Aug 19 – FREE Baby Massage event September 23rd

Aug 19 – FREE Baby Massage event September 23rd

Come and join me at this free baby massage event, learn all about what baby massage can offer you and your baby and try out some massage.

PowerPoint Presentation

July 05: Your growing child and sibling bonding through massage

siblings700x498Big Kids Need Touch Too!

This article has been written by the IAIM’S founder, Vimala McClure’s and taken from her blogsite.

“One evening after a family gathering at which a new-born cousin had made his first appearance, a friend’s six-year-old daughter claimed into her mother’s lap. “I wish I was a baby, Mommy,” she said. “Then I’d get a lot of attention.” That was a signal, time for a bedtime rubdown. Why? Not so much because she needed more attention, but because she needed to talk about the feelings her new cousin stirred in her.

It is important for children to talk about their feelings, but sometimes it is difficult to get them to open up. Often, the more we question, the more unresponsive they become. My eight-year-old was to have surgery within a week, and though I knew he should talk about his fears, I hadn’t yet been able to draw him out. The day after we had taken a tour of the children’s ward and met the nurses at the hospital, he seemed tense. I asked him if he had any questions. “I dunno,” he mumbled, shrugging and slinking off to his room. Later that evening I offered him a foot massage. I gently massaged his calves, knees, and feet; within five minutes he relaxed and began to talk. He had several questions about the hospital and his surgery and was finally able to get the reassurance he needed — that I would be there with hi, that he would not wake up during the surgery, and that he would be able to talk after his tonsillectomy. The operation went smoothly, and I remembered to use the soothing power of touch with him throughout the experience, before and after the surgery. A foot or hand massage helped us both relax and let go of scary feelings.

Anthropologist Ashley Montagu, author of Touching, states that a child’s close relationship with his parents is a source of basic self-esteem. “Persons who are callously unresponsive to human need, who have become so hardened that they are no longer in touch with the human condition, are not merely metaphorically so,” he says, “but clearly physiologically so.” A study reported in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology confirmed this idea, indicating that the higher the subject’s self-esteem, the more he communicates through touch. Before the age of twelve, children are more tactile-kinaesthetic — that is, they use feeling more than sight or hearing for information about the world. Therefore, a warm touch can often trigger an outpouring of feeling or shouts more than verbal communication. Saying “I love you” to your child is important, but more important is communicating your love through eye contact, through focused attention, and through your loving touch. In addition, for children, when praise is accompanied by touch, it is taken in eighty-five percent of the time, whereas praise given only with words is believed or absorbed only fifteen percent of the time.

Bonding between parents and children continues a the children age. Simply because a child has graduated from the in-arms stage doesn’t mean she no longer needs your attention through healthy touching. She will no longer be nursing, she won’t cuddle in the same way, her circle of support will widen, and she will be increasingly busy exploring the infinite possibilities of her world. But as she grows out of her mother’s and father’s arms, she will come to cherish those moments of closeness that reassure her that Mommy and Daddy are always there with a warm smile and a loving massage.

Though sometime in the first nine months is the ideal time to start the massage routine, it is never too late to begin. Usually a child between one and three years of age who has not been massaged from infancy will be much too busy to be still, but you may be able to start with a short, gentle back rub at bedtime. When your child becomes accustomed to being massaged, he will begin to ask for it.

How to Begin

Perhaps you’ve never considered massage as a means of opening communication between you and your child. How do you start without making it a “big deal”? The Soccer Player’s Special (or ballerina’s, whatever suits) is a good way to being. Here’s how:

  • Make sure the area is warm and comfortable with no distractions.
  • Wash your hands and remove jewellery.
  • Bedtime or after a bathe is a god time, when your child is clean and ready to relax.
  • Always begin by asking permission, and respect your child’s choices. Even when you move to another body part, you can say, “May I massage your tummy now?”
  • Use a natural oil, just enough to make your movements smooth without excessive oil.
  • Massage one leg at a time. Use the Milking and Rolling strokes. Use your thumbs to work circles around the knees, your fingertips to gently massage calf muscles, your thumbs to work all over the feet.
  • Build self-esteem by saying positive things about your child while massaging, such as, “You have such beautiful hair” or “I noticed you shared your toys with your friend today. That was very nice of you. You are such a generous person.”

