research touch institute miami

Baby and Children's Reflexology for Sleep

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 sequence to promote calm, rest, relaxation and sleep for your baby or child. 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 sleep?

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

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

  • 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 sleep

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

  2. Pituitary Gland. Balancing, relaxing

  3. Points for the brain and the head. Calming, comforting, soothing, sleep inducing

  4. Points for the spine are all the way along the side of the foot from the heel up to the big toe. Good for calming a frazzled central nervous system.

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

👣 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 teething baby reflexology?

  • Teething can start anywhere from 3 months and if your baby is hard to settle, fussy and has no other obvious signs of illness then it may well be the start of teething. The sequence in the video will help to calm and soothe baby and if their gums are sore then the relevant points we cover will help to make a difference.

  • It may be super obvious that your baby is teething and in this case go for it! If they are in pain and inconsolable, try some of the techniques whilst you hold, cuddle or feed them - some of the points you’ll be able to access, you’ll be able to give them a ‘partial’ treatment.

  • 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 me a comment if this video has helped and if you have had any success. Thank you so much and good luck!

Love Lucy ♡

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 Massage for colds, congestion and mucus

Baby Massage for colds, congestion and mucus

It’s common for babies to have around 7/8 colds a year which is miserable for everyone! Massaging your baby will bring comfort and relief and will help you to feel like you are doing something to lessen their symptoms.

What is Reflexology for Babies and Children

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 explaining a little bit about reflexology. Get in touch with any queries!

👣 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 can reflexology help my baby or child

For Babies

  • Helps to alleviate symptoms from colic, reflux, teething, colds, unsettledness

  • Encourages bonding and attachment between baby and care-giver

  • Promotes calm, is soothing and relaxing

  • Assists the Immune system

  • Aids deeper and more restful sleep

For Children (including the above)

  • Helps with ‘Tummy’ aches, non-specific ailments, headaches, behavioural issues

  • Supports children with stress and anxiety

  • Helps to concentrate and focus

  • Encourages ability to relax

  • Promotes self confidence and self esteem

👣 Research into reflexology

Care-givers who have witnessed the impact of Reflexology on their baby or child or indeed even themselves, may not need to see research to know it ‘works’. However it’s great that there is always ongoing research into reflexology to help validate its credibility.

One large review by Kunz and Kunz (2008) summarized 168 research studies and abstracts from journals and meetings from around the world. Many of these studies originated in peer-reviewed journals in China and Korea. All of the studies had information about the frequency and duration of the reflexology application. Based on the studies they reviewed, Kunz and Kunz concluded that reflexology may:

✔  Impact specific organs

For example, fMRI readings demonstrated an increase in blood flow to kidneys and to the intestines.

✔  Improve symptoms

In particular, positive changes were noted in kidney functioning with kidney dialysis patients.

✔  Induce relaxation

Though EEG measurements of alpha and theta waves, researchers saw that blood pressure was decreased, and anxiety was lowered.

✔  Reduce pain

Twenty-seven studies demonstrated a positive outcome for reduction in pain; e.g., AIDS, chest pain, peripheral neuropathy of diabetes mellitus, kidney stones, and osteoarthritis.

Other systematic reviews are cautious in saying that reflexology may:

  • have a positive effect on type 2 diabetes (Song, 2015)

  • exert a beneficial effect on lowering blood pressure and incontinence (Song, 2015)

  • have a positive impact on blood pressure (McCullough, 2014)

  • be effective for tingling in MS (Yadav, 2015)

These reviews note that the quality of research studies on reflexology is generally low. 

Specific research into paediatric reflexology

Koc and Gozen (2015) note a statistically significant difference in pain scores of infants suffering from acute pain between the reflexology and control groups. The infants in the reflexology group also had lower heart rates, higher oxygen saturation, and shorter crying periods than the infants in the control group.

Gordon et al. (2010) compared the effectiveness of foot reflexology, foot massage, and regular treatment (control group) in children (1-12 years) with chronic idiopathic constipation over a 12-week period. The study design was a randomized control trial. The authors report that the reflexology group had the greatest increase in the number of bowel movements and the greatest reduction in constipation symptom scores. There were significant differences between reflexology and control groups; however, there was no significant difference between reflexology and massage for bowel frequency, and no significant difference between control and massage groups for bowel frequency or overall constipation symptom scores.

👣 Can I give reflexology to my child myself?

Yes. Reflexology is completely safe when the pressure applied is extremely gentle. The pressure used in a typical reflexology treatment for an adult is not the same as for a baby or child. My video tutorials aim to give you the tools to feel confident to try a little bit of Reflexology for your child and see if it can make a difference. It can be a wonderful opportunity to try something between being able to make an appointment with your GP, another Health Practitioner or indeed even a qualified Reflexologist.

I really hope this helps.  Please leave a comment if the video has helped you or if you have any other questions, get in touch!

