After the first few weeks of birth, you can begin massaging your baby. However, it is important to pay attention to your baby's mood and never perform any massage techniques that make them feel uncomfortable. There are no established guidelines regarding the minimum age for starting baby massage, but it is generally recommended to wait until your baby is calm, alert and happy before beginning. A nourishing touch can be given from birth, but some babies may find formal, structured massage too stimulating in the first few weeks.
To make a massage oil, mix together a mixture of pissi masur ki dal ka, kapurkachli, haldi in much less quantity, chandan and malai with 2-3 drops of ghee. Most research on the use of oils on a baby's skin has not focused on their use for baby massage, but on skin care issues such as dry skin or eczema. It is not known exactly how often a baby should be massaged, but it is recommended to follow a regular routine before bedtime to massage the baby at night. If the baby resists being touched or grumbles and cries when massaging, it is likely not the right time yet.
Studies have found that infant massage is comparable to vibrating chairs in terms of successfully calming a colicky baby. As the baby's physical structure is fragile, a super light massage is all that is needed to make it effective. In one study, babies who received massage showed better heart rate variability (HRV), a measure of nervous system function each week. It is important to check with your baby's pediatrician if they have any underlying medical conditions that may interfere with the massage.
Additional research suggests that infant massage is especially useful for mothers with postpartum depression who have trouble bonding with their babies. Recent studies suggest that infant massage can also lower levels of bilirubin, the compound in the blood that causes jaundice, and increase the frequency of bowel movement, helping to expel excess bilirubin from the body, not to mention constipation. Just as massage therapy can be used to treat various conditions in adults, massage therapy can also be used to treat conditions in infants and young children. The most important thing to do is to keep it really simple.
Baby massage does not have to be executed perfectly to be effective. You can massage the baby up to 4-5 years after 1-2 years, at least do it on the weekend, so it will surely help the child.
