Digestion Massage

Lorni Cochran

September 7, 2019

Sometimes babies need help with their digestion, especially early on when their systems are still immature. The following movements can provide increased ease and comfort:

While your baby is lying on her back, place your hands on her feet and gently invite her to bend both legs towards her tummy. (If you feel one leg thrusting stronger than the other, follow the movement of that leg as it lengthens out and then wait for it to pause before encouraging it to flex.) Ask both legs to move all of the way in and remain in this flexed position for as long as she allows. When she wants to straighten out, follow her movement. This kind of “following” is a deep and quiet tuning into her movement – “listening” to her and letting her know that you are listening by being right there with her. As she lengthens, wait for her to pause or soften and then ask her to flex again. With a few repetitions, you will likely notice that she can flex with increased ease. This kind of massaging motion is great for helping her bowels to move.

Lying on her left side, slowly bend your baby’s right knee up towards her tummy. With one hand on her back for support, gently massage her belly with a downward movement, letting your hands communicate the direction of energy or movement needed for digestion.

Welcome to “Learning is on the Move”, a blog for parents and other early learning professionals.

Here you’ll discover the world of movement that supports your child’s learning and development from early infancy on. You‘ll find out how to engage with and enjoy the different stages, and you’ll learn the important role movement plays in developing healthy brains and bodies. I hope that reading this blog will both reinforce and expand the many things you already know and do instinctively with your child.

I also hope to inspire you to use your own movement and body “sensing” to deepen your understanding of what you are witnessing with your child. Each post will include a “Try It Yourself!” segment. Your experience of embodiment can be incredibly helpful and powerful, not to mention fun!

You play an essential role in your child’s development, especially considering that your day-to-day interactions build the actual architecture of his or her brain. By better understanding the role of movement in this process, you will be able to engage more fully with your child’s learning and growing. I look forward to “learning on the move” with you!

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