Baby Massage Tips: How to Get Started

Baby massage is about more than a soothing routine; it's a meaningful way to bond with your baby and support their physical and emotional development. Research suggests that regular infant massage can help reduce crying, ease gas and colic, improve sleep, and even boost immune function. It also helps promote better muscle tone, coordination and skin health. For parents, it's a wonderful way to build confidence and forge a deep, lasting bond with their child through the simple power of touch.

Key benefits of baby massage:

• Soothes fussiness and improves sleep

• Aids digestion and relieves colic

• Enhances bonding and emotional connection

• Encourages sensory and motor development

• Boosts the immune system and skin health.

With gentle, rhythmic strokes using baby-safe oils or lotions, you can establish a soothing routine that grows with your child—from newborns to toddlers. In the following sections, we’ll walk you through practical, step-by-step techniques, safety considerations, and age-appropriate guidance to help you make baby massage a nurturing part of your everyday routine.

What Is Infant Massage and What Are the Benefits?

Baby massage is a soothing therapy that involves gently touching and stroking your baby in a way that helps them feel calmer and more relaxed.

Beyond helping to communicate your love and care, massage offers numerous other benefits. For example, a tummy massage can be beneficial for your baby’s digestion, helping to ease or prevent colic, constipation and wind.

It’s also a great way of bonding with your little one and helping you to build up confidence in handling your baby.

related baby tool

Baby Growth Chart Calculator

Keep an eye on your baby’s height, weight, and head circumference to average growth with our simple tool.

Fill out your baby's details*:

What is your child*

Boy Girl

This is a mandatory field.

Age (months)

This is a mandatory field.

Weight (kg.)

This is a mandatory field.

Height (cm.)

This is a mandatory field.

Head circumference (cm.)

This is a mandatory field.

Track your baby’s growth

*Input details of your baby’s last measurements **Source: World Health Organization

How to Massage Your Baby

Learning to massage your baby can be a wonderful way to strengthen your bond while supporting their health and development. With just a few minutes of soothing touch and the right baby massage techniques, you can help your baby feel relaxed, safe, and cherished. Here's a beginner-friendly guide to giving a baby massage:

1. Choose a comfortable, safe spot. Before starting, pick a warm, quiet environment where you and your baby feel relaxed, like a cosy room indoors or a shaded outdoor area on a calm day. You can do newborn massage on the floor, a bed, or a changing table. Just make sure your baby is never left unattended on a raised surface and always keep one hand on them during the massage.

2. Get your baby ready. Many parents wonder whether it’s best to massage before or after a bath. The answer depends on your baby’s routine, but infant massage after a warm bath often helps soothe your baby into sleep. Lay your baby on a soft towel or blanket, undress them to the nappy, and gently let them know it’s time for a massage. If you’re using baby-safe oil, have it ready and do a quick patch test to ensure there’s no skin reaction.

3. Use gentle, responsive touch. When it comes to how to massage an infant, the key is to use soft, intentional strokes. Begin with light pressure and adjust based on your baby’s responses. Start by massaging your little one with gentle strokes on each part of their body, including the head, neck, upper back, shoulders, hands, waist, thighs and feet. As they get older and more accustomed to the routine, you can gradually increase the pressure or firmness of your touch. Avoid tickling and focus on what feels good for your baby. Explore different infant massage techniques, such as:

   • Stroking with open palms

   • Gentle circular motions with your fingertips or thumbs

   • Raking lightly with your fingers

   • Tapping softly with your fingertips

   • Wringing motions on the arms and legs (like gently squeezing dough).

4. Massage from head to toe. Start your massage with your baby on their tummy, softly stroking from head to feet. If you're using oil, use a small amount to prevent slipperiness. Then, turn your baby onto their back and gently flex and extend each arm and leg, one at a time, and then together. If your infant hasn’t eaten recently, you can try the soothing 'I Love You' tummy massage, a popular newborn massage technique (see below for more details). This motion may help with digestion and ease gas or colic symptoms.

