Baby and Children's Reflexology for Constipation

Reflexology is a non invasive gentle therapy suitable for babies from birth. Tiny babies, children and adults can all benefit from this ancient therapy that has been used for centuries to bring about healing, balance and a sense of well-being.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

👣 Here’s a video showing a lovely relieving sequence for your baby. Let me know how you get on! ♡

👣 What is Reflexology

Reflexology is based on the principle that all our body parts and bodily systems are reflected on the feet and the hands. Applying gentle massage and therapeutic touch to specific areas will have an effect in the corresponding body part or to the whole child.

👣 How will it help my baby with constipation?

• Your touch will stimulate pain relieving hormones and feel good endorphins

• Massaging specific points will bring about relief in the corresponding body areas

• Promotes calm, is soothing and relaxing

• Assists the Immune system

• Aids deeper and more restful sleep

• Will help your baby to feel safe, secure, understood and comforted

👣 Specific points on the feet to help with constipation

1. Solar plexus point is found underneath the ball of the foot in the centre. This point helps with inducing calm and relaxation.

2. Lovely technique called a ‘Bowel Sweep’ encouraging flow into the large intestine.

3. Points for the stomach to ease up a sore tummy and help to relax.

4. Heel tap. Stimulating all the nerve endings.

👣 How do I give my baby reflexology?

Qualified Reflexologists are trained in very specific techniques and spend years studying, practising and seeing clients in order to qualify. Adult reflexology is completely different from treating a baby or child. The main and very important difference is that you barely use any pressure at all and are aiming just to give some therapeutic touch to your childs feet in the form of gentle massage. Let your hands and fingers make small circles, slides and and strokes with super gentle and soft hands.

👣 When is the best time to give my baby reflexology?

• If your baby is in pain, unsettled and needs comforting you can try the techniques in this video whilst they are being held or whilst they are lying down elevated with a pillow.

• As a preventative you can try this routine at a time when they are happy and settled and see if it helps lessen the symptoms.

• Before going down for sleep may help for a more restful night.

👣 Are there times when I should not give my baby refelxology?

• If your baby is sick, they may not want to be touched, but just held and comforted. Babies who cry and pull their feet away may be telling you that your touch is unwanted and to try again another time.

• Premature babies or unwell newborns may have had blood drawn from their heels regularly and may develop an association of pain to anyone touching their feet. It would be lovely to help them overcome this association by persevering with therapeutic touch to their feet but great care and mindfulness must be taken on your part. You may want to start with gentle massage over socks or clothing at first and gradually graduate to skin to skin. If your touch is unwelcome, try again another time.

👣 Where can I give my baby a treatment?

It is lovely to find a space that is warm and comfortable for both of you but having said that, the wonderful thing about Reflexology is that it is so accessible, versatile and flexible. A treatment can be given anywhere, inside, outside, on the bus, in the park, at home. Your baby does not need to be undressed, you only need their little feet. Treatments can even be given over socks and clothing if necessary.

👣 What do I need?

Very little! If you are at home, it might be nice to use some oil, balm or lotion to allow your fingers and thumbs to glide more easily over their skin. Please read my short blog about suitable oils for baby here: http://lucysangels.co.uk/baby-massage-baby-yoga-videos/preparing-to-massage-baby-with-massage-oil

👣Last word before you try!

Reflexology must not be given in place of medical treatment. These videos are wonderful to try for babies and children with mild conditions that you feel comfortable to try and help with at home. They can also be fantastic to try in the time between being able to see a GP, Health Practitioner or a Qualified Reflexologist or Qualified Alternative Practitioner.

I really hope this helps. Please let me know if you have had any success. Good luck!

Love Lucy ♡

Baby Reflexology for Colic

Reflexology is a non invasive gentle therapy suitable for babies from birth. Tiny babies, children and adults can all benefit from this ancient therapy that has been used for centuries to bring about healing, balance and a sense of well-being.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

👣 Here’s a video showing a lovely relieving sequence for your baby. I would love to know how you get on! ♡

👣 What is Reflexology

Reflexology is based on the principle that all our body parts and bodily systems are reflected on the feet and the hands. Applying gentle massage and therapeutic touch to specific areas will have an effect in the corresponding body part or to the whole child.

