What is Baby Massage

Baby massage is the practice of using moderate pressure and nurturing touch to gently massage a child's body, from newborns (including preterm babies) through to adolescents (Pados & McGlothen-Bell 2019; Zealy,C 2005; Mrljak et al. 2022). It's a structured and intentional activity that combines specific strokes and movements, often with oils or lotions, to comfort, soothe, and support a child's health and development (Reza Saeadi, Ghorbani & Moghaddam 2015; Cooke et al. 2016; Field 1995).

At its heart, baby massage is more than just touch. It is a way of communicating, connecting, and supporting both the physical and emotional wellbeing of children. The practice is rooted in traditional caregiving customs and has been refined by modern research to provide parents and caregivers with a safe, evidence-based framework to follow (Badr, Abdallah & Kahale 2015; Arabiat et al. 2019; Cooke 2015).
 

The Purpose of Baby Massage

The main goal of baby massage is to enhance wellbeing. Physically, massage can:

💜 Improve circulation and digestion (Liu et al. 2022; Rakhmawati et al. 2024)

🌱 Support muscle tone and bone development (Rakhmawati et al. 2024;Field, Diego & Hernandez-Reif 2010)

🪷 Relieve discomfort from wind, colic, or teething (Sheidaei et al. 2016; Baby Teething Pain n.d.)

🌙 Help babies sleep more peacefully (Salsabila Rayhani et al. 2024)

Emotionally, massage provides a sense of security, reduces stress hormones, and strengthens the parent-child bond. For older children, massage may help ease anxiety, improve focus, and even support recovery from sport or physical activity (Mahnaz Jabraeili et al. 2023; Norman & Roggman 2024; Field et al. 1992; Chen et al. 2024; Dakić et al. 2023).
 

Key Elements of Infant Massage

While the term infant massage usually refers to babies up to 12 months old, the principles of massage can be adapted as children grow. Certified Infant Massage Instructors (CIMIs) and Paediatric Massage Consultants (PMCs) are trained to teach parents how to massage safely and effectively at every stage.

Three core elements shape the massage experience:

Interaction
Massage is a two-way conversation. Parents learn to watch for cues, like changes in facial expression, body movements, or alertness, and respond sensitively. This deepens connection and builds trust.

Touch
Different types of touch serve different purposes:

✋ Gentle stroking supports relaxation and sensory awareness (Tuulari et al. 2019).

🤲 Holding in specific positions gives comfort and reassurance (Touch and holding for sick or premature babies in the NICU n.d).

🦵 Passive movements of arms and legs encourage bone strength and can help preterm babies gain weight (Abo-Seif et al. 2019).

Stimulation

Massage is often paired with talking, singing, rocking, or eye contact. These forms of stimulation add to the sensory experience and support brain and social development (Backman 2025; Wiener-Vacher, Hamilton & Wiener 2013; Leong et al. 2017).

Beyond Infancy

Although many people associate baby massage only with the first year of life, the benefits extend well beyond infancy. With guidance from trained professionals, parents can adapt techniques for toddlers, children, and even teenagers. Whether helping with sleep routines, easing growing pains, or supporting emotional regulation, massage continues to offer value across childhood (Field 2019).
 

The Role of Professionals

Parents don't need to figure it out alone. CIMIs and PMCs, trained through organisations like the Infant Massage Information Service (IMIS), provide step-by-step education and support. These professionals ensure massage is safe, effective, and tailored to each child's stage of development (IMIS / Baby Massage 2025).

Key Takeaways

💜 Baby massage is a structured practice of nurturing touch that supports both body and mind (Rakhmawati et al. 2024).

🌱 It helps with growth, digestion, sleep, bonding, and emotional regulation (Rakhmawati et al. 2024; Chen et al. 2024).

👶➡👧 Techniques can be adapted for children from birth through adolescence (Field 2019).

🤝 Parents benefit from learning massage through certified instructors, who provide knowledge, guidance, and ongoing support (Pados & McGlothen-Bell 2019).

Baby massage is more than a soothing routine, it's a shared experience that fosters connection, comfort, and development, backed by research and loved by families worldwide (Hernandez-Reif et al. 2001).

References
Abo-Seif, I, El-Zohiery, A, Hamed, G, Abulfadl, R & El-Farrash, R 2019, ‘Passive Range-of-Motion Exercise and Bone Mineralization in Preterm Infants: A Randomized Controlled Trial', American Journal of Perinatology.

Arabiat, DH, Whitehead, L, AL Jabery, M, Towell-Barnard, A, Shields, L & Abu Sabah, E 2019, ‘Traditional methods for managing illness in newborns and infants in an Arab society', International Nursing Review, vol. 66, no. 3, pp. 329-337.

Baby Teething Pain n.d., HealthyChildren.org.

Backman, I 2025, Singing to Babies Improves Their Moods, Yale School of Medicine.

Badr, LK, Abdallah, B & Kahale, L 2015, ‘A Meta-Analysis of Preterm Infant Massage', MCN: The American Journal of Maternal/Child Nursing, vol. 40, no. 6, pp. 344-358.

Chen, S-C, Lin, S-L, Wang, M, Cheung, DS-T, Liang, J-G, Cheng, Z-Y, Yuen, CS & Yeung, W-F 2024, ‘Pediatric massage therapy in infants and children under 5 years: An umbrella review of systematic reviews', Heliyon, vol. 10, no. 16, p. e35993.

