6 Things You Need to Know Before Sharing Massage with your Child

6 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE SHARING MASSAGE WITH YOUR CHILD

There is no perfect way to massage your child. The most important factors are that it is a shared activity that you do WITH and not TO your child and that they are happy and comfortable throughout.

It is a wonderful way to support their autonomy and awareness of their body.

There are many ways to make your massage fun, engaging and beneficial for both you and your child.

Here are my top 6 tips!

1. Consent. Ask your child if they would like a massage. If they haven’t experienced it before, explain exactly what you are going to do. For babies & non-verbal children, there are ways to gain their non-verbal consent.

2. Cues. Watch your child’s body language and cues that they may not be enjoying their massage. This may show as tensing, wriggling or frowning. In babies, this can include a range of subtle ‘avoidance cues’.

3. Communication. During their massage, tune in with your child, talk to them and make eye contact. This supports your bond and the social development of their brain.

4. Check in. Check with your child that the pressure and speed of your massage feels comfortable and encourage them to tell you if and what they would like to change.

5. Oil or no oil. Many shiatsu-based massage techniques can be used over your child’s clothes without the need for oil. If you do choose to use oil for skin-to-skin techniques, organic unfragranced sunflower oil is the best choice for babies & children.

6. Your Posture. Avoid causing discomfort to your own body while massaging your child’s! Ensure you are comfortable, engage your core and avoid twisting.