Appendix A – Massage for Common Ailments

Throughout a term of baby massage, share these techniques with the parents so they can use them at home for these common ailments. Choose a different section during each session, preferably with the section of the body that makes sense to the ailment such as glue ear with work on the head.

Sleeplessness

These techniques are used within the Twilight classes and are good to introduce in massage too. Once baby is ready for a bedtime routine this is perfect to include. We do not suggest parents leave babies to cry it out as this raises the levels of stress hormones. Instead, this technique allows babies to feel secure.

• Lay baby on their side and stroke the top of the back and using relaxed weight of hand
• Stroke the length of spine
• Place your hand on baby’s head and gently stroke
• With the other hand relaxed across on tummy knead from side to side as baby relaxes, this induces tranquillity
• Withdraw when baby is asleep

Coughs, Colds and Congestion

• Blocked nostrils-sit with back resting against wall/sofa, knees raised, lay baby on legs facing you
• Gently press index finger either side of nostrils draw them open by pressing down and out under cheek bones. Repeat above eyebrows and 4-5 times
• Chest congestion (essential oils) kneel on cushion baby legs round waist lay gently her back over thighs
• Cupped relaxed hand pat all around the centre and the sides of the chest, pitter patter finger tips from sides of chest to centre to neck
• Lay baby on their belly on your thighs, pat around back and sides. If heavily congested may vomit slightly after this drumming as bronchial tubes compress and expel mucus.

Teething and Irritability

In the time immediately before a tooth comes out, babies may be fussy and drool and chew a lot. The following techniques can be helpful if baby is distressed as they are non-intrusive and comforting.

• Sit baby on your lap, squeeze and stroke the hands gently between the thumb and fingers.
• Move to the feet, squeezing gently and stroking the sole and then the top of the foot.
• Bringing baby up for a cuddle, stroke gently all over the back and up and down the spine. Sing gentle songs while doing this.

Wind, colic and constipation

The massage techniques covered in the ‘Belly’ section will aid babies with these common ailments. It may be useful to tell parents that wind is more common in bottle fed babies and if they are showing these symptoms, check the flow of the teat in their bottle. Flow that is too fast or two slow can both be the cause. The milk should drip at a rate of one drop per second. After a feed, sitting baby upright is helpful as is massaging upwards from the bottom to the top of the back.

Conjunctivitis / Sticky Eye

Occasional infections in the eye are fairly common in babies and should clear when it is cleaned with cooled boiled water or breastmilk. If they continue to occur, the tear duct may be blocked. This massage is carried out with NO OIL so it doesn’t get into the eyes.

• Place the index finger in the depression in the nasal bone at the corner of the eye and press gently into the side of the nose. You can use the other hand to steady baby’s head.
• Draw the finger down along the side of the nose and out under the cheekbone. This is where the tear glands are located so should help to clear any blockages.

Glue Ear

Remember to advise parents to see their GP if there is any discharge from the ear or the baby is in pain. When children get recurrent infections in the middle ear, the following can be helpful.

• Sit with baby facing outwards and place your index fingers on the side of the head behind the ear lobes.
• Press the fingers gently into the sides of the upper jaw bone, behind the ear and draw down towards the throat.
• Again starting from behind the ear, draw down and backwards around the sides and base of the skull.