Adoption can be a long and emotionally draining process for both new parents and their adopted children. Whether you have adopted a newborn baby or an older child, adoption is a life-changing experience. During this new, exciting and possibly trying experience, infant massage can help you bond with your child and provide a host of benefits.Adopted children, depending on their background can have higher levels of stress, and massage is a good way to help lower cortisol levels (the stress hormone). That is why your child will feel relaxed after a massage, and actually you will too (as the person giving the massage).Besides lowering stress, massage and physical contact or touch can contribute to higher endorphin production. Endorphins are a happiness causing agent, so infant massage can improve the mood of your child as well.Massage, due to the physical touch and eye contract involved, helps with the production of oxytocin, or what we consider the “love hormone”. So massage will help you bond with your newly adopted child. This is especially important due to the fact that you might not have had the opportunity to do so through pregnancy or in your child’s younger years.Ideally it is best for your child to form bonds from birth to three years of age with a parent or caregiver. However, do not force your child to be massaged against their will, this will be detrimental rather than helpful. It is important to listen to your new child and approach physical contact at their own pace.Spending time with your new baby or child is important, so that you not only bond, but learn to communicate and their cues. Infant massage is also a good quality time activity to do with your new baby or child. Providing “mommy and me” or “daddy and me” time, as well as routines will help your child feel more safe and secure in their new environment.If you have adopted a baby or infant, massage can further help with weight gain, digestion, colic, teething, and body awareness. Infant massage can help with muscle pain and tone, immunity, as well as improve sleep in children of all ages.As parents, we already have a lot on our plates, so let Storybook be your guide to starting infant massage with your adopted child.{{cta('69d9d5bd-c380-496b-98b4-9aa8266f2b9e')}}
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