LESSON 15 MASSAGES, BABY EXERCISE AND TUMMY TIME
Massaging the baby is very beneficial as it soothes the baby’s tired muscles and gives a good relaxed sleep. Up to 5 months of age, when the baby’s kicks are yet not so strong, the massage should be preferably done by placing the baby, on your stretched out legs being joined together, with the baby’s feet facing your tummy. I used to enjoy those small little kicks on my tummy and chest sometimes. But be careful not to hurt your c-section scar. Massaging the tummy with gentle clockwise circular motion will be very helpful in releasing the gas and colic as well. I use mama earth easy tummy hing roll on around the naval while massaging the tummy.
After the massage a routine of baby exercise will also help to release the gas. This is my baby’s post massage stretching and BABY YOGA routine.
a) Cycling of both legs – Hold the feet of the baby and move them in cycling motion one by one with a gentle press on the tummy while moving in.
b) Tummy press- Hold both the legs at the knees with the thumb finger facing downward just a little below the knee; index and middle finger on the side of the knee; ring and little finger under the knee. This hold will stabilize the knee joint. With this hold flex the knee joint firmly on the abdomen or tummy of the baby for a good 10 to 20 seconds and then straighten the leg from the knee with a gentle pulling force on the lower leg keeping the hold intact. This can be repeated 8 to 10 times.
c) Great Toe to forehead - Hold the lower leg of the baby in both hands with the thumb finger facing upwards at the calf muscle and the palm and all the fingers curling up on the shin of the leg below the knee. Straighten the leg firmly with this hold and flex it at the hip joint all the way up until the tip of the great toe touches the forehead. Keep this posture for a few seconds and then return the leg back with a gentle pull to stretch the legs with the hold. Baby will grunt while performing this exercise but will feel relaxed at the end of it by releasing all the accumulated wind. This can also be repeated 8 to 10 times.
d) Diagonal stretch- Hold right hand of the baby with your left hand and left leg of the baby with your right hand. Pull the right hand towards the left hip joint and push the left leg towards the right shoulder joint. Perform this with the opposite hand and leg too. Each side has to be done for 8 to 10 times.
e) Arm stretches- Stretching of both the arms by crossing over on the chest and up and down as well will strengthen the arms as well as mark the end of the exercise schedule by relaxing the rest of the body.

This exercise routine is to be followed by the most essential and beneficial for reflux as well; - TUMMY TIME. While letting the baby be on the tummy you can gently massage the back of the baby with neck to buttocks strokes with alternate palms.
But the most important thing to keep in mind is to do this routine just 30 to 45 minutes before a feed time otherwise baby will keep spitting up. . I do it twice a day, once before bath time in the day and once before bed time feed mostly in the evening. I use extra virgin olive oil for the day massage before bath time and light oil like Johnson’s baby oil or Dove baby oil for the evening time massage. I would also suggest that the massage of the baby should be done by the mother herself or the father or baby’s grandmother only. As it is the best time to bond with your child, a mom should definitely not miss it at all.

Share your massage routine with me and guide me if i am doing anything wrong. #refluxingbaby .