Benefits of Massaging Infants
Adults are not the only ones who crave a good and relaxing body rub from time to time. Infants can also benefit immensely from a gentle massage, whether from parents or a professional chiropractor. However, most parents believe that an infant's body is too delicate for massage therapy. It is not the truth because an experienced chiropractor understands how to handle your toddler's body safely. This article highlights the enormous benefits of infant massage.
1. Improves Sleep
Typically, infants and toddlers can fall asleep at any time as long as the conditions are right. However, infants can also experience sleeping problems, affecting physical and cognitive development. For instance, if your toddler struggles to sleep, they might have insomnia late into their childhood, which is every parent's nightmare. The relaxing effects of massage address sleeping problems in toddlers. In fact, you will be surprised to learn that toddlers who receive a massage sleep faster than babies who are rocked or read to. An infant chiropractor can teach you how to conduct a massage on your bundle of joy safely.
2. Improves GT Functioning
A toddler's gastrointestinal tract (GT) is delicate and can twist awkwardly now and then. It is one reason infants suffer from colic, constipation, and gas issues, which can be distressing to a child and parents. In most cases, parents think that teething problems cause such distress, and while it might be true, you can never be too sure. Simple massage techniques can go a long way in helping digestion and eliminating gas in infants. Massage also relieves the pain and discomfort brought by indigestion in just a few minutes. However, you should never massage an infant immediately after a meal because they might vomit everything they just ate. You need to wait for the digestion process to complete before massaging them.
3. Controls Stress Hormones
When a child is born, they leave the comforting environment of their mother's womb and enter a place laden with all manner of stressors. While a newborn's system quickly learns how to adapt to the new environment, stressors can be overwhelming. Massage helps control stress hormones in infants by promoting the release of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone. It is why doctors rub an infant's back immediately after birth to reduce the stress on their body when they enter the new world. Regular massage also reduces crying related to stress hormones, a welcome relief for parents.
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