Baby massage techniques to ease your baby’s digestion
There has been a real flurry of babies born from my Pregnancy Yoga classes recently, so I thought it might be useful to share some tips for massage techniques to ease babies’ digestion.
During the first few months, it is common for newborns to have digestive complaints. When you stop and think about it, this makes sense — during pregnancy, nutrients are taken in through the placenta and bloodstream, so once born, babies’ digestive systems are having to digest milk for the first time, and it takes time for them to fully mature.
If your baby struggles with wind, colic, constipation, or general upset around feeding, the following steps could be a good place to start in helping to soothe them.
Five Techniques to Try
• Clockwise Circles — Use a flat palm to make circles in a clockwise direction around their tummy. The large intestine moves in a clockwise direction around the lower abdomen, so this can help stimulate blood flow to the digestive system. It feels very reassuring and soothing to babies, and also gives you both a boost in feel-good, bonding hormones like oxytocin.
• Daisy Pattern — Use your first and second fingers to make a daisy pattern around their belly button, as though your fingers are making petal shapes. This works in a slightly more concentrated way, stimulating peristalsis — the rhythmic contractions of the digestive tract that help break down and transport milk and aid nutrient absorption in the small intestine.
• Paint a Rainbow — Using your fingertips, make a half-circle shape from the top of their left hip, over the belly button, and back down to the top of the right hip. This can be really helpful in moving matter through the large intestine — great for constipation, and balancing for digestion in general.
• Leg Cycling — Perfect for windy babies… expect sound effects! Gently hold your baby’s lower legs and encourage them to bend one knee in towards the chest at a time. In classes, we have the best song to accompany this movement — you’ll know it when you hear it!
• Happy Baby Pose — Gently bend both knees in towards the chest and hold for a couple of seconds. Another great one for wind!
Hopefully these tips will be helpful for your baby. Even those with settled digestion will enjoy these techniques — they are a lovely way to spend time together and strengthen your bond. Baby massage is also wonderfully supportive for caregivers too; the touch and eye contact stimulate oxytocin in both of you and can help build your confidence in the many ways you care for your baby.
If you’d like to explore more techniques to ease digestion and learn to massage your baby from head to toe — as well as take some time to look after your own wellbeing — I run relaxing and welcoming 6 week courses in Baby Massage and Mama Relax. Dedicated to your wellbeing, as well as your babies, and would love to meet you there!
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