Baby Development – Baby Massage Benefits Babies across the Globe

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

Bonding with your new baby can have lasting effects on your child well into school aged years.  While proper nutrition is imperative to child development, ensuring a child develops a strong, loving bond with his parents is of equal importance.  One way to encourage that bond is through massage.  A new DVD on the market Baby Massage: Bonding and Nurturing through Touch is aimed at strengthening those bonds.

The DVD can be purchased for $25.00 and all proceeds directly benefit Hands to Hearts International.  Hands to Hearts International (HHI) is a Portland, OR based non-profit organization dedicated to improving the well-being and health of vulnerable and orphaned children as well as disadvantaged women around the world.

Filmed in India, the heartwarming and educational video teaches mothers and caregivers basic baby massage strokes sure to make little ones feel better all while establishing a loving bond.  The video also details how HHI is using baby massage to improve the overall well-being of orphaned children.  The video is in English but offers subtitles in 19 different languages.  A sneak peak of the DVD can be viewed at  youtube.

Orphaned children are often robbed of their opportunity to develop strong bonds , which have been proved in study to be imperative for a child's healthy development.  By teaching caregivers the art of baby message, the infants are given one on one nurturing time with someone who is providing the tender loving care orphaned children often lack when separated from their mothers.

Baby massage provides a wealth of benefits.  Although it has been gaining notoriety, babies have benefitted from massage for centuries.  Caring or healing touch is good for everyone and is even being performed in hospitals across the US as it has resulted in shorter recovery time.  Benefits of infant massage include relaxation, stimulation, relief of discomfort, and interaction.  Massage stimulates the nerves, improves circulation, and can strengthen the immune system. In addition, infant massage can provide relief from the pain colic can cause.   Lastly, giving a baby massage ensures a moment during a busy day when all distractions are eliminated and you can provide your baby with undivided attention.