Babies usually communicate through touches before they ever develop other communication skills. Most parents instinctively pick up their babies and soothe or massage them whenever they cry.

Massaging a baby has therefore become a natural impulse that is adopted by most parents. There are actually many ways of massaging a baby, but that’s not our topic for today as this article rather focuses on the importance of massaging babies. Now, let’s look at some of the benefits of massaging babies in the subsequent paragraphs;

• It’s relaxing and calming
Massage generally calms down the nervous system, thereby improving the quality of sleep of your baby. It is apparent that massaging goes a long way to raise the levels of oxytocin in both you and your baby, thereby keeping you both calm and relaxed. It is, however, worthy to note that oxytocin is one of the hormones that promotes social bonding. Moreover, it shows that massaging also helps in relaxing the baby’s muscles and as well as improving their sleep quality. Besides, the massage oil, doesn’t only nourish your baby’s skin, but it also stimulates the skin, thereby acting as a vital trigger to the nervous system.

• It’s an opportunity to bond
Another important benefit of massaging your baby is the fact that it provides an opportunity for you two to bond. Massaging a baby particularly encourages positive bonding between parents and their babies at the early stage. Of course, such intimate one on one moments with your baby can help you both get to know each other easily.

• It boosts confidence in parents
Massaging your baby also goes a long way to boost your confidence regarding your parenting skills. The reason is that the more you spend quiet time massaging your baby, the more likely you are to start recognizing and learning his or her cues. It is also apparent that once you understand your baby, your confidence regarding parenting will be boosted, thereby making you feel more relaxed in the early months of parenthood.

• It improves your baby’s overall health
There are also shreds of evidences that massaging your baby goes a long way to boost or improve his or her overall health. For instance, some of the physiological benefits of massaging your baby include better breathing for your baby, as well as improved lymph and blood circulation. Besides, massaging a baby is also associated with improved gastrointestinal functions. Of course, massaging can also provide relief to your baby’s tummy by easing colic, constipation or trapped gas.

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