*Enhance coordination*Promote flexibility*Encourage parent-child bonding *Prepare baby for each stage of development*Help alleviate the symptoms of common childhood complaintsMassage is an excellent way for parents to give their babies the best start in life. Babies benefit from massage beginning at birth: it helps ease childbirth trauma and puts them into a receptive state for optimal development. Toddlers who are regularly massaged master major motor skills more easily. Massage is an enjoyable way to establish a relationship with baby in which touch is a nourishing and healing part of family life.By following step-by-step color photographs, parents will learn a head-to-toe, effective massage routine that enhances baby's physical and emotional health. For toddlers who are beginning to sit and then stand, parents learn other massage techniques that will support progress with these developmental milestones by promoting flexibility and body awareness and will also bring to light any problem areas in muscles or joints. Once toddlers are up and running-literally-parents may introduce soft gymnastic games from this book designed to maintain children's suppleness and promote strength, balance and good posture. Finally, The Practical Art of Baby Massage comprehensively covers techniques to help alleviate common disorders, from stuffy noses to sleeplessness, as well as techniques well suited for children with special needs, including premature babies and babies born by Cesarean section.