A research study was carried out
in Australia in 1992 with fathers
and their babies to assess the
impact of baby massage on the
father-child relationship.A group
of first-time fathers were shown
how to massage their four-weekold
babies, and asked to continue
for the duration of the study.A
control group of fathers who did
not massage their babies was also
monitored. It was found that at
12 weeks old, babies who were
massaged greeted their fathers
with more eye contact, smiling,
vocalizing and touch than those in
the control group.They showed
more orientating responses to
their fathers, and less avoidance
behaviour.The fathers showed
greater day-to-day involvement
with their infants. Baby massage
allows fathers and babies to enjoy
the skin-to-skin contact that
mothers often experience through
breastfeeding, but fathers often
miss out on. By massaging their
babies, fathers come to
understand their child’s rhythms
and responses, and become more
confident about handling them.
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