I watched this video, Baby Massage: An Introduction, and here is my reflection on it.

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What are the benefits of Infant Massage for infant, mom and dad?

The benefits of massage for infants are relief, bonding, and skin stimulation. The massage can relieve infants of pain from colic, gas, teething, congestion, and emotional stress. It also strengthens the bond between parent and child because of the intimate interaction and the physiological systems are stimulated by the massage. Infants’ sensory awareness, sleep, and neurological development are improved. It teaches babies what a healthy touch is, helps them relax, and so much more!

Infant massages help parents feel more competent and confident in their roles as parents. It increases the parents’ ability to help the child relax in times of stress and it’s in the treatment of postpartum depression. Not only does it enhance communication and build respect, but it also increases the self-esteem of parents by promoting their parenting skills and validating their role as a parent. It’s especially great after a busy day being away from the baby, allowing the parent and child to reconnect.

What time of day and how often could you give infants massages?

It doesn’t matter when you decide to incorporate the massage in a baby’s day! You can make it work with any time of day that best suits your routine. It is also okay to give the massages as often as you would like, as the more you do it the more your bond is strengthened.

How does it help in developing ‘body image’ for the child?

Infant massage helps develop ‘body image’ for the child by making the child feel better about themselves because they feel love through a healthy touch made by their parent. The baby will associate the massage with bonding time and so they will feel more comfortable because their stress is being released and they’re feeling acknowledged. A parent is showing that they love the baby through the massage, making the baby learn to love themself, too.

What new information did you learn from video and readings?

Some new information I learned from the readings are that massages promote bone was and facilitates activity of catecholamine activity in preterm. New information I learned from the video is how the contact of the massage between mother and baby can be used instead of breastfeeding, which is wonderful for moms who are dealing with postpartum depression.

I read chapter ten of The Creative Curriculum for Infants, Toddlers & Twos by Dodge, Berke, and Rudick. Here is my reflection on it and the teaching practice questions.

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Think about the children and families in your program. Do you know how each family feels about children dressing themselves? Is it something they feel strongly about?

Most of the families in my program do want their children to be encouraged to dress on their own so they can develop those skills for preschool. They understand that it takes time for their children to learn this, and are very encouraging to them to develop these skills.

The next time you are engaged with the child in the routine of dressing, pay attention to what you say. How much do you talk with the child? What do you talk about? Are you giving directions, correcting behavior, describing the routine, talking about articles of clothing, and/or simply engaging in casual conversation?

When dressing a child, I talk them through the entire process, asking them questions about where a dress item belongs or playfully reminding them that an item doesn’t go on that way. As I dress them, I announce what we are doing so they fully understand how they get their clothes on. I also explain why we wear those articles of clothing like if it’s a rainy day and the child is wearing boots. I’ll let them try to put on an item like zipping up a sweater on their own if they prefer to. Allowing them to participate in the process makes them feel more independent and shows me what they know. If they have a hard time, though, I’ll guide them on how to properly put on the item in a way that doesn’t frustrate them. I’ll use playful language and work with them until they learn.