Your baby is crying and cranky (hmmm, you are, too), so you rub her back and belly—having read so much about the calming effects of infant massage. But with a little more stimulus, that massage can really do wonders in soothing your infant.

Fussy, stressed infants who receive massage plus “multisensory stimulation,” including talking, singing, eye contact and rocking, show lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol, according to research from the University of Illinois at Chicago. But babies who receive massage without other interaction or no massage show increased levels of cortisol—and stress.

“Beyond the benefits of infant massage, our research shows that the additional contact is also very important,” says lead study researcher Rosemary White-Traut, PhD, a professor of maternal/child nursing. Although most moms do talk, rock or sing to calm their babies, there are optimal ways to ease their stress, she suggests. Before starting a massage, talk sweetly to your baby. Next, make eye contact and let her see your face, then begin the massage by stroking your baby’s head, then arms and legs, then chest and belly. Afterward, turn her over and caress her back; meanwhile, talk softly, hum or sing.

Bonus: Don’t be surprised if you de-stress, too.

More Tension Relief
Along with massage and interacting with your baby, here are a few other ways to soothe, from Dr. Rosemary White-Traut.

• Wrap her up. Swaddling your baby in a soft blanket will help her feel secure.
• Provide a calm environment. Dim the lights, shut off the TV, and play easy music.
• Ban the bouncing. This can upset an already stressed baby. Instead, rock her gently.