A Guide To Baby Massage
What is baby massage?
Baby massage is a magical activity comprising a range of gentle rhythmic strokes on your baby’s body. It allows for communication with your baby through touch, speech and eye contact.Benefits of baby massage
- Helps relax baby before bedtime
- Encourages better sleep
- Helps relieve the discomfort of wind, colic or constipation
- Helps strengthen the bond between parent and child
- Helps baby to be more content
- Improves baby’s neurological development
Studies have shown that baby massage may reduce post-natal depression and can strengthen the bond between you and your baby.
How does the magic happen? It’s all to do with the power of touch, eye contact, the sound of your voice, your unique smell and the release of that magic hormone, oxytocin.
All of the senses work together to create a wonderfully warm and loving experience for you and your little one. It’s the stuff sweet dreams are made of, sometimes quite literally!
What is the best oil to use for baby massage?
We love Kokoso Baby Coconut Oil for oodles of reasons - not least because it’s the perfect natural oil to use for baby massage.
While you and your little one enjoy some extra special bonding time, our premium cold-pressed raw virgin organic coconut oil will be hard at work nourishing, moisturising and soothing their delicate skin. It's a treat for your hands too!
Dermatologically approved for sensitive skin, Kokoso’s silky, lightweight texture helps hands glide smoothly across baby's body. Packed with natural vitamin E and moisturising fatty acids – including more than 50% lauric acid, a magical healing agent also found in breast milk – Kokoso has a fresh and mild coconutty fragrance that doesn’t overpower the natural smell of you or your baby.
Baby massage with Kokoso
But don’t just take our word for it. Kokoso Baby is proud to be the official sponsor of IAIM UK, the only association in the world dedicated solely to the wonders of baby massage. We also supply a number of baby massage classes around the country to use our coconut oil in class…
“Being a Baby Massage instructor but also a skin therapist, I wanted to offer only the very best for my mums & babies. After lots of research & trying dozens of brands, nothing compares to the wonder oil that is Kokoso. All my parents love the oil and leave class with a beautifully soft coconutty baby & usually a tub of Kokoso for home!” — Kora Lavarello, Blossoming Touch
“We use Kokoso in all my baby massage classes. All of the mums love it!” — Nichola Caughey, Founder of Baby Bunnies Massage Classes
“My baby massage teacher personally recommended Kokoso Baby to me and it has been fabulous for my four-week-old daughter’s dry skin. I also love it for myself and my almost 3-year-old son!” — Kate Collins
“I can see my son visibly relax when I take the top off and he smells Kokoso.” — Mother & Baby Awards Tester
“Top product, effortless glide and small amounts go a long way leaving skin soft but not greasy. Would recommend it to any other masseuse.” — Hannah Wells (Physiotherapist and Sports Masseuse)
Baby massage tips:
Set up camp on the floor, placing baby on soft baby towel or changing mat. Have a pot of Kokoso Baby Coconut Oil ready so you can scoop out a little of the solid coconut oil and warm it in your hands to soften. Remember, a little Kokoso goes a long way.
Baby Legs Massage
Wrap your hands around one of those scrummy thighs and apply a little bit of pressure as you move each hand down to the foot, one after another.
Baby Foot Massage
Being ever so gentle, rotate your baby’s feet a few times in each direction. Then try stroking the top of the foot from ankle to Koko-toes. Finally, move your thumb in a circular motion all around those oh-so soft soles.
Baby Arms Massage
Just like you did with those gorgeous little legs, gently wrap your hands around your baby’s arms and lightly run them down from armpit to the hands.
Baby Hands Massage
Softly rotate the wrist a few times before tracing little circles of love on their palms.
Baby Chest Massage
Gently place both of your hands flat on the chest and lightly stroke outwards. Then put one of your hands flat across the top of the chest and gently stroke downwards towards the thighs. Do this with both of your hands, one after the other.
Baby Back Massage
From the top to the bottom of their beautiful back, trace tiny circles with your fingertips on either side of the spine. Then carry out some long, gentle but firm strokes from shoulders to feet.
