8 Massage Areas That Help to Relax a Crying and Anxious Baby

Adults love massage, and babies are no different. At 6 weeks, your baby is starting to become even more responsive, so they are ready for a real massage. This procedure can become not just a way of communication and fun time, but a nice method to relax your baby and help them sleep.

We at Bright Side wish you and your baby good health and share with you some areas and points that can help you do a relaxing massage.

1. Hand massage

Before starting a massage for your baby it’s important to ensure that you have ruled out any medical issue. Remember and know the duration of this procedure:

1. For babies under 2 years of age, use 100-200 repetitions.
2. For children ages 2-5 years, use 200-300 repetitions.
3. For children ages 6-12 years, use 400-500 repetitions.

You can make hand massage with little gentle circles. Each area, as it’s shown in the picture above, are meant for different health problems:

• Green — for eyes
• Blue — for fever
• Yellow — for coughing and upper respiratory system
• Red — for teething
• Orange — for vomiting and hiccups
• Purple — for coughing and stomach issues

2. Foot massage

In the picture, you can see different areas and dots. You can just do basic massage movements on your baby’s feet and also press the dots that are marked above. Here is the meaning of these areas:

• Blue dots — sinuses
• Orange dot — solar plexus
• Yellow — chest
• Purple — upper abdominal
• Pink — lower abdominal
• Light green — pelvis
• Dark green (the end of the heel) — mother earth area (sense of grounding, safety, comfort, and relaxation)
• Skin color (area of toes) — head and teeth
  

3. Sliding feet massage

Besides, working with specific areas you can do a sliding foot massage. With a gentle touch of your forefinger, make a sliding movement from the heel to the big toe.
Please, stop the massage if the baby gets nervous.

4. Big toe massage

This technique is simple but be careful with your pressure. It should be very gentle. Hold both sides of the baby’s big toe with your thumb and your forefinger. Then make small circles with the toe, easing the joint.

5. Face massage

Use your finger pads to very gently massage the baby’s face. Slide them from the middle of the baby’s forehead through the cheeks and finish around the mouth. You can also massage the scalp in small circles like you’re shampooing.

6. Chest massage

Start your massage with the upper body. Do it with your hands on the baby’s shoulders. Then make gentle strokes toward the chest, like shown in the picture. Please, pay attention to whether your baby likes it or not. It should calm them down, not irritate them.

7. Belly massage

First, you need to check your baby’s tummy. If it’s soft, it’s ok to massage it. Otherwise, if the baby has bloating or other problems, then don’t touch it.
Do the massage with circular, clockwise strokes, like shown in the pic. Avoid the belly button area and don’t put pressure on the area between the baby’s nipples and tummy.

8. Leg massage

Do long smooth gentle strokes up the baby’s legs, as shown above. Massage from the ankle up to the thigh and over the hip. Avoid the genital area.

Don’t forget to use baby oil and do the massage in a warm room!

How do you normally relax your baby? What do you do when they don’t want to sleep?