The most important effects of baby massage are that the bond between you and your baby is strengthened, and you learn to understand your baby’s body language better. The massage has a calming effect on the whole body, helps the sense of touch develop, and teaches the baby to respond with trust and gentleness. This trust forms a good foundation for developing secure attachment in relationships.
By massaging your baby regularly, he/she will sleep more calmly and deeply, digestion will become better, intestinal cramps and the tendency to hyperextend will decrease.
The massage has an important influence on hormone production. There is a decrease in the amount of stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol. In addition, there is an increase in the hormone oxytocin. This hormone has an important role in feelings of tenderness and connection. The production of this hormone increases in both the recipient of the massage (the baby) as well as the giver of the massage (the parent/caregiver).
