When I was in my high school years, my parents would often request (or more like require me and my other siblings) to massage them when they retire for the night. Tired from a day’s work, they wanted a massage to relieve their overworked bodies. More often than not, they would ask me or my eldest brother. One of the reason why I usually avoid staying in my parent’s room after dinner but, that doesn’t stop them from calling me. There is no escape for me.  I’m doomed until I got married…

Little did I know that it was their way of bonding with me.  Since they are busy during the whole week round, it is one of their way to communicate with us individually and of course, a massage to go with it.  Talk about hitting two birds with one stone, Dad and Mom!

It is only now that I really appreciate and see the beauty of providing massage to people especially to babies. Babies? How come I am discussing this? Well, it is because I’m reading a book entitled: Infant Massage, A Handbook for Loving Parents.   My primary goal in reading this is to know how to properly massage JX because I know it would have a tremendous effect on him as well as for me.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do this with AD but I am still hoping that I can still make up for it.  I know it is never too late to do so because even us, as adults want to be pampered from time to time.

Here are the vital elements to strengthen bonding during massage routine:

Eye contact

• One of the most powerful communication systems that lets the parents and infant feel their connection.
• During the massage, the infant is positioned face to face with the parent, with this, quality interaction takes place, via the eye contact, that conveys the message that ” it is okay to relax now, release your tension/ stress that you are feeling.”
• Oh, I love looking into the eyes of my babies…I feel connected with them and them connected to me.

Skin contact

• Touch is another powerful element in human bonding. 
• People in love, forming friendships, even people acquiring pets will spend tme in close contact until the bond is secure.
• There is no doubt that the sense of touch creates bonding between two individuals.  I am a touch person.

Vocalization

• Truly, babies respond to their parent’s vocalization, when parents unconsciously make it easier for their babies to understand what they are trying to say by elongating vowel sounds. 
• Singing is a wonderful way to soothe your baby and capture his attention.
• This is so true!  Now, you try to be conscious of how you talk to your baby.

Communication 

• Through massage, you are sending this special message to your baby, “I love you and I want to communicate with you, and you alone!”
• Right!  With you and you alone!  You’ll never have too much of them, I tell you.  Time is running fast.  The next thing you know, they’ll be grown up and have families of their own.

Fathers can also participate in this bonding time.  Do not wait to be invited to get involve!  There is always a role for a mother and father to play.   

If you would ask me, I would love to receive a love massage from AD and JX when I come to an age that I would need it the most.   But for now, I will need to give them the massage they need.  Ta-ta!

Resource: Infant Massage, A Handbook for Loving Parents by Vimala McClure 

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 26th, 2008 at 5:15 pm and is filed under All About Family, Kids. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.