👣 How will it help my baby with colic?

• Your touch will stimulate pain relieving hormones and feel good endorphins

• Massaging specific points will bring about relief in the corresponding body areas

• Promotes calm, is soothing and relaxing

• Assists the Immune system

• Aids deeper and more restful sleep

• Will help your baby to feel safe, secure, understood and comforted

👣 Specific points on the feet to help with colic

1. Solar plexus point is found underneath the ball of the foot in the centre. This point helps with inducing calm and relaxation.

2. Points for the head and the brain on the toes. To soothe baby from crying and pain.

3. Points for the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) are found either side of the joint on the big toe. This area can get tight from lots of crying - the hollow in your cheeks where you find your jaw hinge

4. Points for the stomach to ease up a sore tummy and help to relax.

5. Lovely technique called a ‘Bowel Sweep’ encouraging flow into the large intestine.

👣 How do I give my baby reflexology?

Qualified Reflexologists are trained in very specific techniques and spend years studying, practising and seeing clients in order to qualify. Adult reflexology is completely different from treating a baby or child. The main and very important difference is that you barely use any pressure at all and are aiming just to give some therapeutic touch to your childs feet in the form of gentle massage. Let your hands and fingers make small circles, slides and and strokes with super gentle and soft hands.

👣 When is the best time to give my baby reflexology?

• If your baby is in pain, unsettled and needs comforting you can try the techniques in this video whilst they are being held or whilst they are lying down elevated with a pillow.

• As a preventative you can try this routine at a time when they are happy and settled and see if it helps lessen the symptoms.

• Before going down for sleep may help for a more restful night.

👣 Are there times when I should not give my baby refelxology?

• If your baby is sick, they may not want to be touched, but just held and comforted. Babies who cry and pull their feet away may be telling you that your touch is unwanted and to try again another time.

• Premature babies or unwell newborns may have had blood drawn from their heels regularly and may develop an association of pain to anyone touching their feet. It would be lovely to help them overcome this association by persevering with therapeutic touch to their feet but great care and mindfulness must be taken on your part. You may want to start with gentle massage over socks or clothing at first and gradually graduate to skin to skin. If your touch is unwelcome, try again another time.

👣 Where can I give my baby a treatment?

It is lovely to find a space that is warm and comfortable for both of you but having said that, the wonderful thing about Reflexology is that it is so accessible, versatile and flexible. A treatment can be given anywhere, inside, outside, on the bus, in the park, at home. Your baby does not need to be undressed, you only need their little feet. Treatments can even be given over socks and clothing if necessary.

👣 What do I need?

Very little! If you are at home, it might be nice to use some oil, balm or lotion to allow your fingers and thumbs to glide more easily over their skin. Please read my short blog about suitable oils for baby here: http://lucysangels.co.uk/baby-massage-baby-yoga-videos/preparing-to-massage-baby-with-massage-oil

👣Last word before you try!

Reflexology must not be given in place of medical treatment. These videos are wonderful to try for babies and children with mild conditions that you feel comfortable to try and help with at home. They can also be fantastic to try in the time between being able to see a GP, Health Practitioner or a Qualified Reflexologist or Qualified Alternative Practitioner.

I really hope this helps. Please leave a comment if this video has helped you and if you have had any success. Thank you so much and good luck!

Love Lucy ♡

Apply Sunscreen to your baby with this fun rhyme!

If you have ever tried to apply suncream to a writhing and complaining baby or toddler you’ll need no explanation to why this will be helpful!

Check out Non Toxic Sunscreen here: https://amzn.to/2zHmIsk

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Try the rhyme and actions for yourself with this video and let me know how you get on ♡ 

How does this rhyme help?

The actions and rhyme in the video are simply a great distraction! It’s fun and silly and your baby or toddler will get caught up in the ‘fun’ of it and forget that you’re actually trying to put sun cream on them!

