power

the

touch of

Your guide to nurturing the bond with

your baby through touch and massage
When a baby is born, so is a
mother... who learns to bond
Touch the first sense a baby knows

“In the womb, a developing baby is gently

with her child through the held in warm fluid, and soothed by the
power of touch beating of its mother’s heart. It’s not
Nichola Ball, Midwife and JOHNSON’S® surprising then, surrounded by all this
BABY Infant Massage Educator comfort, that touch is the first sense
baby experiences.”
“For over a hundred years JOHNSON’S®
Nichola Ball, Midwife and JOHNSON’S®
BABY has worked alongside parents and BABY Infant Massage Educator
health professionals around the world, so
understands the very real benefits of skin
-to-skin contact and human touch to both
babies and parents alike. We hope this
guide will help you make the most of the
nurturing qualities of touch in your home
– for baby and for you.”

The benefits for Mum

Touch is important for expectant mothers,

contents and you deserve special attention during

TOUCH
THE FIRST SENSE A BABY KNOWS
pregnancy. Being given this attention at this
important time of your life has many positive
benefits for both you and your baby,
including:
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• Less depression1

BONDING THROUGH TOUCH 4 • Less obstetrical complication

BONDING THROUGH MASSAGE
MASSAGE TIPS AND TECHNIQUES
MASSAGE
AT BEDTIME FOR A BETTER SLEEP
BABY SOFT SKIN
(including premature birth)1
5 Pregnancy should be a wonderful and
memorable experience. But it can be a
demanding time both physically and
6
emotionally.
Pay attention to your body and take time out
to look after yourself. Massage is a wonderful
8
way to relax and become comfortable with
the amazing changes happening to your body.
10 Have your partner treat you to a massage.
Ensure the massage strokes are gentle
– avoid deep kneading movements. 3
Bonding through touch
Bonding through massage

Feeling secure in a new world
Within seconds of emerging into a world full
of light and noise, a baby will know their
mother’s smell. The sense of security that this
gives is then added to by the gentle touching
and cuddling that tells the baby that they’re
welcome in their new environment. The sound
of your voice, and eye contact, can all be part
of ‘touching’ your baby and part of the first step
in helping you to form a closer bond with them.
Physical benefits of touch
were more likely to be breast fed until three
months.2
Skin-to-skin contact has also been shown to
reduce ‘the stress of being born’ for babies.
Placing newly born babies skin-to-skin on their
mothers’ chest has been shown to influence
babies’ skin temperature, suggesting that this
may be a ‘natural’ way to reverse stress-related
effects on babies’ circulation.3
Emotional benefits of touch
According to research undertaken by
JOHNSON’S® BABY, 94% of mums feel that
Benefits for baby
Baby massage instructors believe that massage
helps parent-infant bonding and warm, positive
relationships. Evidence from the Touch Research
Institute in Miami has found massage can also:
• Reduce pain and decrease symptoms
in conditions such as asthma, diabetes
and dermatitis1
• Reduce stress hormones which could
improve immune function1
• Help premature babies to gain weight1
Benefits for mum
In one study, depressed mothers were taught
to massage their infants, with the aim of both
decreasing their depression and reducing the
infants' associated distressed behaviour and
disturbed sleep patterns. The mothers performed
a 15-minute massage daily for two weeks. After
two weeks, the infants were able to fall asleep
faster, they slept longer, were less fussy and
the mothers played more easily with them 5.

We can also associate touch with physical
benefits for babies. Hugging a baby, in a kangaroo
position against your bare chest – tummy to
tummy, can restore baby’s body temperature
faster than any high-tech incubator. This
skin-to-skin heating technique is used in many
countries to protect premature babies from
hypothermia, especially where high-tech
resources for premature babies are unavailable.
One study actually showed that babies held
in the kangaroo position spent less time in
hospital, had less severe infections and
physical contact helps them to ‘bond’ better
with their baby 4. In addition:
• 87% of mums say they feel emotionally
closer to their baby with physical
skin-to-skin contact 4
• 92% believe physical affection also
directly affects their baby’s happiness
• 42% say that touch is vital to the
development of their relationship
with their infant 4
Many parents find that using a gentle cream or oil
like JOHNSON’S® BABY LOTION®, ORIGINAL
JOHNSON’S® BABY OIL® or JOHNSON’S® BABY
SOOTHING NATURALS NOURISHING LOTION®
can help make baby massage easier and more
pleasant. The products are mild enough to use on
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baby’s delicate skin and also help to moisturise and
keep skin baby soft.
JOHNSON’S® BABY OIL®
Locks in up to 10 times more moisture
when applied to wet skin, than many other
lotions and creams applied to dry skin.

