Baby massage information and help with general baby care
Wednesday, 13 October 2010
Baby Massage: Singing helps babies learn to read!
Baby Massage: Singing helps babies learn to read!: "Hi, I haven't blogged for ages. Just a very quick blog today to encourage you to sing with your babies and have fun. There is evidence to pr..."
Childhood Trauma Effects Future Health
I've just read an article in Psychotherapy Networker, (www.psychotherapynetworker.org) and I thought I'd write a really brief blog about this.
It's an uncomfortable subject for most of us, so I'll keep it short. The basis of the article is the study of 17,000 people, their childhood experiences, family dynamics etc and the impact on their future health. I think many of us are aware that childhood trauma definitely has an adverse effect on our mental health, but the study also showed a strong correlation between childhood trauma and adult physical health.
To quote "It's positively astounding to see laid out, again and again, the profound relationship between childhood adversity and so many of the mental, physical and social disorders plaguing our society"
Article by Mary Sykes Wylie in the Psychotherapy Networker Sept / Oct 2010
I share this because one of the main aims of baby massage is to give loving, appropriate touch and build that all important bond between baby and parents, and maybe now, with this knowledge, to become more healthy adults.
It's an uncomfortable subject for most of us, so I'll keep it short. The basis of the article is the study of 17,000 people, their childhood experiences, family dynamics etc and the impact on their future health. I think many of us are aware that childhood trauma definitely has an adverse effect on our mental health, but the study also showed a strong correlation between childhood trauma and adult physical health.
To quote "It's positively astounding to see laid out, again and again, the profound relationship between childhood adversity and so many of the mental, physical and social disorders plaguing our society"
Article by Mary Sykes Wylie in the Psychotherapy Networker Sept / Oct 2010
I share this because one of the main aims of baby massage is to give loving, appropriate touch and build that all important bond between baby and parents, and maybe now, with this knowledge, to become more healthy adults.
Wednesday, 6 October 2010
Singing helps babies learn to read!
Hi, I haven't blogged for ages. Just a very quick blog today to encourage you to sing with your babies and have fun. There is evidence to prove that singing with your baby helps to develop reading skills later on.
Nursery rhymes are great for this because of the rhyming, the beat and the repetition. It is so much easier to sing the Grand Old Duke Of York many times over, than a few lines from a pop song. Add in the actions and your baby or toddler will be well on the way to the very early stages of reading.
Sit your baby on your lap and sing:
The Grand Old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men.
He marched hem up to the top of the hill,
and he marched hem down again.
When they were up, they were up,
when they were down they were down,
and when they were only half way up,
they were neither up nor down!
While you are singing the song, gently move your babies arm's with the words. If your baby is older you may want to sit opposite them and do the actions. In no time at all your baby will be able to do it by themselves and you have have great fun together.
Nursery rhymes are great for this because of the rhyming, the beat and the repetition. It is so much easier to sing the Grand Old Duke Of York many times over, than a few lines from a pop song. Add in the actions and your baby or toddler will be well on the way to the very early stages of reading.
Sit your baby on your lap and sing:
The Grand Old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men.
He marched hem up to the top of the hill,
and he marched hem down again.
When they were up, they were up,
when they were down they were down,
and when they were only half way up,
they were neither up nor down!
While you are singing the song, gently move your babies arm's with the words. If your baby is older you may want to sit opposite them and do the actions. In no time at all your baby will be able to do it by themselves and you have have great fun together.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
MONDAY, 21 JUNE 2010
How to Baby Massage,
The actions we can do with legs, really help your baby's tummy, as explained in the earlier blog.
To massage your baby's tummy and help further with wind and constipation, begin by making sure you have enough oil on both your hands and your baby's skin. Place your hands on your baby's tummy and allow them to settle there gently. Make eye contact with your baby and talk quietly, all the time judging your baby's mood and receptivity to being massaged. Using just the weight of your hand and trying not to press, sweep your hands around his tummy in a clockwise motion. follow one hand with other. Once you feel confident with this action you can sing: 'Here we go round the mulberry bush', while you massage the tummy. For words that fit beautifully with this massage action, see www.gentlehandsbabymassage.co.uk for a Gentle Hands baby massage kit.
Next, gently sweep your hands down his tummy from the rib cage to the pubic bone. The action is almost a scoop, as with sand on the beach. Do this several times. At this point your baby may pee, so be warned!
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How to baby massage, actions for the tummy
FRIDAY, 18 JUNE 2010
How to baby massage, actions for the tummy
Hi
Today we're going to move onto the tummy. A tummy massage is a really good way of soothing your baby. Sometimes, however, if your baby has a sore tummy or colic she may not wish you to actually massage it, but there are lots of movement and actions that will help to release wind and make your baby more comfortable. If your baby is crying with pain, try these for a very little while and see if wind is released, then you will know it's working. Because we are pushing into the tummy on these actions, you might find your baby will pea. If you have a boy, it may be advisable to place a towel over your knees to catch any wayward fountains!