Love Lucy ♡


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 ♡

Massage oil for babies

Skin to Skin Massage has so many benefits for both you and your baby. Using oil ensures that your hands will glide over baby’s body without dragging the skin and will enhance the lovely sensations massage brings. We do however have to be certain that the oil we’re using is safe and good for baby.

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

Please read the blog about choosing an oil that’s right for your baby and here’s a short video about using massage oil


Research from the Touch Institute in Miami into using oil:

Massage with oil has more positive effects on normal infants.

As compared with infants who received massage without oil, infants who received massage with oil were less active, showed fewer stress behaviors and head averting, and their saliva cortisol levels decreased more. Also, vagal activity increased following massage with oil versus massage without oil.

Field, T., Schanberg, S., Davalos, M., & Malphurs, J. (1996). Pre and Perinatal Psychology Journal, 11, 75-80.


When can I start to massage my baby with oil?

Under four weeks it is recommended that gentle massage strokes are given over clothes.

From four weeks onwards oil can be used. Plain unscented oil is recommended until baby is at least 8 weeks old so that your scent is not masked.

What type of oil is recommended?

Natural, edible and food-grade fruit or vegetable oil. Organic and cold-pressed is ideal but not imperative. Babies will end up digesting some of the oil by putting their hands in their mouths so as good quality oil as possible is optimal.

Which oils are considered safe to use?

♡ Sunflower oil

♡ Grapeseed oil

♡ Fractionated coconut

Precautions

♡ Do you, your baby or anyone in your family have a history of allergies?

♡ Does your baby have dry skin or eczema?

Patch Test

Before massaging your baby, take a little of our chosen oil onto your finger and then rub a little onto your babies ankle or wrist and wait around 15 minutes to check that they haven’t reacted to it. Signs of a reaction will be redness or bumps.

Commercial oils

A popular gift for a new baby is Massage oil which can be lovely but caution must be taken as they can contain undesirable ingredients. Do check labels and avoid using if you’re uncertain.

Scented oils

There are beautiful, organic and ethically sourced Baby Massage Oils that are scented. These oils are often approved to use ‘from birth’ but as stated above, under 4 weeks I would recommend to massage over clothes and up until 8 weeks I would suggest using a plain oil so as not to interfere with the bonding process by masking your scent. After 8 weeks could be a good time to consider using an oil with scent if you were confident the product was safe and high quality. Please do get in touch if you’d like to check a product with me.

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 relieving sinus congestion and 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 been helpful. Thank you so much!

Love Lucy ♡

Baby Massage for relieving teething pain

Teething can start anywhere between 3 months and last up until 3 years with those big molars coming through. There are plenty of teething aids you can try and buy, but remember you have your wonderful healing hands that will bring a lot of support and relief to your baby.

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

Have a go with this lovely rhyme and massage stroke, I would love to know how you get on ♡ 

How does Massage help?

The actions and rhyme in the video aren’t just cute but do provide relief! As you massage with your fingers from the cheek down to the chin you are helping to bring endorphins to the area which is really going to help if they have hot, itchy and painful gums. The one to one attention you are giving will bring great comfort and understanding that you love and care for them and are trying to help. The little rhyme is great fun and provides a great distraction even if just for a couple of minutes. One mum after attending a ‘teething’ class told me recently that she remembered to massage and gently massage her babies cheeks when he was in pain and actually managed to stroke him to sleep.

Before you start

♡  Please make sure you have clean hands and short trimmed fingernails.

♡ 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 massage stroke

♡  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 to receive a massage.

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

♡ Avoid covering babies ears at any time during the massage and introduce your hands gently, they can be intimidating if suddenly they appear over babies face!

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

Essential oil use

If you feel you would like to and feel confident using Essential Oils, they can be very relieving for teething 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, Roman Chamomile and Mandarin. Lavender in particular is amazing for relieving sinus congestion and pain and promoting sleep. Roman Chamomile for relieving pain, soothing 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. One or two drops max in your babies bath* will help so much. 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.

*Drop one or two drops of Lavender EO into a tablespoon of Milk before putting 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 and you have had any success. Thank you so much and good luck!

Love Lucy ♡

Baby Yoga for colic, constipation, gas and wind

Babies suffering with colic and painful trapped gas and wind will find relief through the combination of stretches and movements in Baby Yoga. Babies with tummy pain often prefer the Yoga movements over the massage as they find it less intense.

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

Have a go with this short video tutorial and I would love to know how you get on ♡ 


How does Baby Yoga help?

 Babies take in a lot of air when they feed or cry and the air can get trapped in the bowel. Once you have a few air bubbles stuck in the bowels, they tend to form large pockets of air that gives babies that uncomfortable hard tummy, characterised often by babies drawing their legs up towards their tummy to try and expel the gas. Doing these movements with them, we are mechanically moving the air out of babies body.

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. Things to consider: Are they making eye-contact, making happy cooing noises, do they seem playful?

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 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!

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.

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

Love Lucy ♡