Finding ways to effectively bond with your baby may prove to be a challenge for every busy, working parent. What can you do to maximise the short time with your precious one before going to work and after coming home?
Baby massage is one fun and creative method which engages the imagination, according to Jashpreet Kaur, a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) from the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM). She emphasises the importance of a parent’s touch to every child’s early developmental phase.
Jashpreet recently published Cuddles of Love (now available at all MPH outlets and online for RM35.90), which expands on the concept of baby massage at a deeper level. It’s the ideal guide for parents who are expecting, with infants, and with toddlers and up. Through her book, parents are empowered to find answers within by being creative while getting to know their babies and themselves better, as opposed to just using prescribed bonding methods.
The Weather Massage below is a delightful example of what you can expect to find in the book:
Weather Massage*
Once upon a time there was a big, yellow sun…
(with one hand on the shoulder, take the other hand and make a circle clockwise on the back)
…that warmed the whole world
(“rays” to the sides)
But look, clouds appear and cover the sun
(make small circles with fingertips)
Then the wind comes
And blows harder…and harder…and harder…
(stroke with hand from side to side… and harder… and harder)
…until the wind turned into a tornado and hurricane
(begin at shoulder and make “tornado-like” stroke with fingertips)
Then came lightning…
(make lightening with fingertips)
… and thunder
(clap gently on the back with hands)
Then came the rain
(begin at shoulders and stroke down with fingertips)
And it rained harder…and harder…
(same as above except faster and faster)
… until the rain turned into a hail… and more hail
(“play” with fingertips on back… harder and harder)
Then it began to snow, and everything was white and beautiful
(push lightly and slowly over back)
And the only thing to see was the cat that climbed up the roof of the house… and another cat… and
(“climb” up towards neck by first using palm of hand then “rolling” the hand upwards first up one side, then the middle of the back, then the other side)
Finally a fog appeared and everything became still
(lay hands still on back)
Until the sun came out, and warmed up the earth once again
(slowly take away hands)
Tips: You can do this while your child is sitting in front of you and you are creating a story while rubbing her back. It is also fun to create new types of massages such as animal massage, or planting a garden, or making a pizza, or princess massage, or dinosaur massage, etc. Your child will give you creative and imaginative ideas! Sometimes, they can also create and tell a story while you ‘draw’ it on their backs.
The great part about these baby massage methods is that they can be done quickly and at any time, perfect in helping ensure that you spend meaningful time with your little one, whatever the time of day.
Jashpreet conducts training sessions in Johor, with occasional awareness workshops in KL. She is also a Massage in Schools International Trainer and will conduct regular training sessions in KL. This involves activities for older children, while integrating games and learning methods. For further details and to contact Jashpreet, visit her website.
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Image credits: Jashpreet Kaur.
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