Infant Massage

This is the other part of "baby spa" I went to the other day. I was invited by sprout baby because I raved about the baby food they carry. There was a nice lady from infant massage usa. It's an organization that promotes infant massage. Nice goal, but sidebar, not the greatest website. But then they are probably more hands on.

Is this mic on?

While others were munching on macrobiotic food, she showed me how to give Rex an infant massage. That kind of music you only hear in spas and when you accidentally run into a new age book store was crackling through an iPod speaker. She had me unbutton the legs of Rex's oufit and rub some olive oil on my hand. A little warm up,and then ask for permission to touch him. She (and I say she because I've totally forgotten her name, but she was very sweet) didn't have to ask her baby as it was a doll.

"Rex, may I give you a massage?" Yes, I know Rex has limited words, but I appreciate that it's a good idea to get in the habit of letting kids know they are in charge of their bodies.

She showed me different strokes and techniques for rubbing his belly and feet. She said it would help digestion, help him sleep better, and it helps with attachment parenting. They may all be true, but in addition I can think of worse ways to spend my time than by rubbing his lovely body. He did squirm a bit, and we offered up one of the unused dolls for him to play with while I learned to use clockwise strokes on his belly.

She talked about how this helps babies and kids develop their brains.  I said, "This must be great for kids institutions and orphanages who don't get touched."

She said that was very important, but that even in regular families, parents don't take the time to just sit and be with their kids; they just lug them around.

I fell silent. Quickly a montage of me lugging Rex all over the place went through my head. Rex sleeping in the back of the car, Rex sleeping in the stroller so I can try to lose a few pounds, handing him a magazine to crinkle so I could read the headlines of the morning paper.

Could it be only a notch better than a Russian orphanage? Do we just sit with our babies enough?

I will tell you he did sleep very well last night. Do you give your baby massages? And does he leave you tip?