Indian parents think massaging important for baby's brain development

New Delhi: A greater number of Indian parents believe that baby massaging is extremely important to child's brain development compared to their global peers, according to a study by Johnson & Johnson.

The study, Global Bath Time Report, also found that while 84 per cent of parents globally say bath time is some of the best quality time they get with their child, many underestimated its power and impact on cognitive development of babies.

"Only 23 per cent of parents around the world say that massages are extremely important to their child's brain development," it said. In India, however, massaging a baby has been a common practice over the ages, and this is reflected in the study with 41 per cent of parents in India stating that baby massages are extremely important to their child's brain development.

The online survey that polled more than 3,500 parents of young children in India and six other countries, including the UK and the US, also found that Indian parents were more apt to recognise the importance of eating well-balanced meals, talking to their child, interacting with other children and playing with learning toys for their child's brain development.