JOHNSON’S® BABY LOTION®

Effectively removes oily substances
which water alone cannot, to leave skin
smooth and baby soft.

“Early skin-to-skin contact (within an Infant massage training groups are

hour of birth) is clinically proven to
assist with bonding and with the
establishment of breastfeeding.”
Nichola Ball, Midwife and JOHNSON’S®
BABY Infant Massage Educator
JOHNSON’S® BABY SOOTHING
located in many parts of the UK. Try
NATURALS NOURISHING LOTION® your local library, NCT class or clinic
Contains a unique blend of Olive Leaf for a list of classes in your area.
extract, pure Vitamin E and skin essential
minerals, proven to be more effective
than each ingredient alone. 5
Massage
Simple tips
tips and techniques

Getting started
Technique: arms
First lift baby’s arm and stroke their armpit
a few times.

It may be a good idea to introduce massage slowly
to your baby, beginning with a few strokes, and to
experiment with the order and timing of massage
strokes to discover your baby’s likes and dislikes.
Although a daily massage of about 15 minutes,
with only a few repetitions of each technique, is
probably ideal, it is important to follow your
baby’s ‘cues’. There will be some days when they
don’t want to be massaged, and some places that
they will prefer to be massaged. Both baby and
you will get the most out of massage if you ‘tune
in’ and respond to them.
You’ll need a comfortable surface in a warm room,
and a clean nappy or soft towel in case they are
needed. The best time for massage is when your Technique: arms
baby will be receptive, not hungry or irritable. And,
Next, hold your hands together around baby’s arm
of course, you should be relaxed and enjoy it as
at their shoulder then move your hands in opposite
much as baby does.
directions, back and forth, from their shoulder to
hand, and squeeze gently.
“Massage is about touching and bonding
with your baby, it need not be complicated.
Simple techniques likes the ones below can
give lasting positive benefits for you both”
Nichola Ball, Midwife and JOHNSON’S®
BABY Infant Massage Educator
Technique: legs
Roll baby’s legs between your hands, from their
knee to ankle.

Technique: face
Sucking, teething and crying can all build up tension in
babies. You can help relieve a lot of this with a simple
massage technique. Make a smile on baby’s upper lip,
then their lower lip, with your thumbs. This relaxes the
muscles and relieves tension.
Technique: back
Start with both hands together at the top of baby’s back,
at right angles to the spine. Do not massage over the
Technique: chest spine – each side of the spinal column is preferable.
Move your hands back and forth, in opposite directions,
With both hands together at the centre of baby’s
going down the back to their buttocks, then up to the
chest, push out to the sides, following their rib
shoulders, and back down once again.
cage, as if you were flattening the pages of a
book. Without lifting your hands, bring them
around in a heart-shaped motion to the centre.

