A good aroma can make anyone happy and children are no exception. Baby massage is quite traditional in the east, especially in India. Though it takes a little time for the mother to adjust to the idea of massaging a wriggling baby, but she would gradually start enjoying it when the baby would respond to the mother's touch. Massage is a wonderful way of strengthening the bond between the mother and the child. Aromatherapy can prove very beneficial to the new born babies through massages. Though massage is the most common form of giving aromatherapy treatment to the child, there are many ways of giving aromatherapy treatment as well.However, one has to be careful enough to keep the amount of aromatherapy oil very low, so as not to effect the baby. The baby's body is very small in size and too much of aromatherapy oil can have a slightly toxic effect. When using aromatherapy oils on children, make sure that the quantity of aromatherapy oil in the carrier oil is reduced to half. You can add two drops of aromatherapy oil in 4-6 fl oz (100 to 150 ml) of a carrier oil or two or four drops of aromatherapy oil in a baby bath. The best carrier oil for children is sweet almond oil, as it has a softening, lubricating effect on the skin and is better than the mineral oil that most commercial baby products are based on. Use a blend of 4 fl oz (100 ml) of sweet almond oil added with two drops of any of the following: Chamomile, Rose, Lavender & Neroli. The steps for the massage are as follows:Start with your baby laying against your legs on his/ her back so that the child can look up to you.Stroke gently down the child's arms, and then legs. Repeat each movement five or six times.Circle round the tummy, using the flat of your hand, in an anti-clockwise direction.Stretch out the child's toes one by one then gently rub the soles of the feet, using your thumb.Uncurl the child's fingers and then gently move each one clockwise, then anti clockwise.Now, rub over the palms of his/her hands with your thumbs. Turn your baby over, to lie on his tummy against your legs.Gently rub a little oil into his back, bottom, legs and feet using long, light strokes.Stroke down his back, giving a little squeeze at the buttocks. Repeat five or six times.Gently stroke round his/her shoulders, down the arms and off at his/her hands.Gently stroke down his legs several times. Each time finish by giving his legs a little stretch by pulling at the ankles.Finish by stroking gently down his back and legs in one movement. Repeat, getting lighter with each stroke, until your hand just glides over your baby without actually touching him.Gently stroke the baby on to his back so that he can see you again.Now gently stroke a little oil (the surplus on your hands should be enough) on to the child's face. Lightly stroke, up the forehead several times.Gently squeeze and rub the child's ear lobes between your finger and thumb.Finish off with a connecting stroke. With one hand cradling your baby's head, stroke gently down his body with the other and bring it to rest on top of his feet.Hold this position (one hand on the head, the other on the feet) for a count of ten.Gently release and lift off your hands.For more, visit the link below:
