Identifying More Good Times
and Places for Massage
There are so many times and places to massage your baby that we
thought we would give you just a few more ideas. Let these spark
your own creativity:
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Take your baby to the park for a picnic, spread out a blanket,
and begin your massage.
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Massage your baby while waiting in the doctor’s office. You
can do this by laying your baby sideways on your lap (see
Figure 7-1 in Chapter 7).
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Massage your baby on an airplane. For an older baby, let him
sit on your lap, facing out. With one hand, you can massage
his back.
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Place your baby on your lap sideways and massage her back
while you are talking on the phone.
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If your baby begins to fuss in a restaurant, take him out of the
highchair, place him on your lap, and massage his back.
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If you are waiting in a long line in a supermarket, keep your
baby seated and buckled safely in the cart, and use Hands on
Hands and Finger stroking (see Chapter 5) to keep her busy.
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When you wear your baby in a sling, use one hand to do the
Circling the Eyes stroke (see Chapter 6) and the Open Book
Stroke (see Chapter 5).
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If you are traveling a long distance in a car, sit in the back with
your baby and massage his legs, arms, and face while he stays
safely in the car seat.Playing it safe
Here are some tips to help you make bathing with your baby safe:
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Always check the water temperature before you bring your
baby into the tub.
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Plan ahead for the bath and have everything you need nearby:
shampoo, washcloth, car/infant seat (to place your baby in
while you get in and out of the tub), towels (one for you, too!),
soap, and tub toys.
If you plan to give your baby an after-bath massage (which we
discuss in upcoming sections), place a diaper and change of
clothes near where you will be giving the massage, such as
near the changing table.
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If you’re bathing with a newborn, have your partner or a
helper nearby.
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Check the perimeter ledge of the tub beforehand and make
sure that everything your little one can reach with her hands
is safe. (Move those razors!)
-
Keep in mind how slippery your little one will be when she’s
soaped up!
Bathing with a newborn
A baby’s first bath can be very stressful: Your baby may be terri-
fied of being placed in a small tub of water, and you may feel like a
bad parent for making him cry. You may be able to skip the stress
by taking your baby in the bath with you. Most newborns love this
experience; the combination of feeling the warm water and hearing
your heartbeat and voice makes your baby feel as if he is back in
the womb.
Be sure you wait until your baby’s umbilical cord falls off before
giving him a full bath. If you are unsure about this, ask your family
doctor or pediatrician. And keep in mind that newborns need to be
bathed only once or twice a week.Timing your massage right
If you want to give your baby a pre-nap massage, be sure to time it
right. It doesn’t take long for your baby to develop a general rou-
tine: You’ll begin to notice that he typically takes naps around the
same time every day, and you can look for the following signs that
he’s getting sleepy:
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He becomes fussy.
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He rubs his eyes.
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He stares off into space.
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He’s easily frustrated.
You want to plan your massage in advance so that the massage
isn’t pushing him past his nap time, which may actually keep him
awake. Instead, use the massage to gently lead him into sleep.
We don’t recommend that you give your baby a massage before
every nap. He may become accustomed to falling asleep this way
and begin to rely on a massage to sleep.
Sometimes babies refuse to nap. If yours does, you may need to
establish a routine for him. For example, around the time he
should be napping, begin a massage to relax him. At other times,
use other methods to induce sleep such as rocking him, wearing
him in a sling, or taking him for a walk in the stroller.
It’s easy to take the power struggle out of nap time. Actions like
massaging your baby or wearing him in a sling let him fall asleep
naturally.Here are some
tips to make it a safe and pleasurable experience for both of you:
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For your first couple of baths, have someone with you who
can help you bring your baby in and out of the tub and soap
him up.
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Fill the tub approximately two-thirds full before you get in,
and check that the temperature is warm but not too hot.
Be sure to watch the water level when your baby is placed on
your chest. If it’s too close to his mouth and nose, let some
water out.
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Keep an infant or car seat near the tub, and place your baby’s
towel inside the seat. Before you get in the bath, put your
baby in the seat.
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Get in the tub first by yourself. If you’re taking your first bath
since giving birth, go ahead and take a few minutes by your-
self before bringing your baby in with you. You will really
appreciate the break!
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Have your partner (or helper) slowly and gently place your
baby chest-down on top of your chest.
Your baby responds to your emotions. If you are calm and
relaxed, your baby will be, too.
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Gently hold your baby and feel him relax and melt into your
skin.
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Have your partner or helper soap up a soft baby’s washcloth
and gently wash your baby. Keep a squirt bottle nearby to
help rinse your baby off.
In the early days, it may be difficult to wash the front side of
your baby’s body. You can wash his belly on the changing
table with a sponge bath if necessary.
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Spend a few minutes just holding your little one and rubbing
his back.
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When it’s time to get out of the bath, have your helper or part-
ner take the baby out first and immediately place him in the
car seat. Wrap the towel around him (like a cocoon) to keep
him warm.Reducing asthma triggers
You may not be able to prevent your baby from getting asthma,
but you can help her by removing some of things in your home
environment that may trigger it. Here are some things you can do:
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Never smoke near your baby.
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Limit her exposure to dust.
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If you are a breastfeeding mother, avoid eating foods that
many people are allergic to, such as eggs, nuts, and shellfish.
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Do not use a wood stove or fireplace.
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Monitor your baby’s stress level. Stress can create anxiety
symptoms like shortness of breath, which can trigger an
asthma attack or make a current attack feel worse.
It typically takes six months of exposure to a potential allergen for
an allergy to show up. That’s why babies 6 months and older may
begin to show allergies to pets or particular foods. Children don’t
get seasonal allergies until around the age of 4 or 5.
Seeing signs of asthma
Diagnosing asthma in very young babies can be difficult, so many
infants’ asthma goes undiagnosed. Following are some symptoms
that your baby may display if he has asthma:
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Frequent chest colds
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A rattly cough
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Difficulty feeding
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Rapid breathing
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A whistling or wheezing noise when exhaling
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Shortness of breath
If you are at all concerned that your baby may have asthma, con-
tact your pediatrician and describe exactly the types of symptoms
your baby is experiencing. It’s crucial to have asthma diagnosed as
soon as possible.Recognizing asthma attacks
Asthma attacks are frightening for both parents and babies. When
your baby is having difficulty breathing, neither of you feels like
you have any control over the situation.
Typically, doctors classify asthma attacks in three categories:
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Mild: Your baby’s breathing is affected; she has some wheez-
ing, coughing, and shortness of breath. She is alert, and her
skin color is normal.
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Moderate: Your baby’s skin becomes pale, and she experi-
ences more wheezing, whistling, and shortness of breath than
in a mild asthma attack. She is still alert.
-
Severe: Breathing is extremely difficult. Wheezing and cough-
ing are severe, and your baby is no longer alert — she may be
very drowsy. Her skin color may be blue or extremely pale.
Talk with your pediatrician about the steps you should take during
an asthma attack; she will help you create an action plan.
Massaging for asthma
To help alleviate the symptoms of asthma, you want to focus on
massaging your baby’s upper chest. The chest-opening techniques
that we show you in Chapter 5 are appropriate to use during mild
asthma attacks and are good preventative care to prevent attacks
from occurring:
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The Heart Stroke
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The Open Book Stroke
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The Butterfly Stroke
If your baby is having a moderate or severe asthma attack, we
recommend calling your healthcare provider. Giving your baby a
relaxing massage after the asthma attack can help reduce the
effects of the stressful attack.