OT Corner: Infant Massage Part Two
By Amy Wagenfeld, Ph.D, OTR/L
Originally printed in April, 2006

Set the stage, and get ready to try some lovely baby massage… take a 
deep breath, because the time is right, and you are ready to begin 
this lovely activity.  Set aside a special, quiet space and consider 
playing some soft and gentle music to relax both you and your baby.  
You will want to place your baby* on a cotton blanket or towel on 
the floor, or on a soft bed, or in your lap.  Remove as many 
layers of clothing as possible, as in baby massage, less is best.  
Keep a diaper ready for any accidents, as well as a nice cuddly 
blanket to wrap your babies up in after you are done.  Use 
hypoallergenic oil, which has been warmed in your hands, and 
begin to work slowly with firm, but gentle strokes, maintaining 
constant eye and physical contact with your baby.  If at any time 
your baby becomes fussy or cries, it is time to stop.  When you 
let your baby guide you, you are giving them a wonderful gift.  
Don’t be discouraged or give up if your baby does not initially 
respond positively to massage.  The most resistant babies often 
end up being the biggest fan of massage. 

Based on the works of LeBoyer and Walker, I have prepared a mini 
basic massage ‘how to’ for you.  As this is a very basic guide, 
I would strongly encourage you to look for books, videos, or take
a class if pursuing baby massage is of interest to you.

1. Place a generous amount of oil in your hands, and rub them 
briskly to ‘warm them up.’ 

2. With your baby lying almost on his/her side, firmly, but gently 
stroke down baby’s body going from shoulder to arm, to chest, then 
hip and leg for about a minute. 

3. With your baby in the same position, stroke around the back 
of his/her chest in a clockwise direction for about a minute.

4. Continue to stroke the back of your baby’s hips and base of 
his/her spine in a clockwise fashion for about a minute. 

5. Repeat these last three steps on the other side of your baby’s body.

6. If your baby is comfortable on his/her back, stroke from 
shoulders to feet for a couple of minutes.

7. If your baby is happy to lie on his/her tummy, place your hands 
together (thumb to thumb) and stroke down (not up) from shoulders 
to the base of his/her spine.

8. Wrap your baby up in that soft blanket and tell your baby 
he/she is wonderful and beautiful, and that you will massage 
him/her again tomorrow.

* Just to clarify, I will say “baby,” instead of “babies” 
throughout this column, because I think that infant massage 
works best with one baby at a time!