03/28/2026
Babies explore the world with their mouths and their gums carry a SURPRISING amount of sensory information.
Gentle gum massage can help:
• support oral awareness
• prepare the mouth for feeding and later solids
• ease teething discomfort
• encourage more coordinated tongue and jaw movement
It’s actually quite simple, and babies often find it very calming.
Try this:
Step 1:Wash your hands and make sure your baby is calm and alert.
Step 2: Let your baby suck on your clean finger first so the mouth feels safe.
Step 3: Gently trace along the gum line with slow, soft pressure.
Step 4: Move from the center outward, or make small circles along the gums.
Step 5: Watch your baby’s cues. Pause if they turn away or need a break.
The goal isn’t to “do it perfectly.”
It’s to offer slow, respectful touch that helps your baby get familiar with their own mouth.
This is just ONE of the many techniques we teach in our Infant Massage Workshop on April 24!
If you’d like to learn more ways to support your baby’s nervous system, digestion, and development through touch, comment CALM and we’ll send you the link to join the workshop. See you there!
