Massage Your Baby!（2）
Four-Step Baby Massage
Make the setting as relaxing as possible. The room temperature should be cozy — at least 75°F. Sit on your bed with pillows propping you up. Spread your legs and put your baby between them, then strip him down to his diaper. Tuck a small pillow under his head and upper back.
Before you begin, set the stage for close contact by doing a brief “containment hold”: Place your hands gently on either side of your baby’s head, and take three deep breaths. Stroke your hands down the sides of your child’s face, then continue down the sides of his body to his feet.
Rub several drops of baby oil between your hands, then repeat each of the following steps two to six times, making sure that your hands remain well oiled.
1. Milking. Hold one of your baby’s thighs in both hands and make firm, deep strokes down both sides of her leg to the ankle, as though milking a cow. Once you reach her feet, use your thumbs to stroke up the arch to her toes. Give each toe a little squeeze. Repeat on the other leg.
Next, “milk” one of your baby’s arms down to the wrist. If her hand is in a fist, gently stroke it to open it. Then run your thumb across her palm toward her fingers, and lightly roll each one between your own fingers. Repeat on the other arm.
2. Rolling the rope. Gently “roll” one of your baby’s legs from side to side with your hands, as if you were rolling out a rope of dough. Work your way from thigh to ankle. Repeat on the other leg, then roll each arm from shoulder to wrist.
3. The back stroke. Lay your baby facedown across your lap with his head pointing to your left. (If he doesn’t like being on his belly, try this move and Step 4 only once each, lengthening your sessions each day.) If you wish, remove his diaper and put a waterproof pad beneath him. Starting at his neck, stroke your hands back and forth across his back, moving them slowly down to his behind.
4. The clean sweep. Anchor your right hand on your baby’s bottom, then slowly sweep your left hand from his neck to his behind until your hands meet. Next, move your right hand to your baby’s feet, and sweep your left hand down your baby’s behind and the backs of his legs to meet it.
Try to massage your baby daily so that it becomes a ritual. Find a time when he’s quiet but alert, says Dr. Field, or do it just before bedtime. Either way, you’ll be giving your child a helping hand.