Baby Massage: A Mutual Gift for Both Parents & Babies

By Bouwien Luppes
Founder of the International Organization for Shantala™ Massage


“Our skin and our sense of touch -- we do not think about them too often. But our sense of touch
is our first, last, and most important sense; also called the mother of all senses. Around our sense
of touch, all other senses are developed. And our skin -- the carrier of our sense of touch -- is our
largest sense organ with no less than 3 million cells! Our skin is also our most sensitive sense
organ and our best protector. Our skin and her sense of touch is our connection with the world.
Through the skin and her sense of touch, we can feel, understand and comprehend what this world
is all about.
For babies, this sense of touch is of major importance; it is the center of discovery and of their
emotional being. Reason enough to cherish our children's skin, making sure that we give them a
well-developed sense of touch and a solid emotional base in which they feel centered and loved
unconditionally. Our sense of touch is developed through early childhood stimulation. Without
touch, without stimulation, this sense will not be developed properly.
Loving touch, with respect and undivided attention, that is what baby massage teaches you. Say "I
love you, unconditionally" without words, say "I love you" through touch, so your baby
understands that it is loved on a true and deep level. It is "anchored" in their being. Baby massage
gives you as a parent a unique "tool," a technique to help your children develop their sense of
touch, their emotional base, their sense of well-being.
Advantages of regular massage
For babies with challenges like Down syndrome regular massage is of even greater importance. Dr.
Hernandez-Reif concludes1 that babies with Down syndrome have improved muscle tone and show
a better performance on motor tasks following regular massages.
Regular massages, done by the people that matter the most, the parents and primary caregivers,
will benefit not only the babies and children but also and just as much the ones giving the
massages. This advantage has been documented by Dr. Tiffany Field of the Miami Touch Research
Institute through her research.2
Regular massages, done three to four times a week, will give you everything that is mentioned
above, as well as the following advantages:
For the baby or child
• More regular sleep pattern
• Better digestion
• Children are calmer and feel more secure
• More awareness of their boundaries. They will literally feel where they end and the rest of
the world begins.
• Improved processing of their day-to-day experiences
• Improved bonding process
• Improved immune system
For the one giving the massages
• Greater self-esteem and self-confidence in general, but also in handling the baby or child
• Less depression (postpartum)
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• Improved bonding process
• Improvement of the senses -- an even better understanding what it is the baby or child is
telling you

Baby massage -- part of ancient cultures
Baby massage is an ancient Indian tradition. Frederique Leboyer, a French physician, introduced
baby massage in Western society (Europe) decades ago with his book Loving Hands -- the
traditional art of baby massage. On his travels to India he met a loving mom, Shantala, who
massaged her children in the way she was taught by her mom. Massaging babies and children is
part of their ancient culture. Through regular massages they give their babies and children a better
chance of survival. Children grow up being stronger and healthier, physically as well as
emotionally.
Dr. Leboyer states that regular massages are as important to an infant as food and sleep.3
This traditional Indian art of baby massage is at the root of our "modern" baby massage. Over the
years baby massage has grown to be more than a survival skill. In today's society both parents
and babies can use more than that.
Loving communication through touch
Today's baby massage is about bonding and the beautiful connection between parent and their
baby or child. Baby massage is loving communication through touch, without words. There is much
more to communication than words. Often times, words are not enough, especially when you think
of the fact that your baby or small child does not have a lot of words to express him or herself.
Words can even get in the way of a true communication between parent and baby. We, as adults,
often fill in the "communication" with our words, coming from our own life experience. By doing
that, we might miss out on the wisdom that babies and children carry with them. We might miss
out on their messages to us. Through regular baby massage both caregivers and babies/children
improve their senses, enabling them to better understand each other. The communication has
reached the next level.
Baby or child massage is something that every parent can do, and it is an easy-to-learn routine.
Different from therapeutic massage, baby massage is not reserved for massage therapists. On the
contrary, for a baby or child, no connection is more important than the connection with its
caregivers. A massage therapist can give directions but can never replace the loving touch of a
parent.
Baby or child massage truly is a mutual gift which will last a lifetime.
Bouwien Luppes is a proud mother of three wonderful children (Lobke 1995, Bouke 1997, and Pjotr
1999). Her specialized education covers baby and child massage, women's health issues, pre- and
postnatal exercise and childbirth education. She is the founder of The Canadian Organization for
Shantala Massage. The organization offers various courses and workshops for parents,
professionals and instructors in the traditional art of baby massage.
References
Miami Touch Research Institute -- Dr. Tiffany Field -- various researches.
Leboyer, F. Loving Hands. The traditional art of Baby Massage (1976)
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Field, T.M. Touch (2001) Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ashley Montagu. Touching. The human significance of the skin
1 Down syndrome: Infants with Down syndrome improved in muscle tone and in performance on
motor tasks following massage therapy -- Journal of Early Intervention
Hernandez-Reif, M., Ironson, G., Field, T. and others.
2 Elderly Retired Volunteers Providing Versus Receiving Massage -- Field, T., Hernandez-
Reif, M., Quintino, 0., Schanberg, S. and Kuhn, C. (1998).
Elderly retired volunteers were assessed after giving infants massage for a month versus receiving
massage for a month themselves. Results were: 1) they reported less anxiety and fewer
depressive symptoms and an improved mood after giving infants massage; 2) their pulse
decreased; 3) their cortisol levels decreased; and 4) they reported improved self esteem and a
better lifestyle (e.g. fewer doctor visits and more social contacts) after the one month period.
These effects were stronger for giving infants the massages than receiving massages themselves,
suggesting that the massager can benefit from simply giving massages.”




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