At different stages, your child will respond to being massaged differently. My best advice is to go with the flow, allowing her to lead you in the appropriate way. Here are some very common stages that children go through with massage, and what to do when your baby begins to respond differently. Of course, these ages are not rigid; each child will have his own rhythm and cycles of growth.

The Active Crawler

Active crawling is a challenging time for most parents, who are accustomed to massaging their infant as a soothing, quiet, communicative, and even meditative experience. When your baby starts crawling, massage becomes more playful and fun. Just about anything is preferable to lying on her back! You can use rhymes and games, give her a toy to play with or a hard biscuit to suck on. Instead of adhering rigidly to the sequence of stroking, just massage the part that appears in front of you. Babies will roll around, crawl, climb in your lap, sit up, and do all manner of movements. Be creative with your massage. My son and I made a game; he would start to crawl away, and I would say, “Oh, no you don’t! I’m gonna get you now!” and laugh, pulling him back toward my lap. He would giggle and want to do this over and over again. In the meantime, I massaged his back, his buttocks, his legs and feet.

The Toddler

From age one to three, your child will be developing her autonomy, and a big part of autonomy is exercising her freedom to say “no.” She may often reject massage altogether during this period. If this is her response when you offer a massage, respect her choice. Sometimes she may ask for massage is a coded way, such as “I have a tummy ache.” Then you can offer a massage. You can do the strokes in a playful way. Clara Ute Zacher Laves, an IAIM Instructor Trainer, suggests doing fun things like plating a garden on your child’s back, or making a pizza on her tummy. Use your imagination, and your child will enjoy this opportunity for creative play.

The Preschool Child

At about age three, your child will settle down and enjoy being massaged again in a more quiet way. Now that he has established his independence, he will like the feeling of being a “baby” again, receiving all of his parent’s attention. You can massage after a bath or at bedtime. Adapt the strokes to the child’s growing limbs, leaving out strokes that don’t fit or seem appropriate. Respect the modesty your child may have developed by now, and allow him to keep his T-shirt and underwear on. Tell a story as you massage legs, feet, tummy, and back, or ask your child what body part you are massaging, helping him to learn the names of different parts, such as forearm, thigh, calf, and so on. From now on, you can leave out the Gentle Movements, as your child is getting plenty of stitching and exercise in his day-to-day life.

The School-Age Child

Again, you will adapt the strokes to your child’s growing limbs, kneading the high and calf muscles as she lies flat rather than using the Milking strokes. Offer open-ended questions or statements that will encourage her to talk, such as “It seemed like you were a little sad when you came home today.” Music, story-telling, and talking can enhance the massage experience and allow time for your child to feel special and open up to you. You might add scent to your massage oil, allowing her to choose the scent. Most school-age children will enjoy the massage more if they are lying on their stomach other than face-up.

Helping an Older Child Adjust to a New Baby

A new baby is a fascinating, fearful creature to her older brother or sister. Hovered over and protected by adults, she seems an unapproachable, somehow dangerous little thing. Much has been written on the importance of letting your older child know that he is still loved and cherished in his own right when a new baby comes into the family. The next step is to help the older child and the baby begin a relationship of their own. It usually takes quite a bit longer for a child to fully bond with a new sibling. His first task is to understand that the baby is “here,” that mother is all right, that he is still loved as much as before, and that life goes on.

