When you think of Indian grandmothers, one of the first things that comes to mind are infant massages. We’ve all seen and heard stories of grandmothers who very lovingly massaged our little hands, legs and bodies when we were babies. Infant massages, also known as Shishu Abhyanga in Sanskrit, are an ancient wisdom that have been passed on from generation to generation. Ancient Ayurvedic texts like the Charaka Samhita even describe the benefits of oil massage for maintaining an infant’s health, and while the western world is now catching up, South East Asian and African parents have known these secrets of massaging for centuries.

But today, an increasing number of urban Indian women are surrounded by advice - advice from relatives, from doctors, friends, social media and the internet. And with different narratives circulating around, some of us mothers and mothers-to-be wonder if massages really have a science behind them or are they just blind traditions that we’ve been following for hundreds of years.

Let’s decode what science says.

The Power of Touch

One of the key figures in establishing the science behind neonatal massages is Dr. Tiffany Field, a U.S. based psychologist and researcher. In the 1970s, Dr. Field was intrigued about the power of touch, and that’s when she learned about a study that took place at Duke University. The study was on newborn rats, who were struggling to survive. Researchers then began simulating motherly licking by stroking the rat babies with a small brush. They observed that the growth hormones in the rat pups increased, and they began gaining more weight.

Dr. Field wondered if the same was true for human babies, especially ones that were born prematurely and were under neonatal intensive care. She went on to conduct studies and what she found was revolutionary. She concluded that premature babies who received infant massage for just 15 minutes, three times a day, gained weight about 47% faster than non-massaged babies and were more alert and active. It was a groundbreaking discovery in the field of neonatal medicine.

Benefits of Massage

Massages are associated with improved growth and immune function and reduced stress in babies. It can lead to improved sleep and blood circulation, better digestion to relieve gas and colic, healthy weight gain, and a stronger parent-child bond. But it’s important to understand the science behind it.

Healthy Weight Gain - According to a study published by Universitas Strada Indonesia, massaging babies can lead to better blood circulation, in turn improving the cell metabolism. An improved metabolism means better absorption of nutrients and hence improved weight gain.

Soothes Colic, Gas, and Aids Digestion - Gentle strokes around the naval help in stimulating the digestive system and releasing trapped gas, along with improved bowel movement. A simple technique like the “I Love U” stroke (tracing the letters I, L, U on the baby’s belly) can be surprisingly effective in calming a colicky infant.

Improves Sleep Quality - Massage triggers a sleep hormone called melatonin, which improves sleep quality in babies. It also reduces cortisol in babies that is produced because they’re still getting used to a completely different environment.

Improved Coordination and Motor Skills - Gentle massages improve a baby’s muscles, joints, and nerves, which can encourage better muscle tone and coordination over time. Some massage routines include infant-safe stretches (for example, bicycling the legs or gently rolling the arms), which can enhance flexibility.

Massaging Techniques

While the underlying principle of massaging remains the power of touch, it is best to keep some general guidelines and best practices in mind to ensure the safety and comfort of your baby.

• Choose a time when your baby is alert and calm. Massaging babies at a time when they’re cranky, hungry or too full can cause discomfort.

• Rub your hands and start with placing both hands on the baby’s bare body, make eye contact and use a calming voice. Proceed if the baby gives pleasant expressions such as eye contact or smiling.

• Once the baby is comfortable, take some oil in your hands and start from the legs. It’s an area which is easily acceptable to babies. Follow it up by a gentle foot massage.

• Avoid rigorous massage that may cause physical injury. Always massage using moderate pressure.

Choosing an Oil

Picking the right oil for your baby’s massage can be overwhelming. A few factors that you should keep in mind while choosing this include:

• Choose an oil with natural ingredients: Avoid oils that have harsh chemicals, preservatives and strong smells. Choose an unscented vegetable oil, preferably organically grown and cold pressed.

• Avoid using oils that have high oleic acid content (such as Olive Oil).

• According to the International Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics, oils that are highly recommended include Matruj oil, sesame oil (especially in winters), coconut oil (for summer months) and almond oil.

• Absorption: Oils that absorb easily without making the baby’s body greasy and sticky are often more practical.

• Patch Test: Always do a patch test of the oil before using it entirely on your baby’s skin.

In many ways, infant massages beautifully represent the meeting point of tradition and science. What our grandmothers intuitively knew as a loving touch, is now being widely studied in research from neonatal units to pediatric studies around the world. But no matter what science says, at the end of the day, what matters most is not the perfection of your technique, but the connection you build.