5. Stay present and communicative. The best infant massage sessions are calm, connected, and filled with love. Narrate your actions, hum softly or sing a lullaby. Watch your baby’s reactions—if they smile, coo, or move their arms happily, it’s a good sign. If they turn away, get fussy, or seem overstimulated, it’s okay to pause and try again later.

If you're still unsure about how to do an infant massage, don’t worry. There are books, videos and even in-person classes that can help you feel more confident. Some local hospitals or wellness centres offer infant massage classes taught by certified instructors.

If your baby has any health conditions or was born prematurely, speak with their GP or health visitor before starting any massage for newborns. They can guide you on the safest approach and help you adapt newborn massage techniques to suit your baby’s unique needs.

When and How Often Should You Massage Your Baby?

If you're unsure when to start baby massage, you can begin as soon as you're ready. For newborns, keep your touch light and very gentle.

Here are some tips on choosing the right times to massage your baby:

• Wait at least thirty minutes after a feed. Many parents wonder how long after feeding you can massage a baby; starting too soon after they've eaten could cause your baby to spit up, so it's best to wait about an hour.

• Pay attention to your baby’s moods. If they seem calm and look at you with a steady gaze, they’re probably good to go. If they seem fussy, turn their head away from you, or stiffen up when you pick them up, it might be best to skip the massage for now.

• Choose a time that works for both of you. It’s up to you and your baby when and how often you do this activity together. You may decide to massage your baby in the evening as part of their bedtime routine. It can be a soothing ritual that helps calm them before bedtime.

Baby Massage for Sleep

Baby massage for sleep is a calming ritual that can help your little one wind down and feel secure before bedtime. Gentle, rhythmic strokes support your baby’s nervous system, reduce cortisol (a stress hormone), and encourage melatonin production, the hormone that helps regulate sleep cycles.

A consistent infant massage for sleep routine has been shown to help babies fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and wake less frequently during the night.

Try massaging your baby in a quiet room after a warm bath and before bedtime. Focus on soothing strokes on the arms, legs, back and feet, and use a calming voice or lullaby to help set the tone for sleep. With regular practice, massaging your newborn or older baby may become one of your favourite tools to promote restful nights, for both of you.

Infant Massage for Gas Relief

Infant massage can be a gentle and natural way to relieve discomfort from trapped wind and bloating. Babies often experience gas as their digestive systems mature, and massage can help move those tiny bubbles through.

Popular infant massage techniques to help relieve wind include:

• Tummy massage. Use gentle clockwise circles on your baby’s abdomen to follow the direction of the intestines.

• Bicycling the legs. While your baby is on their back, gently move their legs in a pedalling motion to help release trapped wind.

• The “I Love You” stroke. Trace the letter 'I', then an upside-down 'L', and then a 'U' across your baby’s tummy using soft strokes. This is a widely recommended baby belly massage for wind technique.

• Tummy time. Placing your baby on their stomach across your lap or on the floor for supervised tummy time is an effective way to help relieve wind. Start with short sessions of three to five minutes a few times a day and gradually increase the duration. This practice not only aids in wind relief but also helps strengthen your baby’s neck, back and arm muscles, while preventing flat head syndrome. And remember not to put your baby down for sleep on their tummy.

Always wait about an hour after a feed before doing a massage for wind relief on a newborn or older baby to avoid discomfort. If your baby seems fussy during or after feeds, ask your baby's GP or health visitor whether infant wind relief massage is a good addition to your daily routine.

Baby Massage by Body Part

Different parts of your baby’s body may benefit from different infant massage techniques. Here’s a breakdown of how to give your infant a massage from head to toe:

Soothing Head and Face Massage for Babies

Gentle infant head massage and facial massage can be especially calming. Use your fingertips to gently stroke from the centre of your baby’s forehead outward. You can also use soft circular motions on their scalp, temples, cheeks and jawline. Be extra cautious to avoid the fontanelle (soft spot on top of the head) and keep your pressure very light.

Newborn head massage may help relieve tension or fussiness and can encourage relaxation, especially useful as part of a bedtime routine.

