HEALTHY TOUCH AND INFANT MASSAGE: TWO MAIN FACTORS IN INFANTS DAILY CARE AND HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT

Authors

  • Alexandra Nousia Adjunct Lecturer, Early Years Learning and Care Department, University of Ioannina, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46827/ejes.v10i6.4854

Keywords:

infant massage, healthy touch, parental hug, parents, society, family, basic care

Abstract

Infant massage is a scientifically proven practice that promotes the physical and mental health of the infant. The term infant massage refers to the application of touch to the infant by the parent or caregiver during the first year of life with specific massages. Through the following literature review, the benefits of infant massage for the infant, the family and the wider society are noted and commented on. The benefits of its application to the infant are recorded in four different areas. These refer to the concept of the infant's interaction with the parent/caregiver, stimulation, relief and relaxation respectively, of the premature and full-term infant. As far as parents are concerned, infant massage seems to enhance their own parenting practices, as well as their self-confidence and sense of security, while reducing symptoms of postnatal depression. In addition, through healthy touch and massage, benefits are documented in reliable adaptive changes in the community. These include a reduction in abuse, violence, and crime, as well as a reduction in the expenditure of government health care funds. Research evidence supports that the implementation of infant massage can show a reduction in the cost of spending in Infant Health Units of premature and non-premature infants. Healthy touch and physical contact through massage during infant massage by trained mothers or trained staff when the mother is unavailable can significantly enhance the faster development and psychosomatic health of infants.

 

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Author Biography

  • Alexandra Nousia, Adjunct Lecturer, Early Years Learning and Care Department, University of Ioannina, Greece

    Dr. Alexandra Nousia is a graduate of the Department of Preschool Education. Master's degree in Pedagogical Play and Pedagogical Materials in Early Childhood Education. PhD degree in the Department of Early Childhood Education, School of Education Sciences, University of Ioannina, Greece. She is an adjunct lecturer at the Department of Early Years Learning & Care at the University of Ioannina, Greece. Her research interests focus on all-round early education, healthy development and care in early childhood. Her main study subjects are music education, Arts as a whole, play, digital play and the use of ICT, as basic means of education, expression and development in early childhood.

References

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Websites

• International Association of Infant Massage (www.iaim.net)

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Published

2023-05-25

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 6 (2023)

Section

Articles

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