. She
even became excited when she heard me rub massage oil
into my hands. I was delighted! Massage time soon
became our special bonding time. Mica would deeply relax
and sometimes fall asleep. I loved doing this for our
daughter. And best of all, it helped her become calmer in
general and to get over her evening fussies.
Lori, Michael, and Mica
Here are the five steps for giving your baby a perfect massage:
1. Prepare for pleasure—About an hour after your baby has eaten,
remove your jewelry, warm the room, dim the lights, take the phone
off the hook and, if you like, you may turn on some soft music.
Have some slightly heated vegetable oil (almond oil is great) within
easy reach, and some wipes and diapers too, just in case.
2. Bring yourself to the moment—Sit comfortably with your
naked baby right next to you or on your bare, outstretched legs.
Place a towel around her body to keep her warm. Now take five
slow, deep breaths to allow yourself to be fully present for this
wonderful experience. Massage is not a mechanical routine, it’s an
exchange of love in one fleeting and tender moment of time.
The first few times you massage your baby, you may notice that
you’re “in your head,” thinking about how to do the massage. Don’t
worry: Once you become more familiar with the routine, your
attention will naturally begin to focus on your fingertips, your
baby’s soft skin, and your loving heart.
3. Speak to your baby with your hands—Rub some oil between
your hands and start by touching your baby’s feet. Always try to

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keep one hand in contact with her skin and softly talk to her about
what you are doing and what your hopes are for her life to come or
sing a lullaby. Uncover one limb at a time and massage it with a
touch that is fluid but firm. Let your massage strokes move slowly
along her body, in synchronicity with your calm breathing.
Use smooth, repetitious strokes over her feet, legs, stomach, chest,
arms, hands, back, face, and ears, gently rotating, pulling,
stretching, and squeezing. Twist her arms and legs as if you were
lightly wringing a wet sponge. Feel free to experiment with using
your fingers and different parts of your hands, wrists, and forearms.
4. Reward your baby’s tummy—Thank your baby’s tummy for
doing such a good job. Bicycle her legs and then firmly push both
knees to the belly and hold them there for ten to twenty seconds to
give a nice, satisfying stretch. Then massage the tummy in firm,
clockwise, circular strokes, starting at her right lower belly, up and
across the top of her tummy, and ending at the lower left side. (This
sometimes helps babies release gas or poop.)
5. Follow your baby’s signals—If your baby begins to get restless,
it’s a sign to change your pace or end the massage. Wipe the excess
oil from her body, letting a bit remain to nourish her skin. Bathe her
with soap and warm water later that day or the next morning.