Benefits for the Child, Mom, and Dad
Children learn through exploring by using their five senses, but for young infants, touch is the most important sense, since they can not see that far, or smell many things. Touch helps stimulate the child’s neural development and increases their health. Because of this infants’ massages are so important to the children’s development. Without touch, the child might not thrive and they might have issues later on as adults. There are so many benefits to baby massages, that they are not only beneficial for the child, but it is also beneficial for the parents or caregivers. The ways that infant massages benefit mothers is that it decreases the chances of the mother getting postpartum depression. This happens because the interaction that the mother has with the child helps with decreasing the hormone that is connected with depression. Also, infant massages enhance the bonding between the parents/caregivers because during this time skin-to-skin touch is being used. As for the child, it is beneficial because it helps with reducing colic and fussiness, and at the same time it helps the child relax. Not only does it help with reducing stress the massages also help with improving nutrition, and physical coordination. At the same time, it also leads to the child sleeping better and gives the parents time to rewind and relax. With infant massages, the parents can have a relaxing time while at the same time, they are interacting with their child, and it is also choosing the child that they are loved and it is going to allow the children to feel the love through the touches. Another benefit for the mother is that it helps mothers that are recovering from postpartum depression create the bond that is created through skin-to-skin touch. Finally, it also introduces the child to healthy touches.
Time of Day and How Often
Infant massages are important for young children but it does not mean that there is a specific time that it is more beneficial. Meaning that the massages can be given to the child at any time of day. The massages can be given to the children at the time that works best for the families. The massages can be given in the morning, during the middle of the day, or even at night. If you as the parent or caregiver feel that it is better to give the massage at night then that is what you should do. Every schedule is different and different times work for different families. The time of day is not the important part, the important part is that the parents spend this time with their baby and massage the baby to help them with their development. When it comes to how often parents can give massages to their babies, the parents can give daily massages or just one every other day, it all depends on how the baby is and how you feel, and the time that you have. The most important thing is that you give the massages to the child every time that it is possible for you and your family.
Ways that it Helps with Developing Body Image
How baby massages help with developing body image by helping children feel relaxed and at the same time making the children feel secure in their bodies. By receiving healthy touches the children are feeling love and it teaches them to love their bodies. With the massages, the caregiver and the parents are teaching the child that their body is valuable, beautiful, and lovable. Overall, with the massages, we are teaching young children to love their bodies and to take care of their bodies, and at the same time, the parents and caregivers are taking care of the young child’s bodies.
New Information that I learned from the Video
Before watching the video I did not know anything about baby massages and how they were beneficial to the development of young children. Honestly, for me, all of this is new information. Even though this was new information for me there was one thing that I found interesting that I could have never thought of, I find it surprising that if children are not touched or receive loving touches from their caregiver/parents, then the child will not thrive. I also found it interesting how many benefits there are to infant massages. I also found it interesting how massages can increase the bond between parent and child. Overall, with this video, I learned a lot about infant massages and how important and beneficial they are for the development of young children.