ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Gazzetta Medica Italiana Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 1999 December;158(6):185-9

Copyright © 1999 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

Infant massage. An old method for a new communication

Colli R., Bencini P., Elli C., Sterpa A.

Azienda Ospedaliera - Vimercate (Milano), Presidio Ospedaliero - Carate Brianza e Giussano, UO Neonatalogia e Pediatria

Background. The infant massage is an ancient current tradition in cultures of many countries; recently it is a rediscovery in the Western world. The clinical evidence and many signallings have confirmed the positive effect of the massage on the development and on the maturation of the child promoting the affective contact between parents and newborn. For this reason, from September 1, 1997 till to today in collaboration with the family consultory, this experience has been started in the department of Neonatology.
Methods. 320 infants joined this course with the respective parents divided into 40 groups. The course lasts one month and the beginning coincides with the conclusion of the 2nd month of the newborn; the groups gather together only 8 newborns once a week for about 90 minutes. During the sessions particular is paid to the psychological aspect and the stimulation of the newborn’s phycomotor development.
Results and conclusions. The high frequency to the courses and the many requests to attend show the validity and the high quality of this initiative.