5 ways to massage your baby: touch, smell, and #somuchmore {#johnsonspartners #ad}

I used baby products by JOHNSON’S® to care for my little one as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars #johnsonspartners #SoMuchMore- of course the opinions are my own!

Babies. All the babies!! One of the first ways we communicate with our little bundles of joy is through touch. There are few things in my life more amazing than the moment the nurse placed my baby skin to skin on my chest within seconds of being born. These first moments were so important and really began a close bond between me and my sweet baby. I still remember the tears streaming down my face. She was mine – all mine! I’ve never felt to close, so immediately to a human. Ever.

Speaking of the skin to skin I mentioned above, did you know that studies have shown that skin to skin contact for 25-120 minutes after birth can positively affect the mom and baby connection a year later? To me that just meant extra cuddles, which I will gladly take any day! I was encouraged to continue that skin to skin contact with my baby through the next several months too. In addition, baby massage became another important part of this sweet bonding. If any of my babies were fussy, I would break out the massage. I mean, who DOESN’T that calm down? Then, it simply became part of our bathtime routine. So, let’s talk about that today!

5 ways to massage your baby

With lotion
The smell and benefits of JOHNSON’S® baby lotion can be a great part of your massage. The sense of smell develops at just 28 weeks in pregnancy and smell is the sense linked closest to memory. Using lotion can also help keep skin moist. What makes JOHNSON’S® baby lotion one of my favorite baby products is the smell {that one so many of us associate with babies}, the way it is sensitive even on newborn skin, and the fact that it is hypoallergenic and paraben free.

Use as part of bedtime routine
While life can get a little crazy and every night doesn’t always look the same, a bedtime routine can be so important for little ones. This may look different for every family, but some common things for many are bath, books, songs, and massage! I read a lot about baby massage before I had my baby. As I read about all the benefits, I felt like it was going to be a must in our routines! Knowing that routinely massaging my baby would help with cognitive ability, alertness, eye contact, and physical activity; I knew it was something we needed to do! Now, it is one of our favorite parts of the day. Usually at the end of the day, we have bath, massage, books, and bed.

Sing
Babies love to hear momma’s voice. Singing some of her favorite lullabies can make this time even more calming and sweet to baby. Be creative and just make the most of this time with baby!

Learn
There is a lot of information out there about baby massage. With so many benefits like improved cognitive ability, ability to make eye contact, and increased attentiveness, it would be great to take the time to learn new things and find out ways it can help you and baby. The SO MUCH MORE™ Campaign is so great to me in that it highlights some of the key benefits to using massage with your little one. Check out some more of their tips on baby massage and learn how you can bond with your baby through the power of touch and smell during your bedtime routine.

Enjoy
While this time is calming and nurturing for baby, it can be calming for momma too! Use this time to bond with your sweet little one! Take time to massage those sweet toes, chubby little legs, and soft belly! They grow so fast, so savor every moment as you take time to nurture your little one and help them learn to love, think, and grow!

How do you use massage in your bedtime routine? What are some of the benefits you’ve seen with baby massage?

Read more about how we use JOHNSON’S® in our bathtime!

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