As you massage your baby every day, your older child will observe. He may remember being massaged (in fact, he still may enjoy being massaged), and identify with the baby. They share an experience and have something in common. If you give your child the opportunity to massage the baby occasionally (only if he wants too, of course), he will benefit by it in many ways, as will the baby. The older child will bond with the baby in the same ways that you do — with eye contact, touch, movement, and sound. He will learn that the baby is not necessarily so dangerous and fragile but a person like himself. His confidence will bloom as he comes to realize his own competence as a caregiver and protector. The baby will respond to him, overcoming her initial fear of his sometimes clumsy or rough handling, or startling behaviour. She will begin to relate to him as a loving peer and ally.

It is best to delay suggesting that an older child massage the new baby until the baby has passed through that stage of fragility when she is easily startled. Usually three or four months of age is about the right time, though a little earlier may be appropriate for an older child who is over four. Don’t worry about the techniques or whether your child uses oil. You can show him a couple of simple things (like the Open Book stroke on the chest or the I Love You stroke on the tummy), and then let him do it as he pleases. He will at first be hesitant and may need your encouragement to touch the baby. He might stroke her only a few times. But even the tiniest amount of contact will be very beneficial. Be sure to express your pleasure and pride to your child. Let him know that he did a good job and that his massaging is valuable to the baby.

 

 

 

June 20: Tongue-tie in babies

June 20: Tongue-tie in babies

The topic of Tongue-tie often comes up in discussions in my baby massage classes so I thought that you may be interested in this article which discusses tongue tie (ankyloglossia) and the impact it has on babies in breastfeeding.

What is tongue-tie? Tongue-tie, or ‘ankyloglossia’ to give it its medical term, describes a condition that affects the way the tongue moves in the mouth.

For some babies (between 3 &10%), their frenulum, the cord-like skin joining the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth, limits the movement of their tongue. This is called ‘tongue-tie’. It often means that the baby can’t stick their tongue out beyond their lower lip, and may not be able to move it fully up and down or side-to-side. Some babies suck extra strongly to compensate for the restricted tongue movement.

In the most easily visible tongue-ties, the frenulum is joined to the tip of the tongue, which looks heart-shaped when the baby tries to extend their tongue, but the frenulum can be joined anywhere along the underside of the tongue.

What problems does tongue-tie cause for babies? Some babies with tongue-tie have difficulty breastfeeding and, occasionally, a bottle-fed baby with tongue-tie has difficulty feeding too.

To breastfeed effectively, babies need to latch onto both breast tissue and nipple, but babies with tongue-tie may not be able to latch on properly. Some babies with a tongue-tie seem unable to open their mouths really wide. Not only can this can result in feeding difficulties for the baby but also squashed, sore and damaged nipples for mum. Improving the baby’s latch is sometimes enough for them to feed well and for mum to find breastfeeding comfortable, so action is not always needed if a baby has tongue-tie.

Bottle-fed babies can have difficulty in creating a good seal on the teat which can result in ineffective sucking. This may lead to milk leaking out of their mouths and them swallowing air, resulting in a ‘windy’ baby.

If you think your baby may have a tongue-tie, or if you have unexplained feeding problems, do ask an infant feeding specialist, breastfeeding counsellor, your midwife or health visitor to check. Perhaps look yourself.

The impact of tongue-tie was overlooked for much of the latter part of the 20th century and some healthcare professionals may not be confident in what they’re looking for. Do keep asking questions or request a second opinion if you’re not entirely satisfied after your baby’s first check.

Tongue tie symptoms: Can I see if my baby has ankyloglossia? If you look into your baby’s mouth when they are yawning or crying, you may be able to see a tie. Tongue-ties at the back of the tongue (posterior) are much harder to see than the ones tying the tip of the tongue. However, the effect on feeding is not related to how easy it is to see the tie. Some babies with the frenulum attached near the tip of the tongue manage to breastfeed well, while others with a small tie that is hard to see may really struggle to feed.

Do I need to have my baby’s tongue-tie fixed? Not necessarily. If your baby appears to have tongue-tie, but neither you nor your baby is experiencing any problems then you don’t need to do anything.

