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Infant Massage

Learn how to give your baby an infant massage.
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About Infant Massage:

Benefits

• Forms bonds of intimacy with baby
• Improves sleeping and eating
• Aids colicky baby
• Enhances communication
• Promotes healthy beginnings
• Positive shared experience
• Always consult a physician before starting any physical routine.

Preparation

• Warm room to 75 - 80 degrees
• Have a pillow for your lap or cushioned table at a comfortable height
• Natural Oil - We're using Calming Massage Oil by Soothe Your Senses
• Towels to wrap the baby
• Extra diapers
• To Begin
• Breathe deep calming breathes
• Get comfortable
• Look at baby - make eye contact
• If baby cries, it's okay to pick up and comfort. Always respect the baby's wishes.
• Honor the baby's sense of security. Every baby is unique.

Massage Techniques:
The first technique works the legs and lower extremities. Massaging this area aids in circulation and digestion as well as starts the relaxation process

• Milking Strokes - gently twist and pull towards the baby's foot.
• Sweeping Strokes - cross thumbs in a cross over movement.
• Stroke the babies feet up and down and then gently bring the knees to the chest.
• Lastly - moving to the chest, Use fingertips to stimulate lymph to fight congestion
  

Considerations:

• Never massage a baby with 101 degree fever or higher; with skin irritations or systematic disease or infections.
  

(PRESS RELEASE) Relax Your Infant/Baby with Massage Techniques from the Experts at Soothe Your Senses Day Spa Soothe Your Senses Day Spa in Edgewater on the north side of the city is committed to more than your typical spa pampering. Nurturing Traditions into Modern Rituals is more than their tag line, it's their mission. Bringing wellness aspects into everyday life doesn't only have to be for the wellness gurus. Simple traditions can make a big difference in anyone's life.

Today we're demonstrating Infant Massage - a simple way that parents, grandparents and caregivers can provide a wellness technique that can provide significant benefits to the baby. Sharon Mathieu, Lead Massage Therapist and Holistic Healer understand these benefits first hand as a grandmother of six and shares her expertise.

Infant massage is a great way to form intimate bonds with a baby. But it goes beyond that. It can help improve sleeping and eating habits; aids a colicky baby; and enhances communication. It's something that any caregiver can learn how to do. It's a positive shared experience.There are just a few basic massage techniques. It's most important to get comfortable, breathe calmly, and honor the baby's sense of security. Every baby is unique - so make eye contact with the baby and relax. Keep the room warmed to 75 - 80 degrees. Have a pillow for your lap or a cushioned table at a comfortable height. Use a natural massage oil - we're using Soothe Your Senses Calming Massage Oil (grapeseed, almond, jojoba oils and essential oils of lavender, chamomile). Typically, the baby would be undressed.

The first technique works the legs and lower extremities. Massaging this area aids in circulation and digestion as well as starts the relaxation process

Milking Strokes - gently twist and pull towards the baby's foot.

Sweeping Strokes - cross thumbs in a cross over movement.

Stroke the babies feet up and down and then gently bring the knees to the chest.

Lastly - moving to the chest, Use fingertips to stimulate lymph to fight congestion.

You can learn all the baby massage techniques at one of Soothe Your Senses Day Spa's FREE workshops. Soothe Your Senses offers the Infant Massage Workshop six times a year at no charge as a community service. Soothe Your Senses also offers private sessions for $125 for two 45-minute sessions and private group sessions - up to five baby/caregiver combos for $700 for an intensive two hour session in your home. You can view the entire menu of services at www.sootheyoursenses.com/spa And if you're a mom-to-be that is getting prepared, feel free to come to a workshop with a doll or stuffed animal.

Infant Massage
Soothe Your Senses Day Spa
6260 N. Broadway, Chicago
773-262-4246

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