Gentle Baby Chest Massage

Place both hands flat in the centre of your baby’s chest and gently sweep outward toward the shoulders in a butterfly motion. This baby massage technique is soothing and may help calm a fussy baby. Maintain steady, gentle pressure and observe your baby’s cues. Avoid the chest area if your baby is showing signs of illness or congestion unless cleared by their GP or health visitor.

Infant Tummy Massage

Wondering how to massage your newborn’s belly? Tummy massage for newborns or older infants is a safe and natural way to support digestion and ease wind, especially helpful for colicky babies.

To perform infant abdominal massage:

• Wait at least an hour after feeding

• Use soft, clockwise circular motions around the belly button

• Try the 'I Love You' stroke that we mentioned earlier in our guide

• Move your baby’s legs in a pedalling motion.

This infant massage for wind may help reduce discomfort from trapped wind and promote bowel movements. If your baby has colic, gentle tummy massage may also ease symptoms, particularly when used alongside soothing techniques like swaddling or carrying your baby.

Baby Back Massage to Relax and Soothe

Lay your baby on their tummy across your lap or on a safe surface. Gently stroke along their back from neck to bottom using the flats of your hands. Avoid pressing directly on the spine. This type of back massage can help relax your baby’s muscles and may support motor development over time.

Infant Arm and Hand Massage

Hold your baby’s upper arm gently and use your hands to stroke downward to the wrist. Try a wringing motion or softly roll the arm between your hands. For baby hand massage, softly open and close your baby’s fists, then use your thumbs to make small circles in their palms.

Massaging a Baby’s Feet and Legs

Massage of a baby’s feet and legs is often very relaxing for them. Use your thumbs to stroke from heel to toes in a rhythmic pattern and gently tug the toes. Light circular motions on the soles of the feet may also help calm a fussy baby. Try not to make your touch too light, as this may be ticklish for your baby (keep an eye on their reactions).

For the legs, try a gentle wringing motion from thigh to ankle, or firm strokes down each leg.

Choosing the Best Oil for Baby Massage

This is a personal preference. You may prefer to keep things natural and not use any oil at all. On the other hand, you might like to use a massage medium such as an oil, or perhaps a cream that you already have on hand for your baby’s skin care to help reduce any friction created between your hands and your baby’s delicate skin.

Some experts recommend using cold-pressed vegetable or fruit oils, which are readily available from chemists or health food shops.

Oils intended for cooking aren’t recommended because they’re usually subjected to a refining process that uses high temperatures and chemicals that change the natural properties of the oil. Here are some suggestions for oils and other massage mediums you could try:

• Grapeseed oil. A light oil that leaves the skin with a satin sheen but isn’t greasy.

• Rapeseed oil. Contains vitamin E to nourish and soften the skin.

• Calendula oil. This oil can help replenish the moisture of dry or cracked skin.

• Apricot kernel oil. A mild oil that could be suitable for sensitive skin.

• Coconut oil. Unrefined coconut oil can have a sweet aroma.

• Baby massage oil or cream. Commercially available massage oils or creams might be suitable for your baby, but added perfumes may irritate sensitive skin. It’s safest to check with your health visitor first if you’re unsure about which brand or product to use.

• Skin cream you already use on your baby. If your baby has a skin condition like eczema, it may be best to use whatever cream or ointment has been prescribed or recommended for it by your baby's GP or health visitor (except steroid creams). Check with your health visitor or GP if you’re unsure whether a cream is suitable.

Before using the oil for the first time, test it to gauge the reaction on your baby’s skin a few hours before the massage. Do this by applying a tiny bit to a small area of their skin and wait to see if there’s a reaction. If there is, stop using the oil and consider trying another type of massage medium or skipping it altogether.

The Bottom Line

Massaging your baby is a wonderful way to soothe them and strengthen your bond. You may find you enjoy this time together just as much as they do! Choose a moment when your baby is in a good mood, and who knows, this could become a cherished routine that your little one looks forward to.

Between your baby’s massage sessions, you’ll probably be changing lots of nappies. Why not make it a bit more rewarding? Download the Pampers Club App, scan all your nappy codes, and earn Pampers Cash. Then simply redeem for money off Pampers at one of your favourite retailers.