With a baby massage, you give yourself and your little one a wonderful moment of closeness. In this article, we share the benefits of baby massage (for your baby and for you as a parent). Afterwards, we talk with an expert in the field of baby massage: Jade from The Rub in Amsterdam.

What is a baby massage, you wonder? And would you like to know how to give one? Then read on.

Why a baby massage?

A baby massage has countless benefits—not only for your little explorer, but also for you and your partner. Why is a baby massage so beneficial? Here is a selection of the advantages:

• A baby massage relaxes and calms both parent and child. Stress built up in daily life can disappear like snow in the sun with a gentle baby massage. Your little one usually becomes calm during a massage and may also fall asleep more easily afterwards.

• By massaging your baby, you help them become bewust van je eigen lichaam . Especially in the first months after birth, your little explorer may still feel a bit lost in the big, unfamiliar human world. By regularly massaging your little one in a safe and serene environment, they learn to get to know themselves better and build self-confidence to explore the beautiful world.

• A baby massage gets the circulatory system moving. This is not only important for maintaining an optimal body temperature, but blood is also the conveyor belt for nutrients and minerals to the skin, muscles, and connective tissue. This also supports healthy cell growth. A baby massage can prevent cramps and promotes a gezonde spijsvertering .

• A baby massage can give parents a pijnlijke sensatie . By using a relatively simple technique to relieve your little one’s discomfort and pain, you experience a sense of satisfaction. We bet you’ll feel especially motivated to truly master the technique during a baby massage course.

• You build a close bond with your little one. By incorporating baby massage as a regular ritual into your daily routine, you create a fixed moment each day when you truly take time for each other. Especially for your partner, this is an ideal opportunity to be closely involved in daily care and to pamper your little explorer—literally from head to toe. Do you sometimes experience gloomy moods after pregnancy? Then baby massage can help you move past these worries and build a healthy relationship with your child.

Meet Jade

LILLYDOO talked with Jade and asked her everything about baby massage. What is it good for, what should you pay attention to, and how do you give a baby massage at home?

What are the benefits of a baby massage?

You can broadly categorize the benefits of a baby massage into three categories: mental, physical, and emotional. I see every day in my practice why you should incorporate baby massage into your daily routine.

Benefits of baby massage: mental

Massaging your baby is a moment of gentle, warm, and loving contact. Research shows that baby massage strengthens the bond between parents and baby. Even when bonding is not so easy or you don't feel very comfortable in your own skin, baby massage is a wonderful way to build a connection with your little one.

Thanks to the loving touches during baby massage, a lot of oxytocin is released (the love or cuddle hormone) in both you and your baby. This gives both of you a warm and relaxed feeling that lasts a long time. Plus: the invisible hormonal process between two people in a relationship (like during baby massage) strengthens the bond. That is chemistry!

Benefits of baby massage: physical

When you massage your baby, they become aware of their little body. Two little legs. Two little arms. And a little tummy. Wow! Baby massage and baby yoga stimulate your baby's motor development.

With the right, simple techniques, you can also loosen trapped air. Do not massage when your baby is experiencing discomfort. The tummy is sensitive then. Choose a calmer moment, for example afterwards. Or opt for foot reflexology.

Is your baby teething or feeling discomfort? Baby massage can help your little one process stimuli better—once the pain has subsided. Just think about it yourself: after a severe headache, you're probably 'done' due to overstimulation. A relaxation moment like a massage is then very soothing. If you are massaged regularly and can relax, it also makes you more resilient, which in turn helps you cope better with pain. The same applies to babies.

Many babies do not like lying on their stomachs. But lying on the tummy during waking hours is very important for your little one's motor development. Thanks to baby massage, your baby gently gets used to that feeling.

Benefits of baby massage: emotional

Taste is already highly developed in babies at an early age. Baby massage is literally body language: you let your little one feel how much you love them.

During a baby massage, you don't have to stay silent. Babies actually love it when you keep talking to them while massaging. Not sure what to say? That's perfectly okay. Just describe what you're doing, using a gentle voice and lots of intonation. After a while, it will start to feel even more familiar for you to talk to your baby.

What types of massages are there and which massage helps with which complaint?

The most common massage for babies is the shantala baby massage. What is shantala? It is a rhythmic massage from India and an ancient tradition passed down from mother to daughter. The shantala is the woman who performs this massage.

The French doctor Dr. Leboyer introduced Shantala baby massage in, among other places, Europe. He was deeply impressed by this simple yet effective baby massage, and he took photos to document the massage technique. This form of massage is also called the Indian method and is explained step by step in our baby massage course.

The Shantala baby massage is applied to the whole body, thereby addressing physical discomforts. If you want to use baby massage to prevent colic, we use multiple approaches, including massaging the tummy. You can also help prevent colic with baby massage through reflexology.

