The importance of massage for babies and children: benefits and when to do it
Infant massage is a sequence of gentle strokes and rubs that parents can give their own baby, particularly from birth to 12 months. It helps the baby relax, get to know their own body and feel protected, and it can bring relief from minor complaints such as colic and constipation. Before starting, it is best to ask your paediatrician and to learn it from a certified instructor.
By Mihail Crigan, sports massage practitioner in Turin · Updated on 25 September 2026
In brief
Crigan Massaggi does not offer infant massage at the studio: this article explains the benefits for parents. Mihail's treatments are for adults.
For a newborn, touch is one of the main senses: skin-to-skin contact conveys love, trust and security.
The best period is from birth to 12 months, but massage can continue afterwards too, adapted as the child grows.
The benefits are both emotional, such as relaxation and self-esteem, and physical, such as relief from colic, teething and constipation.
It is not done on a full stomach and is learnt from certified instructors, for example from AIMI, after talking to the paediatrician.
A newborn's skin is the link between their inner world and the outside world. After birth, babies are particularly sensitive to stimuli coming from outside, which are completely new and unknown to them, and it is through the skin that they learn to recognise warmth and the texture of different materials.
Touch is one of the main senses a newborn relies on to discover and get to know their surroundings. That is why a gentle massage helps them become familiar with their own body, and mindful skin-to-skin contact conveys love, trust and security.
At what age and at what time should you massage your baby?
Infant massage can be done particularly from birth to 12 months, but beyond that too. The techniques adapt to the child's stages of development and accompany them respectfully: as they grow they become livelier in their movements, and the massage sequences are shaped flexibly around their wishes and their rhythms.
There is no single rule for the right moment. The only general guidance is not to do it on a full stomach: it is better to choose a time of day when the baby is calm and receptive, and to put it off when they are unwell or do not enjoy being touched.
What are the benefits of infant massage?
Several studies have highlighted how much physical contact matters to newborns, so much so that neonatal massage has also become part of the care of premature babies, always under the guidance of healthcare staff. The benefits concern both the emotional and the physical sphere.
Psychological benefits
• Supports the child's development and maturation
• Promotes a state of wellbeing and pleasant relaxation
• Helps overcome minor emotional stresses
• Helps build solid self-esteem
• Helps the child become aware of their own body
Physical benefits
• Helps regulate breathing and circulation
• Supports gastrointestinal function
• Can ease the symptoms of colic
• Brings relief from minor discomforts such as teething and constipation
Beyond these effects, massage is a way of conveying protection and affection to the child: it is a moment of relationship even before it is a technique.
How do you massage a newborn?
Massage for babies is not made up of difficult or dangerous techniques, but of strokes and rubs done according to a few rules, with the aim of helping the little one relax. The typical sequence follows this order:
1LegsStart with the legs and feet, the area the baby accepts most easily.
2TummyWith a specific sequence, also designed to relieve colic.
3Chest and armsLight, enveloping movements, without pressure.
4Face and backThe face with great gentleness, then the back to close the sequence.
The massage can end with a series of gentle exercises inspired by yoga and stretching. The right movements, pressure and timing are learnt with an instructor: it is not something to improvise.
Who can massage babies and children, and where can you learn?
Given how fragile little ones are, it is important to rely on experienced practitioners and to ask your trusted paediatrician for advice beforehand. Infant massage is usually done by the parents themselves, after learning it in one of these settings:
courses run by instructors trained and certified by AIMI, the Italian Infant Massage Association;
parenting courses and family health centres (consultori);
private courses, as long as they are run by certified staff.
Good to know: the Crigan Massaggi studio in Turin does not offer massage for newborns. Mihail Crigan's treatments are designed for adults; for infant massage the right route is a course with certified instructors.
Mihail Crigan's view: and what about mum and dad?
The first months with a newborn also put the parents' bodies to the test: carrying, feeding or rocking a baby for hours often strains the neck, shoulders and back. In these cases a neck massage or a deep tissue massage can help release tension, while the Hawaiian massage gives you an hour of relaxation. After giving birth, ask your doctor first when you can start having massages again.
Infant massage can be done particularly from birth to 12 months, but beyond that too, adapting the techniques to the child's stages of development. Before starting, it is best to ask your trusted paediatrician for advice.
Does massage help a baby with colic?
It can help: there is a specific tummy massage sequence that is also designed to relieve colic. If the colic is frequent or severe, or is worrying you, talk to the paediatrician.
When is it better not to massage a baby?
There is no ideal moment that suits everyone, but massage is not recommended on a full stomach. It is also better to put it off when the baby is unwell or does not enjoy being touched, and to ask the paediatrician if in doubt.
Where can you learn infant massage?
You can learn it with instructors trained and certified by AIMI, the Italian Infant Massage Association, on parenting courses, at family health centres or on private courses run by certified staff.
Does Crigan Massaggi massage newborns?
No. The Crigan Massaggi studio in Turin offers massages for adults; infant massage is done by parents after learning it from certified instructors. Mihail Crigan can, however, help mums and dads with tension in the neck and back.
On Google, Crigan Massaggi in Turin has an average of 4,9 out of 5 from 222 reviews. They are public and can be read on the studio listing before you book.
Neck and back tired from carrying your baby? Tell Mihail Crigan where you feel tension: he will recommend the most suitable treatment at the studio on Via Monginevro, in Turin.
