Baby Massage: A Practical Guide to Massage and Movement for Babies and Infants [Paperback]

Peter Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1996

Baby Massage provides easy-to-learn massage routines and flexibility exercises that will help nurture children through the crucial early stages of development. Peter Walker, one of the world's leading authorities on baby massage, shows how these exercises can be used to:

-build a loving bond between parent and baby
-soothe and comfort a crying infant
-promote relaxation and confidence
-strengthen the cardiovascular and immune systems
-aid digestion
-improve coordination and posture
-help maintain flexibility
-increase health and vitality

Twenty-one full-color photographs and more than 100 detailed line illustrations complement the easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for these exercises.

A useful, practical, and loving guidebook for parents, parents-to-be, and health-care professional who work with children, Baby Massage offers a special and unique way to make babies healthy and happy through the healing powers of touch.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In this profusely illustrated work, Walker expands on his earlier The Book of Baby Massage (S. & S., 1988) to offer a variety of massage movements for babies that evolve into gentle exercises for flexibility and strength. He includes suggestions for basic massage oils and preparation of the newborn for later massage. Also described are the many benefits for both baby and parent, including bonding, socialization, and enhanced physical development. For popular parenting and health collections.?Susan B. Hagloch, Tuscarawas Cty. P.L., New Philadelphia, Ohio
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

This how-to book is an ideal guide for helping parents learn about the movement and muscular development of growing babies. The author demystifies massage, focusing on its practical benefits rather than on its magical powers, although he gives a brief history of the art and its uses throughout the world. The book gives useful tips on how to introduce massage to an infant, how to recognize and react to the important stages of physical development, and, of course, how actually to massage a baby. Parents will also welcome the final chapter, called "A Healing Touch," which deals with the ways massage could help children and parents with special needs. Mary Frances Wilkens

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; 1 edition (August 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312145454
• ISBN-13: 978-0312145453
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,504,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, July 25, 2007

By 

Sheri L. Walker (Surrey, B.C.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Baby Massage: A Practical Guide to Massage and Movement for Babies and Infants (Paperback)

I bought several books on massage for babies and Peter Walker (no relation) is by far the best writer on the subject. This book also includes flexibity exercises that babies love to do.

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical, convincing and simple to follow, September 14, 2009

By 

Kazakh "Shinar" (CA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Baby Massage: A Practical Guide to Massage and Movement for Babies and Infants (Paperback)

Love the book. I read it first from cover to cover, then started using just the massage instructions. I massage our 7-month baby boy every morning using the grapeseed oil just as the author recommends. My boy loves the massage, he's become very flexible, and he is about to sit. I consult the book and refresh my memory every now and then, and it helps not to forget the important details. Sometimes I combine some play into the massage session to keep my baby interested.

6 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK color photographs and drawings, September 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Book of Baby Massage: For a Happier, Healthier Child (Paperback)

Let me make it clear that I was -- and am -- looking for a beautiful book containing beautiful photographs about baby massage -- a book to promote baby massage in a extremely visually appealing way. With that in mind, and the fact that I haven't read the actual text of the book closely: the book is illustrated with 24 color photographs and numerous color pencil drawings. The reproduction quality is only ok. This is the best photographic book about baby massage I've found so far, but I haven't stopped looking.