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Archive for May, 2010

Benefits of Baby Massage

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

Baby massage provides many benefits both for the mother and baby alike. Since touch is the first language of babies, a mother gains improved awareness of the baby’s needs while greatly multiplying the bond between mother and baby. Researchers report that touch therapy triggers physiological changes that help infants and children grow and develop faster.

The art of baby or infant massage can bring about tremendous benefits like improved sleeping habits, better digestion and even improved growth. For example, studies have indicated that by carrying out massage for about three times a day over 10 days then babies had greater weight gain. In addition they were observed as being more active and alert. With all of the benefits you may sincerely be wondering about what is involved in the art of baby massage.

The time of the day when you carry out the massage is of important and, for example, the ‘witching hour’ is best avoided. Often babies have several times a day when they are engaging in a quiet activity. This means that they are awake and alert, but they are calm. Normally, this time occurs after the baby has been participating in more active play. When you want to use this time you need to ensure that you have the time to do it without feeling rushed or have interruptions.

Once the time for baby massage has been determined that you will want to make sure that both you and the baby are comfortable. You can either use the floor or the bed to sit on. You will want to place a soft towel down, and then you will place the baby onto the towel on their back. Make sure that the room is warm and there is some soothing music playing during the massage.

While you are doing the baby massage you will want to pay attention to the nonverbal signs that the baby gives you. As your baby cannot talk yet so it is essential that you watch for other signals. Babies are not interested in deep tissue massage so all strokes should be gentle and soothing. Newborns often only need a few minutes of baby massage whereas an older baby might enjoy a lengthier session. Be aware, that it is the quality of the baby massage that brings about the many benefits not the quantity of minutes spent on the massage.

To begin the massage then start by gently massaging the head. This ensures that your hands do not have any oil on them whilst they are massaging your baby’s face and head. You will want to make gentle circular movements on their head. Then you want to gingerly place your hands at the center of the forehead and move them toward the edges. Additionally, you will want to carry the circles around your baby’s jaw bone which can be really quite soothing for the child when they are teething.

Now that you are done with the baby’s heads you can place a couple of drops of massage oil into your hand so that you can warm them. Then you are going to want to move to the baby’s chest. Again, start in the middle and move outward. Move your way to the arms at this point. You will want to basically put your hands on each side of your baby’s arm and gently roll the muscle in between the hands. As you move down the arm you can go towards the hand gently manipulating each finger.

After that you are going to want to move back to the baby’s tummy for their baby massage. Here gently pull one hand after the other from right to left. Continue your downward direction and head towards the legs. You are going to use the same technique that you used on the baby’s arms for each leg. Once you get to the foot take some time to rub each foot individually.

The next step in baby massage is to flip your baby over so that you can get to work on their back. Gently brush your fingers on the baby’s back from one direction to the other horizontally. After you have done that you will want to adjust your stroking so that it goes vertically from the shoulders to the feet. Be sure that at all times you have at least one hand on your little one so that they are comfortable and sure that you are there. A lovely way to finish the massage is to give a nice cuddle (and kiss)!

The truth is that baby massage is not difficult. There are many courses and classes available and a web search should be able to locate a suitable teacher in your area if you feel that you would prefer formal instruction. It can be a wonderful opportunity for you to bond with your baby, and the benefits are just enormous. By taking that little bit of time you can ensure that your baby will be more active, sleep better, and even process their food better.

Buying Baby Furniture

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010

It is no doubt that having a baby is the happiest thing in the world though it can be stressful. Having a baby involves coping with many different and difficult tasks. You have to be sure that everything has been provided for, taking into consideration all the necessary baby things. Among those things of paramount importance there is baby furniture for your little one. One can think it is not a problem to find the right baby furniture for your baby bedroom unless he or she faces it in person. This article will be a nice guide to take you through all the

The first furniture for your baby is definitely a baby crib. You should check that the product you buy meets all safety requirements. Nightlights are also important for your babies, as you don’t want them to be afraid of darkness. Dresser and baby shelves are important to organize things that belong to your babies. You need to buy shelves such that you can keep baby things in the shelves even when they grow. You can also buy baby furniture set that contains everything you need for your baby.

Buying baby furniture from online shops is now preferred by many parents. This is because you don’t have to arrange for the delivery of furniture. Once you place the product, it will be delivered to you for free by most of the websites. There is no need to look for a baby sitter and go for shopping to buy furniture. You can simply connect your computer to internet and enter the online shop without having to move away from your baby. Moreover, online shops provide you a number of options related to baby furniture. You don’t have to restrict your shopping to one particular shop. Comparison shopping is the greatest advantage you can get when you shop online.

You can choose baby furniture based on the style and design of your home. Size is often a consideration while buying furniture for babies. The size should comfortably fit your baby without occupying more space in the room. Babies need more space to move around. Also, babies will grow everyday and the furniture you choose should accommodate the growth atleast for a minimum of 2-3 years. Now, you can find resizable furniture that can be increased in size when your baby grows.

Studies show that one in five injuries for toddlers less than five years is caused by faulty furniture. This is alarming and every parent should realize that choosing quality furniture is important. The furniture you choose for your baby should not pose any threat for the safety of the baby. Many parents are now interested in choosing theme based furniture for their babies. If you know your baby’s taste, you can easily choose furniture for your older babies. Otherwise, you can choose common baby themes depending on the gender of your baby.