Tips to Learning Baby Massages
Here are some useful tips on how you can make the most out of your learning and better retain the baby massage skills you’ve learnt with us — whether you’ve just taken your first BMB class or you’re a few months in and want to keep your technique sharp.
How to get the most from your baby massage practice
Baby massage looks simple from the outside — gentle strokes, calm pace, eye contact. But what makes it genuinely beneficial is the combination of consistent technique, calm atmosphere, and attentive presence. The tips below are the ones our therapists give to mums and dads after every class to help the practice stick.
The best baby massage is the one you actually do — ten minutes daily beats an hour once a week.
Six tips for sticking with baby massage
Practise daily, even briefly
Five to ten minutes every day builds the rhythm and muscle memory faster than longer sessions twice a week. Pick a consistent slot — before bath, after the morning feed — and let it become part of the routine.
Read your baby’s cues
If baby is fussy, hungry, or sleepy, postpone. The right window is when they’re alert and calm. Stop if they pull away, arch, or cry — a willing baby gives you better practice than a reluctant one.
Create a calm space
Warm room, dim lights, no phone in sight, your favourite soft music playing if you like. The atmosphere you set teaches baby that this time is dedicated to them, and it deepens the bonding effect of the session.
Use the right oil
Cold-pressed coconut, almond, or olive oil works well for most babies. Warm a tiny amount in your palms first. Patch-test a new oil on a small area before a full session. Avoid heavily fragranced or essential-oil-spiked mixtures on baby skin.
Wait after feeds
Wait at least 45 minutes after a feed before massaging — tummy pressure on a full stomach can cause spit-up. After a clean nappy and a calm window is the sweet spot.
Refresh with a class
If your technique drifts or your baby’s changing developmental stage needs new strokes, come back to a refresher class. Our online and in-clinic sessions are designed exactly for this — learn once, refresh as needed.