Speech and Language development

Talking, singing, playing, touching, making eye contact with your baby is all helping to develop their speech and language.

I really hope this helps. Please let me know if you have had any success. Good luck!

Love Lucy ♡

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Baby Massage for constipation, wind and gas

Baby Massage is extremely popular for relieving babies common digestive issues. The audible benefits of learning these simple strokes are often met with cries of surprise in my classes! I have witnessed countless successes with babies who have been constipated for days/weeks on end and the joy for parent and baby alike to be met with such sweet relief from painful trapped gas and wind.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Try this short but effective massage routine in the video and please do let me know how you get on ♡ 

How does Baby Massage help?

♡ When babies cry or feed they can take in a lot of air. This air can become congested and stuck within the bowel. Once you have a few air bubbles in there they can form one large pocket of air that gives babies that uncomfortable hard tummy and tummy ache, characterised often by babies drawing their legs up towards their tummy to try and expel and move that air around. Our hands are trying to do the job of peristalsis, or the movement of food through babies bowel. So, mechanically we are moving air out of babies body with the massage strokes such as ‘I love you’ as demonstrated in the video.

♡ All babies have different development of the muscle in their gut wall that helps with the process of peristalsis. This may explain why some babies tend to suffer more from wind than others. When we massage we’re helping to bring all the blood to that muscle inside the gut wall, helping to bring nutrients and oxygen which it needs to strengthen and develop and therefore make the process of peristalsis more efficient.

♡ Massage helps to stimulate a main nerve called the ‘Vagus’ nerve which helps to control the rate of digestion. This nerve is not yet fully developed so with the massage we’re helping to encourage really good communication between the brain and the gut, so hopefully again, the process of peristalsis will be much smoother and much more efficient and therefore baby will get much less issues relating to wind becoming trapped within the tummy.

Before you start

♡ Imagine where the stomach and the intestines are on your babies tummy. Prepare to always be working in a clockwise direction. The main principles of tummy massage are to:

1. Move everything down.

2. Move everything towards the babies left hand side towards the end of the bowel.

♡  Please make sure you have waited around 45 minutes after your babies last feed to massage your babies tummy.

♡ Find a comfortable space on the floor, turn off the TV, your phone and feel free from any distractions.

♡  Feel confident that your baby is happy, well enough and ready to participate.

Practicing the strokes

♡  Make sure that you also feel happy and not stressed! Take a few deep breaths before you start. Shake out your arms and hands. Ask your baby if they would like a massage to soothe and relax them.

♡  Bring baby close to you so they can see you and feel safe.

♡ Use a sing-song voice with lots of encouragement and praise.

♡ Start slowly and gently on the tummy, see how babies tummy feels, it is hard or soft? If you feel you can, sink your fingers gradually in a little deeper. Always watch for babies signals to see if you need to stop.

When to practice and how often

♡ As a preventative to make sure those air bubbles aren’t having the opportunity to stick together and form those hard pockets of air - twice a day is very good if you can! This might be once in the morning (remember to leave 45 mins between feeds) and once in the afternoon. This will really help to get those air bubbles moving through the bowel as much as they possibly can throughout the day.

Essential oil use

If you feel you would like to and feel confident using Essential Oils, they can be very relieving for digestive issues and wonderfully supportive emotionally as well as physically. Essential oils must be used with caution, sparingly and never ingested.. Safe oils for babies are Lavender Lavandula angustifolia, Roman Chamomile Anthemis nobilis and Mandarin Citrus reticulata. Lavender in particular is amazing for calming and relaxing.. Roman Chamomile for relieving stomach cramps and pain and Mandarin for ‘fractious babies’. Oils must always be very high quality and organic if possible. Here in the UK, I recommend Neals Yard to ensure safety and quality. Electric steam diffusers are also a fantastic way to diffuse the oils into a room safely. If you would like advice on essential oil use please consult a qualified aromatherapist.

Research from the Touch Institute Miami into Lavender Oil for Babies:

Lavender bath oil reduces stress and crying and enhances sleep in very young infants.

