* Touch is vital to infants and an important factor in physical and emotional development, as well as self esteem.* Research has shown that because touch conveys nurturing and love, massage enhances bonding between you and your baby.
* Because massage releases endorphins
(the body’s natural pain reliever) it ...
- helps reduce the pain of colic and teething
- helps to clear sinus and chest infection
- helps improve digestion
- helps ease gas pain related to digestive problems
- helps increase circulation
- helps baby calm down
- helps baby to relax
- helps promote healthy sleep which will improve sleep patterns
- helps raise the child's sense of self
* Research has shown that gently massaging premature babies actually helps improve their growth and development, helping promote weight gain and will result in the baby becoming more active and alert.
* Children who are massaged show decreased levels of stress hormones.
* Children who are experiencing conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma or diabetes show less anxiety and show increased well being after massage.
* Massage helps reduce the pain children have with chronic pain.
* Children with ADHD, autism and other special needs benefit from the massage experience.
* Parents and care-givers that massage the child will be less likely to abuse the child. The hand that reaches out to love will not be as likely to be the hand that reaches out to hurt.
"Being touched and caressed, being massaged, is food for the infant, food as necessary as minerals, vitamins and proteins." Dr. Frederick Leboyer
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