History of Baby Massage

HISTORY OF BABY MASSAGE

In many cultures, The practice of massage is an art passed down from generation to generation, historians have found evidence of bays massage dating back over 3000 years and in regions as geographically diverse as India Africa Asia new Zealand and the Caribbean. Even today in these countries infant massage is still considered a daily routine part of childcare, from the moment of birth till the baby is weaned and walking.

This ancient art has however only recently been identified by western practitioners as a beneficial and important part of a daily care routine, the idea of baby massage was first introduced in the USA during the mid-1970s at a time when the idea of touching and massaging babies was unheard of. Two decades later in 1993 the touch research institute at the University Of Miami School of medicine, studied babies. They noted that the daily massages’ quite vigorous and that afterwards the babies would sleep soundly, Further research shows that babies who were massaged after there evening bath time would sleep better through the night and were more content.

Since the mid to late 1900s baby massage has become very popular in the UK, with more emphasis placed on physical bonding and attachment between the parent and the baby. More and more professionals are now realising the importance of baby massage and are encouraging parents to make baby massage a daily part of their routine.

Through the work of baby massage pioneers such as Vimala McClure and Vimala and peter walker, Infant massage is now emerging as ‘the’ must-do the activity and is helping thousands of parents bond with their babies and provide the best possible start in life both physically and emotionally.