What are the benefits of tummy massage for babies?

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You know what happens: The minute you put your baby down, she cries. Pick her up and, presto -- she's serene and smiley again. If just holding your baby can be so soothing, imagine how she'll benefit from a full-body massage. In fact, studies have shown that massaging an infant can reduce crying and fussiness, help her sleep more peacefully, and alleviate common wail-inducers like constipation and colic. Some say that it even boosts a baby's ability to fight off germs. "When you give your baby a massage, you're actually stimulating her central nervous system," "That sets off a chain reaction: It makes her brain produce more serotonin, a feel-good chemical, and less cortisol, a hormone that's secreted in response to stress. As a result, your baby's heart rate and breathing slow down, and she becomes more relaxed. " Giving your infant regular massages is good for his emotional well-being too. "Affectionate touch and rhythmic movement are among the most powerful forms of communication between babies and their parents, so they're great ways for you to bond," The payoff of baby massage trickles down to parents. "It's easy to feel helpless with a newborn, but giving him a gentle rubdown can help you feel more in control," Giving your baby a massage is as simple as it is enjoyable. All you need is 10 to 15 minutes. Pick a time when you're relaxed and your baby is quiet but alert. (If you try to massage a fussy baby, you may overstimulate him and make him even more unhappy.) Try starting after a diaper change or as part of a bathtime ritual. Before you begin, make sure the room is warm and quiet. Take off any jewelry that could get in the way, and grab some baby oil. Strip your baby down to his diaper, and then lay him facing up on a soft towel or blanket, with a pillow under his head. Begin by holding your baby's hands and gently rubbing his palms with your thumbs a few times. When he seems tuned in to you, try these soothing techniques described by Dr. Schneider, starting with your baby's legs and working your way up his body.

Abdominal massage is believed to be able to help ease discomfort from stomach upset. It may help promote digestion, lessen gastric upset and soothe muscles and nerves in the abdominal area. To give your baby a tummy massage, simply place your hands at the level of baby’s navel, using your fingertips, gently but firmly rub over her tummy in a circular motion. Next, you can hold your baby’s knees and feet together, then gently press them up toward abdomen. Gently rotate baby’s hips a few times to one side, then to the other. Doing this may help releasing excess gas. Lastly, place your hand on baby’s tummy horizontally and rock hand from side to side. Do this over the area below his/her navel. One thing to note is that you should only perform these massages after the umbilical cord has healed completely. Here’s an article that gives the steps (and also a video) to a tummy massage that may help ease symptoms of colic and diarrhea: http://sg.theasianparent.com/tummy-massage-for-colic-and-constipation/

It eases any discomfort that could occur from digestion, "too much air" in the tummy and it simply feels good for baby because of the soothing movements of a massage. It also adds a feeling of warmth and comfort when a baby is being massaged. Moreover, it promotes bonding because when you massage your child's tummy, there will direct eye-to-eye contact -- coupled that with the soothing movements of being massage, baby will feel nothing but love, comfort and security :)