Massaging your baby can calm and relax her; it is also a special time you can spend together. It is important that you both enjoy the massage as well. If baby is fractious - and a few babies don't like massage - or you are in a hurry or not enjoying it yourself, then don't do it. Under those conditions it won't be relaxing. Be organised before you undress baby.

You Will Need

• A table at hip height in a warm room, or floor space where you can comfortably move about
• Oil for your hands - baby oil is ideal - but use no more than necessary
• Towels spread out to lay baby on
• A clean change of clothes
• Warm hands (and no bits of scratchy dry skin on your fingertips)
• Soft music

With baby lying on her back, start by massaging her cheeks with your oily thumbs, gently stroking outwards.


Next circle her eyes with your thumbs, stroking outwards along the brows and under the eyes.


Move down her body to her chest, with your fingers massaging from her right shoulder across to the left, and from the left shoulder across to the right. Continue this criss-cross motion down over her hips to her thighs.


Massage her arm by gently kneading with the thumb and forefinger, one hand after the other, and moving down to the wrist.


When you reach her hand gently uncurl each finger, giving it a little squeeze and rotating it gently. Repeat for her other arm and hand.


Moving down the legs, massage each leg in the same way as the arms, from the top of the thigh down. When you reach the foot, massage it gently, pointing it as a dancer would do.


Now gently roll baby onto her tummy and massage her back by pressing your thumbs lightly down each side of her spine. You may also try the same criss-cross massage you used on her front - but be warned, some babies don't like it.

Lastly you can give her bottom a light massage. Gently pat away any excess oil with very soft paper towel, and dress baby.

To relieve wind pains you can lay baby on her back and gently raise her legs to a right-angled position. Now rotate her legs in a clockwise direction with her bottom raised slightly off the towel.