Newborn babies are beautiful little beings but they don’t always sleep well. They are used to being nice, warm and cosy inside their mummy’s tummy and now they’re out in the big wide world and need some help figuring out when is day and when is night. Sleep patterns often get confused and they can sleep more in the day than at night resulting in a very tired mumma.
Baby massage is a wonderful way to bond with your baby and has many of the same benefits of massage as when you’re an adult. It relaxes you and allows you to forget the stresses of the day, how many times when you’re having a massage have you thought you could fall asleep?
It’s the same for babies only the effects are much greater as touch is a baby’s most powerful sense and source of communication when they are newborn. It’s the way they learn, develop skills and discover the world around them.
When a baby is massaged the body releases higher levels of serotonin which regulates mood, higher levels of serotonin provide that lovely feeling of well being and encourages deeper and more restful sleep. Studies have shown this can be the same for day time naps as for night sleep.
Figuring out the best time to massage your baby depends on their daily routine, ideally if you can work a massage in after a bath and before a night time feed, baby will tend to respond better and you can both reap the benefits of longer, deeper and more restful sleep.
Let me know if you have any questions.
XOXO
Zen Baby Bliss 