1. Gently bicycle the legs, while singing the Wheels on the Bus, this will help to release wind. Cycle in both directions, as on a bike and sing!
2. Bend the legs up gently, place the knees together and circle the bent knees, 2/3 times to the right and then to the left. The knees gentle knead the tummy as they are moved round. Remember all actions are slow and gentle.
3. With knees bent and held gently together, push them towards the tummy, and allow them to press gently into the tummy, pull back, and us a rocking motion. Do this several times.
Remember eye contact, baby cues and fun.
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Monday, 21 June 2010
How to Baby Massage,
The actions we can do with legs, really help your baby's tummy, as explained in the earlier blog.
To massage your baby's tummy and help further with wind and constipation, begin by making sure you have enough oil on both your hands and your baby's skin. Place your hands on your baby's tummy and allow them to settle there gently. Make eye contact with your baby and talk quietly, all the time judging your baby's mood and receptivity to being massaged. Using just the weight of your hand and trying not to press, sweep your hands around his tummy in a clockwise motion. follow one hand with other. Once you feel confident with this action you can sing: 'Here we go round the mulberry bush', while you massage the tummy. For words that fit beautifully with this massage action, see www.gentlehandsbabymassage.co.uk for a Gentle Hands baby massage kit.
Next, gently sweep your hands down his tummy from the rib cage to the pubic bone. The action is almost a scoop, as with sand on the beach. Do this several times. At this point your baby may pee, so be warned!
Friday, 18 June 2010
How to baby massage, actions for the tummy
Hi
Today we're going to move onto the tummy. A tummy massage is a really good way of soothing your baby. Sometimes, however, if your baby has a sore tummy or colic she may not wish you to actually massage it, but there are lots of movement and actions that will help to release wind and make your baby more comfortable. If your baby is crying with pain, try these for a very little while and see if wind is released, then you will know it's working. Because we are pushing into the tummy on these actions, you might find your baby will pea. If you have a boy, it may be advisable to place a towel over your knees to catch any wayward fountains!
1. Gently bicycle the legs, while singing the Wheels on the Bus, this will help to release wind. Cycle in both directions, as on a bike and sing!
2. Bend the legs up gently, place the knees together and circle the bent knees, 2/3 times to the right and then to the left. The knees gentle knead the tummy as they are moved round. Remember all actions are slow and gentle.
3. With knees bent and held gently together, push them towards the tummy, and allow them to press gently into the tummy, pull back, and us a rocking motion. Do this several times.
Remember eye contact, baby cues and fun.
Monday, 24 May 2010
Hi
If you have had a go at massaging the legs, well done. You can do a little every day, as much as your baby will take. Remember to watch for clues that your baby has had enough, obvious crying, irritability, general discomfort. If you are aware of your baby's moods and signs, then life will be a little calmer for you. Stop massaging if your baby shows any of the above signs and wait a while. Try later in the day. You could put on the Gentle Hands CD and just play. Sometimes babies prefer to be more upright and want to look around, try to go with your baby's cues.
It can be difficult in the early weeks to let go of control and I know it sounds patronising, and every body says it, 'your baby has not read the manual', but I guess it's true.
So now to the feet.
You may need to replenish with a little oil. Supporting your left baby's foot in your left hand, (diagonally across) massage up each toe. In reflexology this may help with runny noses. As you you move up each toe with your thumb, you can chant 'this little piggy went to market'. On the last line, 'and this little piggy........, run your fingers up your baby's body and tickle gently in the neck.
Still supporting the foot, massage the whole of the sole of the foot.
Move on and do exactly the same with the other foot. Be gentle, fun and loving.
Sweep your hands up your baby's leg after doing each foot and do a few full length leg massages. Up and down, as in the earlier blogs. Have a lovely time and next blog we'll move onto games and songs with legs! ( Sounds exciting!)
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Hi
It's Tuesday evening and ages since I've blogged, largely I'll admit that I lost the whole lot and only found it by accident. So here we are, just wish I was a little better at all this techno stuff. At last, the next stages in Baby Massage.
So far, if you have followed the last blog, you will have mastered the natural rhythm that flows with practice. Baby's love their legs being massaged and will often be quiet and pensive at this point. Remember to follow your babies cues and stop when they are fidgeting. Remember to talk and try for good, loving eye contact. Smile and blow bubbles, anything to keep your baby's attention.
Replenish your oil if the skin is feeling at all dry. Your hands must glide very easily up and down the leg.
Now holding your baby's leg in your left hand, take your right hand and massage the thigh. The movement is outwards and in circles. Circle the top of the leg several times, use an outward rotation. If your baby has an injection bruise, remember to be gentle here and of course don't massage at all if your baby has had an injection within the last 48 hours.
After you have massaged the top of the leg, take your right hand down to the knee and massage in little circles around the knee joint using your thumb. Now with your thumb, and still supporting the leg with your left hand, continue in little circles up the front of the shin. This can be done a few times.
Well done, practice that bit, and very soon, I'll explain how to do the foot. Practice the complete leg massage up to where we are today
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