Several studies shown that massage, particularly infant massage, provides numerous benefits:

1.) Sensory stimulation and relief. This will helps stimulates the nervous system, as touch is a form of sensory stimulation. This can also provides relief for various conditions like colic, or pain from growing muscles or teething, and it also helps babies relax and have better sleep.

2.) Interaction is another key benefit of infant massage. Interaction between parent and baby is important, and infant massage helps promote a secure attachment and early contact. These babies then grow up to become more confident and assured adults. Parents also benefit because they become more attuned to their parenting skills.

Many may confuse massage with the traditional concept of “hilot”. Though infant massage has many health benefits, the primary benefit of infant massage is the emotional band established between the parent and the baby as you are doing the massage. The massage also is not just done by the parent to the baby; it is done by the parent with the baby – where interaction between the two is of utmost importance.

3.) Healing. Breastfeeding counselor Pam Yap-Magallona shares: “My son Iezer was diagnosed with hernia when he was 4 years old.” She consulted with various physicians, all of whom told Magallona that hernia is a nutrition problem. They advised a change in diet and recommend certain massage techniques that were supposed to be done with his son twice a day. The change in diet and daily massage helped improve the condition of his son even before the scheduled operation. By age 6, an ultrasound conducted and showed no more sign of hernia.

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