Baby Massage for Windy Babies

1. Oils should be…vegetable, cold-pressed and organic if possible, not pre-fragranced. Good oils are grapeseed, sweet almond (if no family history of nut allergy), apricot kernel oil.

2. Essential Oils can be added, but don’t over do it. Chamomile or lavender (one drop in a tablespoon of oil is enough) are good for babies who need soothing. Dill (same ratio) is excellent for babies who have wind problems. When you smell dill, you’ll recognise straight away that gripe-water smell.

3. Babies’ rights: ‘touch’ is a baby’s first language. It develops a feeling of being loved, respected and secure – but only if a baby can also refuse a touch that is unwelcome. Q: How will you know when a baby doesn’t welcome your touch (especially if you are trying to use it to comfort a baby who is already in distress)? A: Always begin your massage by rubbing your oiled palms together in your baby’s line of sight. Not only does this warm the oil, but it is a signal for your baby that a massage is about to begin. Obviously for the first few times your baby is still learning this signal, but you should find that very quickly, your baby will start to respond with pleasure at the sight of you oiling your hands. If a baby who usually enjoys massage shows distress at the oiled hand signal – don’t massage that day/

4. Massaging an already unhappy baby:

   1. Relax and release your own anxiety (try Bach ‘Rescue Remedy’ if you’re in a real state) this should be a pleasure for both of you.

   2. Undress your baby gently, including his or her nappy. Make sure your baby is lying on a surface you are happy for them to pee / poo on!

   3. Warm oil in your hands – giving the ready to massage signal.

   4. Massage baby’s tummy using clockwise circular strokes around the navel. These can be quite firm if your baby is happy – look out for baby’s cues. Do this slowly and soothingly for 2-4 minutes.

   5. Push baby’s knees into his / her tummy and hold them there gently but firmly. If you can, hold them in for up to 30 seconds. Your baby will probably fart! Let the knees move away from the tummy and then jiggle the legs and feet to relax them. Repeat this a few times. If your baby has trapped wind, they might not like the feel of this at first, so hold the knees to tummy for less time – but do try to persevere (unless you are causing real distress) as this is a really good way of getting wind (and more) to move.

5. Massage to prevent an unhappy baby: Babies are often prone to bouts of unhappiness at particular times of day. To reduce this (over time, this is no magic cure) try to massage daily at a time of day that your baby is happy. This could be after an evening bath, but babies are often very grizzly in the evening, so consider morning or early afternoon as an alternative. The key is to massage regularly.

6. Full Tummy Massage:

   1. Round and round the navel with a well-oiled, flat hand. Firm, gentle pressure. 6 x times

   2. Little finger side of hand: firm pressure from just above navel (about one finger’s depth), downwards towards groin. Alternate hands as though kneading dough, or similar. 6x

   3. Knees up: As for b. above, but use one hand to lift baby’s feet so knees move towards chest. Use the other hand side on to make firm downwards strokes. 6x

   4. Semi-circles: Using ‘heel’ of hand, firm gentle pressure, starting at baby’s right hip (left side as you look at baby) and moving to baby’s left hip in semi-circular movement so hand passes just above the navel 6x

   5. I L U (I love you): Using heel of hand, firm, gentle pressure, six strokes straight up from just inside right hip bone (an upside-down I), six strokes up from right hip bone and across above navel (upside-down L), six strokes up from from right hip bone, across above the navel, then down towards left hip bone (upside-down U). Say I love you while you are doing it. Smile!

   6. Inch-worm: Using tips of middle three fingers ‘inch’ across baby’s tummy from their right (your left) to their left side just below navel.(With this one, don’t be surprised if you can feel ‘bubbles’ of wind moving under your fingertips as you go!) 6x

   7. Round and round: finish off with a gentler version of a. above. Light pressure – lets your baby know you are finishing.

7. Extra strokes if baby loves massage:

   1. Round and round massage: As a. above but with fingertips, and / or with heel of hand to give alternative pressure. Your baby will let you know which one s/he likes best.

   2. Rock ‘n roll: Cupping your hand lie it across your baby’s tummy horizontally and push in with the heel of your hand in the space between your baby’s hip-bone and lowest rib, then pull back from the other side, using your fingertips. Your baby will gently rock from side-to-side. Remember to push and pull sideways, rather than pressing downwards – this lets your baby move away from the pressure and makes sure you don’t hurt them.

   3. Hand over hand: On either side, stoke inwards towards the navel from the space between hip and rib using a hand-over-hand motion.

8. For mummies and daddies: When as a result of all your efforts, your baby sleeps soundly and gives you some ‘together time’ with your other half, add lavender and ylang-ylang to a bottle of oil and hand it over to your partner. Make up your own massage instructions. You deserve it.