Guest Blog Post: 4 Benefits of Infant Massage

I am so excited to have a guest blog post today from Meredith Piscitelli, CEIM – Certified Educator of Infant Massage, at www.perfectbabymassage.com in Boston! See below for the major ways that baby massage can be very beneficial for both mom and baby!

1. Stimulating

Stimulates all the systems of the body to develop efficiently & properly including the:
Nervous system – myelination (speeds signals from body to all parts of the brain)
Circulatory system – aids in reaching all parts of the body & speeds healing
Respiratory System – develops lungs and regulates breathing
Digestive system – decreases incidence of reflux by aiding development of the area of the brain that regulates the opening and closing of the esophageal sphincter at the top of the stomach
Elimination System – regulates the efficiency of nutrients moving thru the tummy & bowels, assuring less gas and colic pain
Immune System – body is able to fight off illnesses better
Stimulates the release of oxytocin, known as the “cuddle” hormone (is released in both parents and child), prolactin (promoting milk production in the mother) and other endorphins (the “feel-good” hormones)

2. Relaxing

Helps relieve tension built up from the stimulations in baby’s daily environment
Helps babies handle sensory stimulation and respond in a relaxed manner
Reduces muscle stiffness and normalizes muscle tone
Helps babies sleep more easily and deeply
Helps regulate sleep/wake cycle

3. Relief

Touch, combined with vocalization (soft voice or singing) helps reduce pain levels up to 80%
Helps tone the whole digestive tract, from the esophagus to the large bowel
Helps alleviate gas and promotes elimination
Releases hormones for food absorption
Releases endorphins, natural pain killers, to ease emotional distress

4. Bonding & Attachment

Enhances verbal & non-verbal communication through ALL the senses
The loving touch of infant massage draws on all the elements included in the bonding and attachment process: eye-to-eye contact – skin-to-skin contact – body scent – voice recognition – teaches awareness of ‘proper’ touching – demonstrates responsiveness of parent to baby’s cues, which teaches baby to trust; releasing of “feel good” hormones in both parent and child
Massage increases a parent’s confidence in their parenting-skills.

From Meredith:

“My joy is teaching and encouraging new parents to realize their full parenting-potential. The inclusion of learning to massage their baby is vital. It’s so easy to master and such a fun way to understand how to handle baby and learn to ‘read’ them.”

Please note: the proper way to learn infant massage is to have sessions with an instructor.

About Meredith-

Certification & Education

Certified Educator of Infant Massage. Certification by IAIM & Infant Massage USA – 2011
Infant/Adolescent/Adult CPR, Defibrillator & First Aid Certified, American Heart Association. Current.
Infant/Toddler Specialist Certification – Agency – Boston’s Best Babysitter’s – Preferred Provider. Current.
Registered Nurse – Brigham & Women’s Hospital

Meredith Piscitelli, CEIM – Certified Educator of Infant Massage