Benefits of Massage
"A child's early years are crucial to their well being as adults. A positive, supportive family environment is singularly important in helping our children realize their potential and live happy, healthy lives as adult members of our society. 
Your work in helping parents and children build positive relationships through massage will, I'm sure, make a difference to families in need and in so doing, help create a more positive future for all of our children."
Fiona Stanley
TVW Telethon Institute for Child Health Research
"After having given Gentle Hands massage to our son for months now, applying sunscreen has turned into a massage opportunity! It's been a great bonding time for us all"
Sylvia Camus
System Analyst
As the long history of massage proves, there are many wonderful physical and emotional benefits to infant and baby massage for both the parent (caregiver) and child. For example, by stimulating the skin, the developmental process of the brain and the nervous systems speed up; this improves the communication between the brain and the body – a major step in the developmental process for children.
 Infant and baby massage also provides a balance for infants between the stress of taking in new information through sensory details and relaxation from the calm reassuring touch and sound of the parent’s voice.
It has been estimated that stress is related to 60%- 90% of all illness, so it follows that infant and baby massage provide benefits in illness prevention for both the parent and the baby and infant by reducing stress and providing a relaxing experience filled with love and security.
As the baby relaxes the parent relaxes, which in turn relaxes the baby, and the cycle of relaxation between parent and baby deepens.
Some of the other many benefits of infant and baby massage include:
- Promoting bonding between parent (caregiver) and child;
- Relieving discomfort from common childhood ailments such as:
- Colic
- Congestion
- Constipation
- Teething
- Diarrhea
- Cradle Cap
- Emotional Stress/Trauma
- Crying
- Sleeping Problems
- Speeding up the growth rate of the brain and nervous systems;
- Enhancing neurological development;
- Improving sleeping patterns;
- Stimulating and aiding in digestion;
- Promoting infant’s body awareness;
- Stimulating muscle tone and growth;
- Stimulating and building the immune system;
- Increasing circulation;
- Building confidence in the parent;
- Assisting with motor coordination and balance;
- Providing quality time between parent and child;
- Providing a great bonding time for Dad and baby;
- Building trust and respect between parent and child;
- Creating greater awareness in parents about the health of their baby;
- Parent becomes more aware of what child requires and how to settle an upset child with greater ease.
By incorporating massage into your daily routine the whole family benefits. "Gentle Hands massage has turned nappy (diaper) changing from a wild wrestling session into a calm stroking session. A breath of relief for us all."
Michael Hill
Regional Manager of Evans and Tate |
