Babies have such cute little bellies, don’t they? Just looking at that adorable round tummy with its cute little belly button makes you want to give it a rub!
But tummies are sometimes a significant source of distress for many infants. Gas and constipation are common discomforts that newborns may experience since their digestive systems are still immature and getting used to having milk or formula traveling through them on a regular basis! Infant massage is a great way to soothe a distressed baby, and targeting the tummy when gas or constipation is the suspected culprit can really provide relief from these symptoms. There’s nothing worse than listening to a distressed baby cry and not knowing how to help her. Learning some simple massage techniques can give parents a set of tools to use for colic, gas and constipation relief. Participating in baby massage also gives parents a feeling of confidence, reassuring them that there is something they can do to help.
There are a few things to remember when massaging your baby’s tummy. Always wait 30 minutes after your baby has had a feed. Massaging the tummy immediately after a feed can cause baby to vomit and will most likely be uncomfortable. It’s important to always move in a clockwise direction on the tummy. Baby’s rectum is on her left side, and you want to be sure that you are pushing stool and gas out, not farther up the digestive tract. Also, try to stay at or below the level of the belly button. This can be challenging in small infants, so a couple of fingers can be used instead of the entire hand to massage. By staying below the belly button, you are targeting the bowels where stool and gas bubbles hide while avoiding any pressure on the stomach. Drawing rainbows on your baby’s tummy is a great idea, and you can teach her the colors of the rainbow while she is enjoying her massage!
Strokes for your baby’s tummy can be learned in the ABCs and 123s of Baby Massage Class. If you would like to learn relief for constipation, gas and colic, the Massage for Common Baby Discomforts can help you learn specific routines to target these symptoms.
Have you massaged your baby’s tummy? Does she like it?
