Introducing massage at a younger age has many benefits; reduced pain, improved weight gain, feeding tolerance, developing touch acceptance, and neurodevelopment. It is important to first assess the infant's readiness for massage according to his/her need and response. Not only does the massage benefit the baby, but also benefits the parents by increasing their bond with their baby and increasing confidence in parenting by teaching the parents skills to use at home. Pediatric and infant massage have multiple similarities; decreasing pain, developing touch acceptance, improving parent-child bond, and many more. Although, with pediatric massage the parents are more hands off, allowing for more of a client-therapist relationship with the Massage Therapist and child.
