The Effects Of Baby Massage - An Investigation on Mother-Infant Attachment and Breastfeeding Success

The first year of life is very significant for the infant s psychological development. The relationship between mother and infant in this period, as a source of primary confidence emotion, has been a research subject for many studies in recent years. In the breastfeeding period, serious developmental and psychological problems may occur as a consequence of insufficient or unsuccessful attachment between mother and infant. Touch contributes not only to the infant s physical, emotional and mental development but it also contributes much to the mother-infant attachment. Thus, determining the behaviours of healthy mothers and infants in attachment process, increasing the breastfeeding success of mothers and dissemination of infant massage may all contribute to the perception of a healthy society and healthy infants. Hence, this study has developed and investigated the influence of infant massage on mother-infant attachment and breastfeeding success. The study provides that infant massage s effects on mother-infant attachment and breastfeeding success, and useful implications for nurses and mothers.