Massage for Aiding Developmental Stages

The following section is designed to aid particular developmental milestones. They should only be practiced with babies when they are ready for them.

SITTING AIDED

By around 2 to 3 months babies should have the ability to head hold and have increased strength in their neck and shoulders and at this stage they can begin to sit aided. Seated massage with the support of mum is great for babies posture.

1. Sit baby in tailor pose with mums kneeling behind to support, explaining the importance of a good foundation for sitting. Mums should have their left hand across baby’s chest, baby leaning forward into your palm and taking his weight on the back of his legs.
2. With the right hand, stroke across baby’s crown with the fingertips to make them relaxed. Continue for approximately 20 seconds.
3. With a relaxed hand, using the palm, massage around the crown and sides of the head. Continue for approximately 20 seconds.
4. Finally, stroke down baby’s back from the head to the base of the spine using the weight of your relaxed hand.

Benefits: Encourages baby to elongate their back and put their weight through their thighs, gives good posture and aids sitting. Sitting in this way allows free movement of the spine and keeps the chest open for deeper breathing.

SITTING UNAIDED

You can show parents how to encourage sitting unaided by putting a cushion under babies arms and leaning them slightly forward. Once babies have increased core strength and can sit without the cushion, massage can be introduced. If you have a class of babies younger than this, take some time to show these techniques to the parents so they can do these when they are ready.

1. Whilst kneeling, sit baby upright in front of you with hands around torso. Let baby lean forward so he’s supporting himself and then bring your hands down to his legs and allow him to get his balance. Don’t continue to the massage part of this until he is com
2. Massage hand over hand down from shoulders to lower back, gently pushing downwards on the spine and back of the hips.

This first section can be used once babies begins to sit unsupported at around 5/6 months. The next section is then introduced once they are confidently sitting at around 6/7 months.

1. Stroke down the back again hand over hand around the hips and tops of the legs. Continue for approximately 20 seconds.
2. Using oiled hands to help glide, stroke the shoulders and gently pull baby’s arms through your hands outward and downward. Continue for approximately 20 seconds.
3. Massage tummy from side to side between the ribs and hips, using a kneading technique with a cupped hand.

JAPANESE SITTING

Practicing sitting in this way gives little ones a stable base to begin to crawl. This is the next stage on from sitting in tailor pose. Lie babies on their bellies, put hands beneath their chest and bring the top of their torso towards you so they are sitting back on their legs, with bum over or between the feet.

1. With babies in front of mum in this position, massage the front of the thighs from knees to hips.
2. With your arms over the top of baby’s, encourage them to lean backwards into you and massage the thighs again.
3. Sit baby upright again and with a cupped hand massage the belly from right to left with a circular motion.
4. Place hands over baby’s shoulders and pull their arms through your hands out to the side.

STANDING

Once little ones are beginning to pull themselves up and get up on their feet, the following techniques can be used.

1. Let baby lean forward from the hip and squat to stand over your thigh, or on the end of your knee (will help spread and ground feet)
2. Once standing up straight, support from the hips and bear down softly.
3. Let baby sit on your thigh between your legs. Close your thighs to support baby’s knees and ankles. Give minimal but secure support to assist balance

This position is easy to sustain and keeps the baby’s ankles, knees and hips in alignment to give the child a broad secure base.