Language
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Italian
  • Portuguese
  • Spanish
  • Swedish

Insurance Funding Request

Did you know Firefly products may be funded by your insurance?

Learn More
Back to Firefly Blog

Benefits of Massage

Benefits of Massage

The first hands on therapy we got to learn to use on our girls was massage and it is so important even today we use the same techniques and stretches.

Massage for all neonatal babies is incredibly important for both baby and parents.

It enables them to bond after the traumatic experience of those early days, it also awakens the sensory systems and improves circulation.

For kids with neurological conditions it’s a holistic addition to traditional therapy approaches.

It reduces pain, reduces muscle tightness, combining massage strokes with stretching can increase flexibility and it’s a lovely activities to promote body awareness.

To get started use any child friendly moisturiser or any simple unperfumed vegetable, sunflower or coconut oil.

Just enjoy simple strokes at nappy changes as new-born’s can become cold and uncertain about the big wide world.

It is about building trust just using the hands to run from the toes right up there legs using gentle pressure up and around the hip joints.

Repeating this movement over both legs and moving around the legs to lift them up and encouraging the hands to the feet.

Even better crossing the midline, looking to touch the right hand to the left foot vice versa.

If their flexibility is difficult due to increase tone or spasticity, just stretch them as best as you can and ask for guidance off a physiotherapist how best to stretch them and help increase flexibility.

To help them stretch those tight muscles effectively warm the muscles up in the areas using short strokes up and down the area, to ease the muscle fibre before holding a prolonged stretch or after a busy physio session, wind down with a short massage session to relax them.

Another enjoyable massage technique to improve digestion or relieve constipation for babies or young infants is a sweeping circular movement around the tummy button in a clockwise motion.

For babies the index and middle fingertips using light pressure, young infants you can use all your fingertips whilst finishing the movement around the circle, heading towards the inside of the left hip bone.

There are many other techniques covering the arms, chest, head and neck that can help stretch the upper limbs and desensitise areas, help kids trust touch and enjoy that time spent together.

For us we like to use massage at the end of the day after a bath, when everyone is warm and cosy in there towel, using some night lights and relaxing music, a perfect end to a busy day for any age!

Firefly Blog

Real life stories, issues and experiences of day to day life by special needs parents and
healthcare professionals.

Sarah Paull

Meet Our Blogger

Sharing fun and chaos of our family life, Whilst helping our twin girls reach there full potential after a brain injury.

View Sarah’s Profile

Become a Firefly Blogger

Would you like to write for Firefly? Join our blogger network of parents, therapists and professionals.

Get In Touch

Become a subscriber today

Join over 40,000 subscribers to our weekly newsletter with insightful articles just when you need them.

Join Mailing List

By using our site you agree to our use of cookies. Click here for more info.

Accept & Close

No Interest if paid in full in 6 months on

Purchases on $99+

US Customers only. Subject to credit approval. See terms below

Paypal Credit

Pay now or pay over time with PayPal Credit. Just use PayPal Credit in PayPal checkout.

Subject to credit approval.

Purchases of $99+:

No Interest if paid in full in 6 months on purchases of $99 or more.

  • A minimum monthly payment is required and may or may not pay off the promotional purchase by the end of the 6 month period.
  • No interest will be charged on the purchase if you pay it off in full within 6 months. If you do not, interest will be charged on the purchase from the purchase date at the Purchase APR applicable to your account.
  • For New Accounts: Variable Purchase APR is 25.49%. The APR is accurate as of 6/1/2018 and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate (as defined in your credit card agreement). Minimum interest charge is $2.00.
  • Individual items that are less than $99 qualify for special financing when combined for a total of $99 or more in a single transaction.
  • Multiple separate transactions of less than $99 per transaction cannot be combined to meet the minimum purchase amount.

Purchases of $98.99 or less:

Buy now and pay over time with PayPal Credit when you spend $98.99 or less.

  • If you pay your balance in full each month by the payment due date that is on your statement, you can avoid paying interest.
  • Or, make minimum monthly payments, or any additional amount of your choosing, until you've paid off your balance according to your standard account terms. Please note, interest charges may apply.
  • We'll send you email reminders when your payments are due. You can also keep track of your account and view your statements online at any time.

About PayPal Credit

  • PayPal Credit is a reusable credit line available on purchases at thousands of stores that accept PayPal. It's also available for purchases on eBay and exclusively at thousands of other online stores. Plus, it comes with the same security and flexibility you trust from PayPal.
  • If approved, we start you off with a minimum credit line of at least $250. See FAQs for more info.
  • For New Accounts: Variable Purchase APR is 25.49%. The APR is accurate as of 6/1/2018 and will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate (as defined in your credit card agreement). Minimum interest charge is $2.00. See Terms and Conditions tab for more info.
  • If you miss a payment your late fee could be up to $38, even less if it's your first time. See FAQs for more info.

Please wait...