Cooke, A 2015, ‘Infant massage: The practice and evidence-base to support it', British Journal of Midwifery, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 166-170.

Cooke, A, Cork, M, Victor, S, Campbell, M, Danby, S, Chittock, J & Lavender, T 2016, ‘Olive Oil, Sunflower Oil or no Oil for Baby Dry Skin or Massage: A Pilot, Assessor-blinded, Randomized Controlled Trial (the Oil in Baby SkincaRE [OBSeRvE] Study)', Acta Dermato Venereologica, vol. 96, no. 3, pp. 323-330.

Dakić, M, Toskić, L, Ilić, V, Đurić, S, Dopsaj, M & Šimenko, J 2023, ‘The Effects of Massage Therapy on Sport and Exercise Performance: a Systematic Review', Sports, vol. 11, no. 6, p. 110.

Field, T 2019, ‘Pediatric Massage Therapy Research: A Narrative Review', Children, vol. 6, no. 6, p. 78.

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Field, T, Diego, M & Hernandez-Reif, M 2010, ‘Preterm infant massage therapy research: A review', Infant Behavior and Development, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 115-124.

FIELD, T, MORROW, C, VALDEON, C, LARSON, S, KUHN, C & SCHANBERG, S 1992, ‘Massage Reduces Anxiety in Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Patients', Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 125-131.

Hernandez-Reif, M, Field, T, Diego, M & Beutler, J 2001, ‘Evidence-Based Medicine and Massage', PEDIATRICS, vol. 108, no. 4, pp. 1053-1053.

IMIS, Baby Massage 2025, Babymassage.net.au, viewed 28 September 2025, <https://www.babymassage.net.au/your-qualification>.

Leong, V, Byrne, E, Clackson, K, Georgieva, S, Lam, S & Wass, S 2017, ‘Speaker gaze increases information coupling between infant and adult brains'.

Liu, J, Fang, S, Wang, Y, Gao, L, Xin, T & Liu, Y 2022, ‘The effectiveness of massage interventions on procedural pain in neonates: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Medicine, vol. 101, no. 41, p. e30939.

Mahnaz Jabraeili, Mojgan Mirghafourvand, Montazeri, M & Mahni Rahkar Farshi 2023, ‘The effect of massage on cortisol level in infants: A systematic review and meta-analysis', Journal of Neonatal Nursing, vol. 29, Elsevier BV, no. 5, pp. 720-727.

Mrljak, R, Arnsteg Danielsson, A, Hedov, G & Garmy, P 2022, ‘Effects of Infant Massage: A Systematic Review', International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 19, no. 11, p. 6378.

Norman, VJ & Roggman, LA 2024, ‘Effects of infant massage on infant attachment security in a randomized controlled trial', Infant Behavior and Development, vol. 78, JAI, p. 102004.

Pados, BF & McGlothen-Bell, K 2019, ‘Benefits of Infant Massage for Infants and Parents in the NICU’, Nursing for Women’s Health, vol. 23, no. 3, pp. 265–271.

Rakhmawati, W, Henny Suzana Mediani, Meita Dhamayanti, Maryati, I, Setiawan, AS, Sri Hendrawati, Maryam, Alfiah Hasanah, Aep Maulid Mulyana, Mariani, D & Imat Rochimat 2024, ‘Potential of Massage Therapy for Improved Growth and Development Among Infants Under 9 Months: A Systematic Scoping Review of Intervention Type, Technique, and Outcome', Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare, vol. Volume 17, Dove Medical Press, pp. 3931-3943.

Reza Saeadi, Ghorbani, Z & Moghaddam, AS 2015, ‘The effect of massage with medium-chain triglyceride oil on weight gain in premature neonates.', PubMed, vol. 53, National Institutes of Health, no. 2, pp. 134-8.

Salsabila Rayhani, Nur Mujaddidah Mochtar, Gina Noor Djalilah & Rewina Intan Asmarani 2024, ‘Well-Being of Infants Through Touch: The Effects of Massage on Sleep Quality and Weight Gain in the First 0-12 Months', Golden Age Jurnal Ilmiah Tumbuh Kembang Anak Usia Dini, vol. 9, no. 2, pp. 357-374.

Sheidaei, A, Abadi, A, Farid Zayeri, Fatemeh Nahidi, Nafiseh Gazerani & Mansouri, A 2016, ‘The effectiveness of massage therapy in the treatment of infantile colic symptoms: A randomized controlled trial.', PubMed, vol. 30, National Institutes of Health, pp. 351-351.

Touch and holding for sick or premature babies in the NICU n.d., Raising Children Network.

Tuulari, JJ, Scheinin, NM, Lehtola, S, Merisaari, H, Saunavaara, J, Parkkola, R, Sehlstedt, I, Karlsson, L, Karlsson, H & Björnsdotter, M 2019, ‘Neural correlates of gentle skin stroking in early infancy', Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, vol. 35, pp. 36-41.

Wiener-Vacher, SR, Hamilton, DA & Wiener, SI 2013, ‘Vestibular activity and cognitive development in children: perspectives', Frontiers in Integrative Neuroscience, vol. 7.

‌Zealey, Caroline 2005, 'The benefits of infant massage: a critical review', Community Practitioner, 78, 98-102.