Comfort in the Chaos: Infant Massage and the Truth That Hard Times Pass

By Angie Sutliff, CIMI

My grandma raised eleven children. Because of her depth of experience, I would occasionally share with her one of my parenting woes when my four children were young. Whether it was bedwetting, tantrums, or colic, her response was the same: “Don’t worry, they won’t be doing that when they’re in college.”

At the time, I didn’t find this helpful. I was hoping for some quick solution – a tip or trick to carry me out of a problem I couldn’t solve.

As a parent of a baby or young child, some things feel like they’ll never end – diapering, crying spells, grocery store tantrums, bedtime battles, and sleepless nights. It can all feel so overwhelming in the moment.  

What I came to realize about my grandma’s wisdom is that some of the things I worried so much about would go away quite naturally with time. 

Just like the soft, snuggly newborn stage, or the sweet little mispronounced words don’t last, most of the troubles we experience in parenting won’t either. They’re all just seasons and opportunities to connect with our little ones and to grow our skills as parents. 

Infant massage helps us slow down, take deep breaths, and connect with our little ones. It’s a communication-focused time of relaxation and connection that provides long-lasting benefits to both baby and parent. 

Can infant massage bring relief from crying spells, digestive issues, and teething pain? Yes, and so much more. But what it really does is help us to communicate with our babies through their first language – the language of touch. 

Raising children is far more than just solving all the problems and reaching some perceived finish line. It’s about building a family, connecting, and finding ways to grow together through the difficulties. 

Now that my own children are grown, my grandma’s words make a lot more sense to me. I realize now that things that seemed like a big deal or never-ending at the time really weren’t. 

In the meantime, there are steps we can take to make the season of life a little easier. We can promote better sleep and learn new ways to comfort and manage colic. 

But whether we succeed or not in solving these problems in the moment, we know that none of them lasts forever. As my grandma used to say, “They won’t be doing that when they’re in college.” And it’s true. 

Angie Sutliff is a Certified Infant Massage Instructor through Loving Touch International. She cares deeply about helping parents and babies find deeper connections through the practice of baby and toddler massage. 

To learn more about massaging your baby for better sleep habits, digestion, connection, and bonding, contact Angie Sutliff at doulaforyou@gmail.com.  Angie offers one-on-one and small group massage classes for babies, toddlers, and their caregivers.