Sleep problems in infants decrease following massage therapy

 Conclusion:
Infants who were massaged before bedtime showed fewer sleep delay behaviors than the non-massaged control group.

Field, T., & Hernandez-Reif, M., (2001). Sleep problems in infants decrease following massage therapy. Early Child Development and Care, 168, 95-104.

Method:
Infants and toddlers with sleep onset problems were given daily massages by their parents for 15 minutes prior to bedtime for one month.

Results:
Based on parent diaries the massaged versus the control children (who were read bedtime stories) showed fewer sleep delay behaviors and had a shorter latency to sleep onset by the end of the study. Forty-five minute behavior observations by an independent observer also revealed more time awake, alert and active and more positive affect in the massaged children by the end of the study.