Tongue tie treatment: What can be done to treat my baby?  The frenulum can be cut (sometimes called ‘divided’) by someone trained to do the procedure. It’s quick and simple, and young babies usually don’t need any pain relief. The procedure releases the tie, and allows the tongue to move more freely. It is preferable if the baby goes to the breast immediately after the tongue-tie division, as breastfeeding is both calming for them and provides an opportunity to try out their freer tongue movement.

Although some babies may cry briefly, the procedure doesn’t seem to cause discomfort or distress. As with all procedures, there are some risks, such as significant bleeding rather than a few drops of blood when the cut is made, but the chances of this happening are small. The procedure is normally only carried out if it seems very likely that feeding will improve as a result.

How can I find someone who would do this? Ask your health visitor, midwife or local breastfeeding counsellor. At present, the procedure is only available in some places through the NHS, and the service is variable so treatment may be offered within a week or two or your baby may be put on a waiting list.

It is important to seek help quickly though as a tongue-tie causing problems needs to be treated promptly, so that baby can feed properly and, if mum is breastfeeding, that this is comfortable for her.

There are private tongue-tie services offered in some areas. As with all private services it’s important to check the practitioner’s background and qualifications.

Does the treatment resolve the problems? Yes, research has shown that if babies have difficulty breastfeeding due to a tongue-tie, division results in improved feeding for the majority of babies.

Occasionally, a tongue-tie may need snipping more than once, because of a tendency to re-attach. Often a baby’s feeding can be improved if their parents are also shown how to do oral exercises that encourage them to move their tongue.

Further information:

NCT’s helpline offers practical and emotional support in all areas of pregnancy, birth and early parenthood: 0300 330 0700.

Jun 15: Colic – a Father’s Perspective

Jun 15: Colic – a Father’s Perspective

An interesting article for parents everywhere – Colic: a Father’s Perspective

Read one man’s diary about how he and his wife managed their babies Colic symptoms.

 
There is a memorably dark scene in the cult classic movie Office Space when the main character, while visiting his therapist, describes just how bleak his life is — he essentially says that every day is worse than the last, thus every day is the worst day of his life.The presumably highly trained, empathetic therapist, replies, “Wow, that’s messed up, man.”That scene pretty much describes my life — and the level of expert help I received — when my son Christopher went through colic earlier this year.According to WebMD.com, a baby who cries more than three hours a day more than three days a week for at least three weeks in a row has colic. And unlike why most babies cry (they’re tired, hungry or have a dirty diaper), kids with colic cry inexplicably.

My son exceeded the daily three-hour threshold with regularity. During his peak, my wife kept a log, hoping to discover some patterns. On his worst day, outside of sleeping and nursing, Christopher didn’t cry for a grand total of two minutes.

And colic crying isn’t like “I’m upset,” crying; it’s “emotionally disturbed” crying. Christopher’s face would writhe with apparent pain. He’d contort his body violently and sweat — like a panicked adult sweats. By the time I’d get home from work most days, he looked like he’d just gotten back from Afghanistan.

Christopher’s senseless crying was incredibly difficult to endure. On top of the regular newborn workload, i.e. feeding and changing him a dozen times a day while trying to squeeze in small increments of sleep around his day/night confusion, my wife and I were in a constant state of staving off crying. I remember experiencing such hopelessness that I told my wife, “I feel like I have nothing to look forward to.”

What made matters worse was finding out how poorly colic is understood by the medical community. “Unfortunately, there is no definite explanation for why [colic] happens,” says the American Academy of Pediatrics on its website, despite the fact that it affects one fifth of children. When we went to Christopher’s pediatrician in search of answers, his answer was essentially, “Sorry, you’re going to have to ride it out. Try giving him some tea.”

In fact, doctors aren’t even in agreement about what colic is, let alone what causes it.

One theory is that some babies’ stomachs are so underdeveloped that they have either constant painful gas or heartburn, which causes them to scream in agony. A 2009 study released by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston theorized that a naturally occurring organism called klebsiella in their intestines might aversely affect babies with colic.

