There is a wide range of alternative or complementary therapies that may have physical and psychological benefits for parents and babies. There are few well-conducted studies evaluating the possible benefits of such therapies and much of the evidence is only anecdotal. Some practices may actually harm babies and finding valid evidence and resources is not easy.

Therapies promoted as benefiting babies and infants include:

• baby massage
• cranial osteopathy
• craniosacral therapy
• music therapy
• baby yoga
• homeopathy (e.g. remedies for colic, teething)
• kangaroo mother care (skin-to-skin contact).

Although infant or baby massage is an ancient tradition in many cultures around the world, it had not been practiced widely in the West until relatively recently. It has emerged in the UK in recent decades as an activity promoted therapy by healthcare professionals, popular with parents and is the subject of a growing body of research evidence.

Randomised trials have provided some evidence that massage in premature infants is associated with objective outcomes such as more rapid weight gain and development. A recent study published in The Lancet indicates that massaging the skin of premature, very low birthweight babies with sunflower seed oil may protect against hospital-acquired infections.

Many other anecdotal benefits of massage are more subtle and have not been subjected to randomised controlled trials.

The sense of touch is one of our first senses to develop, and touch is regarded as being vital to a baby’s development. Gentle stroking and massage of all kinds can help to calm a baby and develop a closer bond between the parent and child. This in turn may reduce associated problems such as postnatal depression. Baby massage may be useful in some babies with colic, constipation or sleep disturbances, and it may be helpful to babies and children with specific health needs such as cystic fibrosis and other respiratory disorders, HIV, cerebral palsy, developmental delay, cancer and muscular degenerative disorders.

Possible benefits of massage to the baby may include:

• stimulation and strengthening of the immune system through improved lymphatic drainage
• improved muscular tone and co-ordination
• improved weight gain (e.g. in premature infants)
• improved circulation and oxygenation
• enhanced neurological and motor development
• relaxation (massage facilitates the production of endorphins which can reduce pain and distress in newborns)
• a calming of emotions which can break the anxiety-pain cycle in windy and colicky babies with subsequent improved digestion
• establishment of better sleep patterns by soothing the baby.

Benefits of infant massage for parents may include:

• pleasure and relaxation for both the parent and baby
• reduction of tension and anxiety
• developing closeness and communication, enhancing the parent-baby bond
• support in communicating with the baby
• increased confidence and self esteem in the parenting role
• quality, focused time for parents and baby to enjoy together
• empowering parents to meet the physical and emotional needs of their baby
• opportunity for parents to learn and share with other parents in the massage class, so that they may refer to each other as resources and positive role models.

It is important that parents discuss massage with their relevant healthcare professionals to ensure there are no contraindications to their baby being massaged. Massaging the abdomen is not recommended in babies less than four weeks old. Parents should avoid massaging the baby's spine. The massage should stop if the baby is not enjoying it, and it is not recommended for a baby who has had a recent immunisation or seems ill. Parents should choose a time when the baby is happy and not over tired.

The room and hands should be warm. Oils can be used, but not nut-based oils (such as almond oil) or aromatherapy oils. Test a small area for allergic reaction first. For more information about suitable and unsuitable oils refer to the International Association of Infant Massage UK website. Parents should start with the least vulnerable parts of the body, i.e. the legs and feet. They should use a technique that is suitable for the baby’s needs. Positive feedback – lots of smiles and praise – is essential.

A full body massage can take about 20 minutes, but a baby can benefit from just a few minutes of touching and stroking whenever the parent feels like doing it. Anyone can massage their baby or child at any time, but it does help to learn some basic strokes and routines. Parents can learn techniques through a book or video, but the best way is to attend a class run by a local teacher of baby massage.

Parents of babies with special health issues should consider the baby’s individual needs when massaging him/her. Parents of such babies should find a baby massage instructor who can tailor the strokes to their individual needs. Many instructors will arrange for private consultation in the baby’s own home to reduce risk of exposure to infection and to enable them concentrate on specific issues for the baby and the parents. For some parents, attending a regular massage class with parents of healthy babies will be appropriate and may provide the support and befriending of other new parents.

Some websites providing information about baby massage and other therapies are listed below. Healthcare A2Z does not necessarily endorse the content of these websites.

The Internet Health Library is a large collection of information on alternative medicine, complementary therapy and natural healthcare.
www.internethealthlibrary.com

The Families Online website has anecdotal reports about a wide range of alternative therapies written by alternative practitioners.
www.familiesonline.co.uk

The Institute for Complementary Medicine is a charity providing information on complementary medicine.
www.icmedicine.co.uk

The Craniosacral Therapy Association of the UK website outlines the benefits of craniosacral therapy in babies and children.
www.craniosacral.co.uk

Kangaroo Mother Care Promotions aims to promote skin-to-skin contact as the standard method of care for all newborn babies, both premature and full term.
http://www.kangaroomothercare.com/

The on-line version of Complementary Therapies in Nursing and Midwifery. This is an international journal published by Harcourt Publishers, which "integrates complementary therapies into conventional nursing practices".
www.harcourt-international.com

This Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal of Craniosacral Therapy (1999) is part of the British Columbia Office of Health Technology Assessment Joint Health Technology Assessment Series. The report’s conclusions were that the "systematic review and critical appraisal did not find valid scientific evidence that craniosacral therapy provides a benefit to patients" and that the "available health outcome research consists of low grade evidence derived from weak study designs."
www.chspr.ubc.ca/bcohta/pdf

The Bandolier Knowledge Resource Centre relating to complementary and alternative therapies. This collection focuses on complementary and alternative therapies and contains articles that have appeared in Bandolier and links to relevant web resources.
www.jr2.ox.ac.uk/bandolier

NMAP offers free access to a searchable catalogue of hand-selected and evaluated, quality internet resources for nursing, midwifery and allied health professions.
http://nmap.ac.uk/

The Child Health and Paediatrics specialist library is a virtual library that addresses a wide range of topics related to the health and wellbeing of children. It is primarily aimed at professionals involved in the care of children but also aims to be valuable to anyone seeking information on a wide variety of aspects of child health.
http://libraries.nelh.nhs.uk/childHealth

The British Medical Journal provides a collection of articles on paediatric health issues.
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/collections/paediatrics

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) website offers latest news on child health issues, electronic publications and links to other useful sites (including some paediatric journals).
www.rcpch.ac.uk