Very young infants were given a bath with or without lavender-scented bath oil. The mothers in the lavender bath oil group were more relaxed, smiled and touched their infants more during the bath. Their infants looked at them a greater percentage of the bath time and cried less and spent more time in deep sleep after the bath. The cortisol levels of this group of mothers and infants significantly decreased, confirming the behavioral data showing increased relaxation of the mothers and their infants. These findings support a body of research showing the relaxing and sleep-inducing properties of lavender aroma*

Field, T., Cullen, C., Largie, S., Diego, M., Schanberg, S. & Kuhn, C. (2008).  Early Human Development, 84, 399-401.

*I have included this research out of interest but please be aware that Lavender Essential Oil in the bath could be ingested by your baby and must be monitored with caution. If you would like to try a bath with lavender oil - One or two drops maximum of Lavender EO must be mixed into a tablespoon of milk before adding into the bath. The fat in the milk disperses the oil so that the Lavender oil doesn’t ‘sit’ on the top of the bath water.

I really hope this helps. Please leave a comment if this video has been helpful or if you have had any success. Good luck!

Love Lucy ♡

Baby Massage for calming, soothing and sleep

Sleep is so different for everyone. What works for one baby won’t for another, but massage universally has a very calming, soothing effect and promotes a deeper, more quality sleep.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Try this short wind down routine in the video and I would love to know how you get on ♡ 

Research from the Touch Institute in Miami on Sleep:

Sleep problems in infants decrease following massage therapy. 

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

Field, T., & Hernandez-Reif, M., (2001). Early Child Development and Care, 168, 95-104.

How does Baby Massage help?

When babies are being massaged, they release oxytocin, the feel good ‘love’ hormone which calms, soothes and promotes sleep. Melatonin and serotonin, the sleep regulating hormones are increased, and cortisol the stress hormone is decreased. Massage also stimulates the vagus nerve which is responsible for all the resting and relaxation responses in the body.

Before you start

♡  Please make sure you have waited around 45 minutes after your babies last feed.

♡ Find a comfortable space on the floor, turn off the TV, your phone and feel free from any distractions.

♡  Feel confident that your baby is happy, well enough and ready to participate.

Practicing the strokes

♡  Make sure that you also feel happy and not stressed! Take a few deep breaths before you start. Shake out your arms and hands. Ask your baby if they would like a massage to soothe and relax them.

♡  Bring them close to you so they can see you and feel safe.

♡ Use a sing-song voice with lots of encouragement and praise.

♡ The slower and deeper* your massage stroke, the more calming and sleep inducing. A light and fast stroke will be stimulating.

*We never use deep strokes on babies. Start softly, gently and gradually sink your hands in a little deeper if you feel baby is allowing.

Essential oil use

If you feel you would like to and feel confident using Essential Oils, they can be very relieving for coldy symptoms and wonderfully supportive emotionally as well as physically. Essential oils must be used with caution, sparingly and never ingested.. Safe oils for babies are Lavender Lavandula angustifolia, Roman Chamomile Anthemis nobilis and Mandarin Citrus reticulata. Lavender in particular is amazing for encouraging and promoting sleep. Roman Chamomile for relieving pain and Mandarin for ‘fractious babies’. Oils must always be very high quality and organic if possible. Here in the UK, I recommend Neals Yard to ensure safety and quality. Electric steam diffusers are also a fantastic way to diffuse the oils into a room safely. If you would like advice on essential oil use please consult a qualified aromatherapist.

Research from the Touch Institute Miami into Lavender Oil for Babies:

Lavender bath oil reduces stress and crying and enhances sleep in very young infants.

Very young infants were given a bath with or without lavender-scented bath oil. The mothers in the lavender bath oil group were more relaxed, smiled and touched their infants more during the bath. Their infants looked at them a greater percentage of the bath time and cried less and spent more time in deep sleep after the bath. The cortisol levels of this group of mothers and infants significantly decreased, confirming the behavioral data showing increased relaxation of the mothers and their infants. These findings support a body of research showing the relaxing and sleep-inducing properties of lavender aroma*

Field, T., Cullen, C., Largie, S., Diego, M., Schanberg, S. & Kuhn, C. (2008).  Early Human Development, 84, 399-401.

