Massage for Constipation

by Tina Allen, LMT, CPMMT, CPMT, CIMT
Updated July 2011

Many parents find that their little ones may have some difficulty with digestion. Constipation occurs for everyone at some time in their life, but can cause pain and discomfort for your baby. There are many different methods you can try to help relieve this discomfort however; I have found infant massage specifically for constipation to be very effective.

 

Massage can be used to help encourage your baby’s bowels to move. Before starting any massage for baby:

• Make sure the room is warm enough (especially if removing baby’s clothing)
• Relax yourself
• Warm your hands by rubbing them together
• Ask baby’s permission to start massage by making eye contact and verbally asking out loud “Is it okay if I massage your Tummy”

You can massage over clothing, but for tummy massage, I would recommend you use a little oil and massage directly on the skin. The warmth of skin to skin contact can be very helpful for constipation as well.

For oil, use all natural vegetable or fruit based oil, something edible. Good choices that you may already have at home include grape seed oil or olive oil. Put a small drop of oil in your hands, about the size of a coin, and rub together to warm. Show baby what you are doing, he’ll start to associate the sight and sound with what comes next.

When doing these massage strokes, use a firm but gentle pressure. Always check in with your baby to make sure he likes the massage. Feel free to try a lighter pressure, use a different stroke or just stop if he’s done.

To massage your baby’s tummy, place warmed hands on tummy at or below the belly button. I know it’s a small space, but important to target the bowels. Using flat palms gently stroke downward, using hand over hand, a paddling type motion. Next moving hands in a clockwise motion, (very important to move clockwise – if you go the wrong way, you’ll create more issues), stroke baby’s tummy in a circle.

Now we’ll do a 3-part stroke called:

I Love You!

With baby laying on the floor facing you: (remember clockwise motion)

First trace the letter “I” on baby’s left side

Next draw an “L” starting on baby’s right side, across the top of the tummy and down baby’s left side

Then draw an upside-down "U"

Finish on the tummy by stroking down with warmed flat hands a few times.

During tummy massage your baby may have a bowel movement or release some air – great! You may wish to leave his diaper off during the massage session. Babies like to have the freedom of movement they gain without a diaper, so if you decide to leave it off, just have something underneath in case of any accidents.

Specially trained Certified Infant Massage Teachers (CIMTs)

Through working as a Certified Infant Massage Teacher you have the special opportunity to impact an infant and their family for a lifetime.

This professional training is for those interested in working with families by becoming a Certified Infant Massage Teacher (CIMT™). A CIMT™ is not only an instructor, but also an educator who teaches the art of infant massage to parents or caregivers in the presence of their babies.

For more information visit Comprehensive Infant Massage Teacher Training Course (CIMT)
 

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