Baby Massage: Benefits, Techniques and How to Get Started

Quick answer: Many parents wait until 4 to 6 weeks after birth to start gentle baby massage, as an NHS service in Norfolk recommends. Choose a calm, alert moment at least 45 minutes after a feed, warm the room to about 20–22°C, lay your baby on a towel on the floor, use an unscented plant oil such as sunflower, grapeseed or fractionated coconut, and work with long, gentle strokes from the legs and feet to the tummy, chest, arms and back.

What parents need to know

Baby massage is one of the most intimate and beneficial things you can do with your baby. Widely practised around the world and increasingly recommended by health professionals in the UK, regular gentle massage can do wonders for both your baby's wellbeing and your own.

The benefits of baby massage

Research supports a wide range of benefits from regular baby massage, including:

• Deeper bonding: Skin-to-skin touch triggers the release of oxytocin in both parent and baby, strengthening the attachment relationship.
• Better sleep: Studies show that babies who are massaged regularly tend to sleep better and wake less frequently.
• Reduced colic and gas: Gentle tummy massage can help move trapped wind and ease digestive discomfort.
• Improved circulation and muscle tone
• Reduced cortisol (stress hormone): Massage has been shown to lower cortisol levels in babies and parents alike.
• Support for premature babies: Kangaroo care and massage are widely used in NICUs to support weight gain and development in premature babies.
• Sensory development: Touch is the first sense to develop and remains central to how babies learn about the world.

When can you start baby massage?

Many parents wait until 4 to 6 weeks after birth. An NHS service in Norfolk (Just One Norfolk) recommends this, so that your baby's skin can adapt and your baby is more settled into the world outside the womb. Not every baby enjoys massage at first, and that's fine: stop and try again when they are a little older. There's no upper age limit — massage remains beneficial throughout childhood and beyond.

How to get started

Choose the right time

Massage works best when your baby is calm and alert — not immediately after a feed (wait at least 45 minutes to reduce the risk of reflux) and not when they're hungry or very tired. A relaxed baby who's in a sociable mood will get the most from it. Do not massage your baby if they are unwell or have any open wounds or broken skin.

Create the right environment

• Warm the room to a comfortable temperature (around 20–22°C)
• Lay your baby on a changing mat covered with a soft towel, ideally on the floor. If you use a raised surface, keep one hand on your baby at all times, as babies can wriggle and roll off
• Warm your hands before you begin
• Use an unscented plant oil such as sunflower, grapeseed or fractionated coconut oil. Avoid nut- or wheatgerm-based oils, olive, mustard and mineral oils, and essential oils. Do a patch test first and warm the oil in your hands before you start

Ask your baby's permission

One of the principles taught in infant massage classes (based on IAIM, the International Association of Infant Massage) is to always ask your baby before you begin. Hold your hands in front of them and say "Can I give you a massage?" Watch for an open, receptive response (relaxed body, open hands, eye contact) versus a closed one (fussing, turning away, arching back). Respecting these cues builds trust and communication.

Basic strokes

Legs and feet

Most babies enjoy having their legs massaged first (it's a less sensitive area than the tummy or face). Use long, gentle strokes from the hip down to the foot. Gently circle the ankle and squeeze each toe.

Tummy

For the tummy, use slow, gentle clockwise circular motions (following the direction of the digestive system). Place both hands flat on the tummy and make "I Love You" strokes: an I down the left side, an L across the bottom and up the left side, and a U around the outside of the whole tummy. Particularly good for colic and wind.

Chest and arms

With flat hands, sweep outward across the chest. Gently stroke down each arm and squeeze the hands.

Back

Turn your baby onto their tummy (only when they can hold their head up comfortably). Use long, slow strokes from the shoulders down to the bottom.

Baby massage classes

Many children's centres and NHS trusts offer baby massage classes. These are a way to learn correct technique, meet other parents, and give your baby a structured, regular massage experience. Ask your health visitor about classes in your area.

Frequently asked questions

When can you start baby massage?

Many parents wait until 4 to 6 weeks after birth, which an NHS service in Norfolk recommends so that your baby's skin can adapt and your baby is more settled. There is no upper age limit, as massage stays beneficial throughout childhood and beyond.

How long should you wait after a feed to massage your baby?

Wait at least 45 minutes after a feed to reduce the risk of reflux. Massage works best when your baby is calm and alert, rather than hungry or very tired. Do not massage your baby if they are unwell or have any open wounds or broken skin.

Which oil is best for baby massage?

Use an unscented plant oil such as sunflower, grapeseed or fractionated coconut oil. Avoid nut- or wheatgerm-based oils, olive, mustard and mineral oils, and essential oils.

How do you massage a baby's tummy for colic?

Use slow, gentle clockwise circles following the digestive system, then place both hands flat and make "I Love You" strokes. This is particularly good for colic and wind.