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Baby Massage and Swaddling
02/02/2024
Baby Massage and Swaddling– Calm, Connection, and Safety for Your Baby
How nice that you're reading along again! Through my blogs, I aim to support parents in parenting and caregiving. Parenthood is wonderful, but it can also be intense at times. Those challenges are part of the journey — they help shape the process. Don't forget: you can enjoy it too, even if it sometimes takes trial and error. Happy reading!
Baby Massage: Loving Touch for Calm and Connection
Baby massage originates from India and is known there as Shantala massage. This method was introduced to Europe by French doctor Frédérick Leboyer, who observed how an Indian woman — Shantala — massaged her baby daily. In India, baby massage is a natural part of daily care — and for good reason.
Shantala massage is rhythmic, loving, and centered on contact, calm, and repetition. Key elements include:
Direct skin-to-skin contact
A warm environment
A calm atmosphere with soft scents
Eye contact and a gentle voice
A consistent order of movements
Together, these factors create a sense of security and comfort. Baby massage strengthens the bond between parent and child and can promote both physical and emotional calm.
Who is Baby Massage Suitable For?
Baby massage is suitable for all babies, but it can be especially helpful if your baby:
Has trouble sleeping
Cries a lot
Experiences digestive discomfort or colic
Is restless or overstimulated
During the massage, serotonin — the "happy hormone" — is released, while cortisol — the stress hormone — decreases. This has several positive effects:
Lower heart rate
Calmer breathing
Better sleep
Positive influence on brain development, growth, and immunity
It's also valuable for you as a parent: baby massage provides a moment of real attention and connection. It can boost your confidence and relieve stress — especially helpful if you're experiencing a postnatal dip.
Baby Massage Courses
Would you like to learn how to do this yourself? Various courses are available.
🎥
Baby Massage Course
Relax and connect
As a certified Shantala baby massage instructor I will teach you how to give your baby a relaxing massage including a couple of yoga stretches. You can start with a baby massage course when your baby is around 4 weeks. Baby massage is quite simple, but complex because of its simplicity. I will teach you the right techniques, contraindications, body language and how to create a relaxing setting.
It’s scientifically proven that skin-to-skin contact between parent and child is crucial for their development. Baby massage improves the attachment process between parent and baby. It gives a feeling of security and that is a very welcome feeling for your baby, whose world has completely changed since being born. Baby massage can help to bring relief from colic, teething, obstipation, sleep issues, growing pain, cold symptoms and overstretching.
Your baby can become overstimulated quickly, therefore the course is divided over 3 days. The complete Shantala baby massage routine takes about 30 minutes and ends with taking a bath.
Duration: 3 sessions of 50 minutes
Price: € 150,- excl. VAT
Shantala - Baby Massage Course
Learn and Share This Ancient Baby Massage Technique
Instructor: Lizandra Deister
Language: English
Last updated: April 2020 :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
Rating: 4.3 / 5 (ongeveer 59–60 beoordelingen) :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
What You'll Learn
- What is Shantala Baby Massage :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Contraindications of Shantala :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
- Preparation of the Baby, Caregiver and Environment :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
- Shantala Massage Technique:
- Face
- Torso
- Arms & Hands
- Legs & Feet
- Back
- Final Exercises
- Downloadable Resources :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
Requirements
An open heart is all you need! :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Description
Welcome to the Shantala - Baby Massage Course. Here you will learn this ancient infant massage technique to perform on your baby or to teach other parents through workshops. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
The course covers:
- The history and background of Shantala massage :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- Contraindications and how to safely apply the technique :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}
- How to prepare the caregiver, baby, and the environment :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}
- The full massage routine (face, torso, limbs, back) :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}
- Final exercises and downloadable materials to aid learning :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}
Who This Course Is For
This course is suitable for:
- Parents
- Grandparents
- Nurses
- Caregivers
- Healers
Je kunt natuurlijk ook verder lezen in een mooi boek (aanrader!):
Baby Massage
“Baby Massage: Proven techniques to calm your baby and assist development” is een gids geschreven door baby‑massage specialist Peter Walker. Het boek laat stap voor stap fotografisch zien hoe je je baby op een veilige en liefdevolle manier kunt masseren om ontspanning, hechting en lichamelijke ontwikkeling te bevorderen. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Door regelmatig te masseren kun je onder andere helpen bij wind, verstopping, stress en slaapproblemen bij je baby. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Swaddling: Creating Calm for a Restless BabyI
Swaddling involves wrapping your baby snugly and safely in a cloth, primarily restricting arm movements. This can help babies who have trouble falling asleep, cry a lot, or are very restless in bed.
Swaddling reduces the likelihood that your baby wakes up due to their startle reflex, leading to more calm, routine, and better sleep patterns.
How Does Swaddling Work?
With traditional swaddling, you place the baby's arms alongside the body and wrap the baby tightly. Nowadays, there are also user-friendly alternatives, such as:
> Swaddle blankets
Pacco
Bundi
Boeli
Inbakerslaapzakken (zonder armsgaten):
Woombie
Ergococoon
Puckababy Mini
With swaddle sleep sacks, the arms are still wrapped, but the baby is less tightly bound. For some babies, this is more comfortable and practical to use.
Note: Swaddling should always be done safely.
Take a course where you will be guided step by step on how to do this correctly.
Watch this Video
Or continue reading in a wonderful book (highly recommended!):
Or continue reading in a wonderful book (highly recommended!):
View Book on Bol.com
When and How to Wean Off Swaddling?
Do not stop swaddling abruptly; gradually wean your baby instead. Guidelines:
Start weaning around 4 months
Stop completely before 6 months of age
With swaddle sleep sacks, you can often start weaning around 3 months
Why this timing? Around six months, babies usually start rolling over. If a baby is still tightly swaddled at that stage, it can be unsafe. Safety always comes first.
Personal Experience
With my middle son, I used swaddling with a wrap because he was very restless. However, swaddling too tightly had the opposite effect — it made him sad. From three months onward, we switched to a sleep sack. This gave him both calm and the freedom he needed. After that, he noticeably slept better.
In my work as a parent coach, I have also supported many parents with swaddling. At first, it can seem complicated, but with a little practice and guidance, it usually works quickly. Parents are often surprised at how fast their baby calms down.
In Conclusion
Baby massage and swaddling are wonderful ways to provide your baby with calm, security, and structure. They not only contribute to your child's well-being but also strengthen the bond between you as parent and child.
Thank you for reading. Take good care of yourself, be gentle with yourself — and in turn, with your child. Until the next blog!