Shantala Massage is a type of Indian massage, excellent for calming the baby, making it more aware of your own body and increasing the emotional bond between mother/father and baby. For this it is necessary the attentive and tender look of the mother or father towards the baby during the whole massage, which can be performed right after the bath, every day, always with the naked baby, but perfectly comfortable.
This massage generates tactile, cerebral and motor stimuli in the baby, which can improve the digestive, respiratory and circulatory health of the baby, as well as allow a greater interaction between the caregiver and the baby. This massage can be performed from the first month of life, as long as the baby is receptive, i.e. not hungry, dirty or uncomfortable. You can choose the schedule that suits you best to perform this massage and it is important that during the whole massage you are 100% present, without watching TV or on your mobile phone.
- Before starting the massage.
- Put some massage oil on the palm.
- Which can be sweet almonds or grape nuggets.
- And rub it in your hands to heat it a little and follow these steps:.
Each movement must be repeated 3 to 4 times
When performing this massage, always try to look the baby in the eye and talk to him at all times and enjoy every moment. This massage lasts an average of 10 minutes and can be performed every day, better results are observed when performed right after bathing.
You don’t need to use a lot of oil during massage, just whatever it takes for your hands to slip, but if you do too much, you can remove excess oil from your baby’s body with a paper towel or towel that should be used with a slight pressure on the area, without rubbing the skin.
Some parents prefer to do the massage first, then bathe the baby and then, in which case, dipping in the bathtub keeping only the baby’s head out of the water, is a relaxing way to finish this moment.
Shantala massage manages to keep the baby calmer in their daily life, improves blood circulation, brings parents and baby closer together, strengthening the bond of trust between them. With these types of stimuli, the baby learns to be more aware of his or her own body, and there are still other benefits such as:
Shantala is also considered an art, to give and receive love, and can be practiced from the first month of life to the time the parents and the baby want it, but it should not be practiced if the baby has a fever, cries or seems irritated.