*I have included this research out of interest but please be aware that Lavender Essential Oil in the bath could be ingested by your baby and must be monitored with caution. If you would like to try a bath with lavender oil - One or two drops maximum of Lavender EO must be mixed into a tablespoon of milk before adding into the bath. The fat in the milk disperses the oil so that the Lavender oil doesn’t ‘sit’ on the top of the bath water.

I really hope this helps. Please leave a comment if this video has helped or if you have had any success. Thank your so much and good luck!

Love Lucy ♡

Baby Yoga give yourself a cuddle fun action rhyme

This is a lovely two minute Baby Yoga Stretch Sequence for you to do with your baby. The mixture of poses and movements to the rhyme and song will bring many benefits!

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Have fun with this short baby yoga sequence and I would love to know how you get on ♡ 

How does Baby Yoga help?

These poses and movements will help to strengthen and tone your babies little muscles, encourage flexibility and increase circulation and blood flow to the joints. They are great for your babies body awareness and for stimulating your baby mentally as well as physically. The rhymes and songs are brilliant for your babies speech and language development. This time spent together, one to one with that pure uninterrupted focus on your baby is fantastic for strengthening your bond and deepening your attachment. It’s fun for you both and great for your babies self esteem and confidence.

Before you start

♡  Please make sure you have waited around 45 minutes after your babies last feed to practice this sequence of movements.

♡ Find a comfortable space on the floor, turn off the TV, your phone and feel free from any distractions.

♡  Feel confident that your baby is happy, well enough and ready to participate.

Practicing the movements

♡  Make sure that you also feel happy and not stressed! Take a few deep breaths before you start. Shake out your arms and hands. Ask your baby if they are ready to try some fun yoga moves to help them feel better.

♡  Bring them close to you so they can see you and feel safe.

♡ Use a sing-song voice with lots of encouragement and praise. Try the song! They love to hear you singing.

♡  Only take the movements as far as baby wants to. If you come up against resistance, bounce the arms gently saying ‘relax’ and try again. All babies have different flexibility, if at any time they are uncomfortable please stop and try again another day!

I really hope this helps. Please let me know if this video has been helpful and you have had any success. Thank you so much and good luck!

Love Lucy ♡

Baby Yoga for settling and sleep

Baby Yoga movements are based on Hatha Yoga which is about balancing opposites and opening and then closing the body which babies and children take a lot of comfort from. As you can see in the short video, my toddler totally relaxes into the movements and you can tell he has a lovely sense of wellbeing and happiness ♡ 

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Have a go at this lovely little baby yoga sequence and I would love to know how you get on ♡ 

How does it help?

If your baby or child is feeling fractious, disorganised, unsettled, these yoga inspired movements will help to bring them out of their heads and back ‘in’ to their body, helping them to feel secure, balanced and grounded.

Precautions

♡  Please consider waiting for your babies 6 week check before practicing baby yoga.

♡  If you have any concerns with your babies hips please clear with your GP before trying these stretches.

Before you start

♡  Please make sure you have waited around 45 minutes after your babies last feed to practice this sequence of movements.

♡ Find a comfortable space on the floor, turn off the TV, your phone and feel free from any distractions.

♡  Feel confident that your baby is happy, well and ready to participate.

Practicing the movements

♡  Make sure that you also feel happy and not stressed! Take a few deep breaths before you start. Shake out your arms and hands. Ask your baby or child if they are ready to try some fun yoga moves to help them feel better.

♡  Bring them close to you so they can see you and feel safe.

♡ Use a sing-song voice with lots of encouragement and praise.

♡  Only take the movements as far as baby wants to. If you come up against resistance, bounce the legs gently saying ‘relax’ and try again. All babies have different flexibility, if at any time they are uncomfortable please stop and try again another day!

I really hope this helps. Please leave a comment if this video has been helpful and if you have had any success. Thank you so much and good luck!

Love Lucy ♡