In the small areas use your fingertips. In bigger areas use the palm of your hand. "Little strokes" mean to touch your baby's skin gently and "massage" is to softly move the muscles under the skin.

Legs: Caress each leg with your whole hand, and press gently on the thighs. Slightly flex the legs and knees pressing the thighs gently against the body.

Massaging the Foot: A foot massage is very relaxing. Begin by putting a soft pressure on each toe, then the foot and return to the toes again. Sometimes a foot massage can help reduce stomach pain. Caress gently all the toes. Apply circular movements at the heels.

Bottom of the Foot: Holding the foot in both of your hands, firmly stroke the bottom of the foot with your thumbs, one after the other.

Toes : Squeeze each toe with your fingertips.

Stretch: Pull back at the balls of the foot, gently stretching the top of the foot.

Pressure Points: Press in with the thumb allover the bottom of the foot. This stimulates nerve endings that connect with other areas of the body. Reflexologists say that foot massages help to correct imbalances that block the flow of energy through the body. If you find an area that is very sensitive to your baby, massage this very gently. You do not want to cause pain. If your baby has been hospitalised and had a lot of heel pricks to draw blood, massage the heel firmly. This will break up any leftover scar tissue. This will help to release any fear of having his heels touched.

Top of the Foot: Stroke the top of the foot, toes to ankle.

Circles: With your thumb and forefinger make circles around the ankle.

Rolling: Roll the leg between your hands from knee to ankle with a warming, soothing friction between the skin.
Squeeze each toe gently with your fingertips.,
Stimulate nerve endings on bottom of foot.
Make a circle around ankle.

Shoulders and Arms: Form a ring with your fingers and thumb around your child's arm. Begin to caress around the armpit and then go down along the arm. Be very' careful when you arrive at the elbow, it is a very sensitive region. In the wrist you can gently practise turning motions. Remember to take great care with all these motions.

Stroking from the shoulder to the alternate side may help coordination. Run your hand from the shoulder to the fingertips. Repeat several times.
Stroke the palm of your baby's hand using your thumb.

Stomach: Massage the stomach in a circular way (the genitalia area is excluded from the massage). Caress the abdomen moving your hands clockwise beginning below the ribs.

Back: Turn your baby around.

Begin with large and slow movements that include head, neck, back and legs always in one direction. Give your baby soft strokes on the shoulders and back and massaging with your fingertips with circular movements.

Do not massage the spinal cord, only put your hands over it and let the baby feel the warm sensation. You can even make small circular movements on your baby's back. Put your hands at the top of the legs and begin gently caressing while, working your way down towards the foot.

When you arrive to the feet start again from the top. With soft and slow movements finish the massage starting once again at the head and back to the toes.

The Face: Gently turn you child over and massage the face using no extra oil. . Start with the middle of the forehead using the tips of your fingers and along the eyebrows...remember to be gentle! Using your thumbs, lightly go along the bridge of the nose up to the forehead.

Jaws: The frontal part of the neck (remember to do this very gently) make small strokes and massage the posterior part of the neck with slow movements down to the shoulders. Softly put both hands on his/her shoulders. Caress the baby from the neck to the shoulders in the direction of his chest.

Remember

Repeat these exercises, when you want to have a few special moments with your baby.
Do them, when you have adequate time for you and your child. Do not feel impatient if the baby does not cooperate.. .simply try again, later.

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