Another effective baby massage is the ayurvedic massage . With this massage, a baby usually becomes very calm, and the focus is explicitly on relaxation. You dip a small dough ball made of organic wheat flour in almond oil and then smear and roll it onto the baby's skin. For older children, you use your hands. Ayurvedic baby massage also stimulates blood circulation.

Would you like to develop an even stronger bond with your baby? Then you can try the Haptonomic baby massage . This treatment mainly focuses on feeling. The massage is a form of physiotherapy, and you essentially transfer warmth to your baby. Even before birth, you can start with haptonomic baby massage, where you stimulate the pregnant belly using various massage techniques, learn how to deal with pain, and notice which position during childbirth will be comfortable for you.

What should you pay attention to during a baby massage?

What should you consider when you want to massage your baby? Think about age, feeding schedule, and your little one’s overall condition. It is advisable not to start massaging your baby immediately after birth. Wait until your baby is 6 weeks old. Has your baby just eaten? Then wait at least 20 minutes before starting the massage.

When is it not advisable to massage your baby? During an infection, when your baby has a fever, during inflammation, with swollen lymph nodes, during a serious illness, and after vaccination, baby massage is not a good idea.

How do you give a baby a massage at home?

You can easily do a baby massage at home, but make sure you prepare properly. The environment matters, and you’ll also want to have a few items on hand.

Make sure you can relax in the chosen space, too. A relaxing baby massage with a view of an overflowing laundry basket might not be the best idea. A place with few stimuli is also helpful, so your baby isn’t distracted. Where is the best place to give a baby massage?

• on the ground, on a blanket, a towel, or a mat

• sitting on the ground with your bare legs, which is wonderful for skin-to-skin contact

• on the table on a changing pad

What do you need for a baby massage, and which oil is most suitable for baby massage?

• small bowl for pouring oil

• small towel

• nursing pillow

• a natural baby massage oil without fragrance, for example the almond oil from LILLYDOO

• soft bath towel (for adults) to cradle

• soft bath towel for over the pillow

• soft bath towel for your baby

• a large shower towel (for adults) for swaddling

• tummy tub or baby bath

• washcloth

• hydrofiber cloth

Make the room nice and warm and dim the lights. The bathroom—with some soft towels on the floor—is perfect. Feel free to indulge a little and go for the full spa experience. Spread a lovely scent in the room (babies love mandarin or lavender) and play some soft music.

Now it's time for the actual treatment. How can you give a baby massage? This step-by-step plan will help you get started:

1. Put the baby massage oil into a small bowl and place it next to you. This way, you can easily grab a bit of oil during the massage. Make sure you always have plenty of oil on your hands so the massage doesn't feel rough on your baby's skin. Warm oil is the most pleasant; you can briefly warm the bowl on the radiator or warm the oil in your hands before touching your little one.

2. Calmly tell your child what you are doing while undressing them. This builds trust.

3. Freedom and happiness—so let that diaper be loose. This way, your little one feels wonderfully free. Place a small cloth nearby to quickly clean up any accidents.

4. During the massage, you lovingly touch your little one, but not too softly, as that can tickle. You’ll quickly feel what works best.

5. During the massage, do not break contact. Always keep one hand resting on your little one.

6. Don't forget the tummy. Massaging the tummy supports healthy bowel function, and baby massage can help reduce colic. Always massage the tummy in circular motions, and only clockwise.

You and your baby are together in the moment, and distractions—such as a phone—can disrupt your 'bubble'. So turn off your mobile (37 times ping in the background won’t make anyone calmer). Also make sure that your little one is not too tired or hungry. Decide for yourself what a good time is for a baby massage.

How long can you massage, and when do you stop? Keep in mind that a massage is still new to your baby at first, so gradually increase the duration. Start with 5 minutes, and next time, massage for 5 minutes longer. There is no fixed rule for massage time, and you’ll notice when your baby is ready to stop. When that happens, stop and don’t force anything.

Tips for a baby massage

If you have ever been massaged yourself, you know how fully your body can relax during a treatment. With a baby, it’s quite different: they often like to stay active. It is completely normal for your little one to squirm during the baby massage, and this does not mean your baby isn’t relaxed or that the massage isn’t “working.”

As we mentioned earlier: keep talking to your baby. If you say nothing, your little one won’t know what to expect, and that can create uncertainty. So first, explain what you’re going to do, and keep involving your little one in your actions during the treatment.

Thanks to baby massage, you get to know and understand your baby better. That’s because massaging is also a way of (learning to) communicate. You do something, and your baby responds. For example, they might make a sound or relax their facial expression. They will like or dislike something—and they will let you know. If you keep a close eye on your baby during the massage, you’ll also learn more about your baby and how they communicate with you (and the world). You’ll quickly feel that you understand your little one even better, and that you know what he or she needs or wants to tell you.