Technique: stomach
A special form of stomach massage for your baby is one in
which you say “I love you” in loving tones, while spelling out
‘I-L-U’ on their skin with your hand. Make a single downward
stroke ‘I’ with your right hand on their left belly (your right).
Make an upside down ‘L’ going from your left to right. Then
make an upside down ‘U’, going from your left to right.
Things to remember:
Some techniques are more appropriate for different
ages. During the first two months, when baby’s
sensory motor system is still developing, you should
use a simple massage such as gently stroking their
face, limbs and back. After two months, they’re
better able to respond to more complex and firmer
massage strokes.
You might like to encourage your partner or baby’s
grandparents to be involved in baby massage too,
as it can help the special relationship between baby
and family grow.
Do not massage if your baby is injured or sick.
If in doubt, always seek medical advice.
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Massage
Sleep problems are one of the most common
parenting issues and establishing a consistent
bedtime routine is often recommended to parents
as a way to combat such issues.
Step one: bath
Give your baby a bath, filling the tub with
warm water and ensuring that the temperature
is comfortable for your little one.
Pour a little JOHNSON’S® BABY BEDTIME
BATH® into the warm bath water. Swirl the
product through the water using your hand to
mix evenly and to make sure there are no ‘hot
spots.’ Gently cleanse your baby with a soft
flannel or your own hands. After cleansing,
rinse and gently pat baby dry.
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at bedtime for a better sleep
Working in collaboration with paediatric sleep
experts, JOHNSON’S® BABY has developed
a before-bed routine which is clinically proven
to help babies fall asleep more easily and sleep
through the night better.
Step two: massage
After drying your baby and before you dress
them for bed, apply a small amount of
JOHNSON’S® BABY BEDTIME LOTION®
into the palm of your hand and then massage
into baby’s skin.
After the massage, put baby’s nappy
on and dress them for bed.
Step three: quietly off to sleep
After giving your baby a warm bath with
JOHNSON’S® BABY BEDTIME BATH® and
massage with JOHNSON’S® BABY BEDTIME
LOTION®, enjoy quiet time together and help
your baby wind down further by reading or
singing softly.
Avoid active play at this time so that baby goes
to bed sleepy, but still awake. This will help your
baby learn to self-soothe, so they will be more able
to put themselves back to sleep if they wake
during the night.
The new and improved JOHNSON’S® BABY
BEDTIME® range of products has been formulated
with NATURALCALMTM aromas, a unique blend of
aromas proven to have relaxing properties.
JOHNSON’S® BABY BEDTIME BATH®
A daily cleansing product which dissolves
in warm bath water to release the relaxing
TM
NATURALCALM aromas.
JOHNSON’S® BABY BEDTIME LOTION®
A soft, moisturising lotion ideal for everyday
use to help keep baby relaxed and their skin
supple and protected.
JOHNSON’S® BABY BEDTIME WASH®
A gentle, hydrating wash with No More TearsTM.
JOHNSON’S® BABY BEDTIME OIL®
Locks in up to 10 times more moisture when
applied on wet skin than many other lotions
and creams on dry skin.
Baby soft skin

It’s amazing how soft babies’ skin is, but with this
incredible softness comes extreme fragility.
It’s vital therefore that you moisturise babies’
skin regularly and use products which won’t
Babies' skin is around 10 times thinner than adult exacerbate this dryness.
skin. It is more porous and retains less moisture,
therefore making it less resistant to infection and JOHNSON’S® BABY has researched babies’ skin
more prone to irritation or allergies. for over 100 years, helping them to develop
mild cleansers and moisturisers to protect
Babies also have a tendency to develop dry skin
babies’ delicate skin. Their superior standards
because they do not produce sebum (or lipids).
of mildness and purity are recognised by mums
This can be made worse by dryness in the
across the world.
atmosphere and environmental factors.

References
1
Field, T. Touch & Massage in Early Childhood, 4
Survey conducted and analysed by research
JOHNSON & JOHNSON® Paediatric Institute company Markettiers 4DC, on tickbox.net of
2004 1,469 men and women around the UK in May
2004. Babycentre.co.uk questioned over
2
A Randomized Controlled Trial of Kangaroo
1,000 mums around the UK in June 2004
Mother Care: Results of Follow-Up at One
Year of Corrected Age. Charpak N, Ruiz-Pelaez 5
TOUCH, Dr Tiffany Field, published by MIT
JG, Figueroa Z, et al Pediatrics 2001 (Nov); Press in 2002
108:1072-9
3
Bystrova K, Widstrom AM, Matthiesen AS,
Ransjo- Arvidson AB, et al. Skin-to-skin
contact may reduce negative consequences
For more information about any of the of “the stress of being born”: a study on
JOHNSON’S® BABY range of products temperature in newborn infants, subjected
call 0845 6020333. to different ward routines in St, Petersburg.
Acta paediatr. 2003; 92(3):320-326
JOHNSON’S® BABY also recommends
www.babycentre.co.uk which provides
new and expectant parents with information.

JOHNSON’S® BABY is delighted to support

Tommy’s Pregnancy Health Month.
JOHNSON’S® BABY is a JOHNSON & JOHNSON Ltd. brand. Registered office:
Foundation Park, Roxborough Way, Maidenhead, SL6 3UG
10 ©
JOHNSON & JOHNSON Ltd. 2007
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