The other prominent theory is that some babies are born into a “fourth trimester” outside the womb, during which their immature brains are being overloaded by the constant stream of new audio and visual stimuli; hence they cry a ton.

And just as medical experts can’t agree on what colic is, they haven’t landed upon a standard treatment plan. According to The No-Cry Sleep Solution by parenting educator Elizabeth Pantley, “There is no simple, effective treatment for colic: parents and professionals are able to offer suggestions that may help your baby through this time period” — or they may not.

You know things are bad when a doctor uses the word “try.” Doctors don’t say, “You might try amoxicillin for your infection”; they say, “Take these pills for 10 days.” In our case, we knew “try” was code for, “We really don’t know what causes what you have or what to do about it. Good luck.”

But given our desperation, we did any suggestions doctors had for us. I can’t tell you how many snake oil stomach-soothing products (like gripewater) we tried to no avail. They typically helped for about 15 seconds — the time it took Christopher to drink the useless liquid.

After a while we realized that Christopher’s colic episodes weren’t consistently tied to eating, which made me lean toward the fourth trimester theory — and to The Happiest Baby on the Block, a hugely popular book which many people recommended to us. To pediatrician and author Harvey Karp — I would love to punch you in the groin. Happiest baby, my ass. It should be called Five Random Techniques That Might Work but Could Also Do Serious Physical Damage to the Parents.

According to Karp, the five techniques (which each conveniently start with “s”) are swaddling — which screaming babies just love — swinging, shushing, placing a baby on its side, and having him suck on a pacifier. Yes, many parents swear by Karp’s techniques. And sure, your baby will stop crying if you wrap him like a mental patient in a straight jacket, rhythmically bouncing him in your arms while holding him like a martini shaker, and shushing him as loudly as possible directly in his ear. But just see how long you can do that in the middle of the night without simultaneously tearing a rotator cuff and having a complete mental breakdown. I recall at one point saying to my wife, after a night of fierce shushing, “I’m a little worried I’m going to get gum damage.”

And about a month into the colic — a point when I was hearing imaginary crying babies fairly regularly — I said to her, “I’m not sure how we’re going to get through this. We should think about getting some pot.” Thankfully, I reconsidered that after imagining dropping my crying baby after a few too many bong hits.

But that crazy thought process speaks to just how severely colic had affected me and my wife. That’s what still makes me mad to this day. One of the messages many doctors and books had for us was not to worry about colic, since it doesn’t do any damage, and that the kid won’t remember it. That might be true, but my wife and I remember it. And we’re damaged.

The medical community offered little help, but friends, relatives and acquaintances were no better, sometimes even seeming offended when we didn’t respond with utter joy to questions like, “How’s the new baby?” or “Isn’t this time in your life wonderful?” No, we thought, it’s actually horrible.

People almost seemed to want to deny colic or bury it under the rug — the way society used to shy away from discussing post-traumatic stress syndrome. Often we’d hear, “Oh, your baby’s just fussy.” God, I hated that one. People who like salad dressing on the side are fussy; inconsolable crying babies are tormented, and they torture those around them.

I came home with pure dread on some nights. I’d get off the elevator in our building and hear our vacuum from the hallway (holding Christopher next to a running vacuum was the only thing that actually consistently calmed him – one of the few semi-workable solutions from the Happiest Baby book). My wife would be crying, bouncing our son on one of those giant exercise balls, exhausted and nearly begging me to help.

We’d fight, of course. You can’t fight with the baby, even though you pretty much want to throw him out the window. So who else can you blame but your spouse? Or your mother, or her mother. “You’re holding him wrong!” “I’m trying!”

We still bicker more than we used to. I’m still trying to drop the 20 pounds I put on during the colic period. Most nights, after finally getting the baby to sleep, I’d retreat into our bedroom and, like the clich’d woman going through a bad breakup, I’d devour pints of ice cream or sleeves of cookies. Sure, I could have had some drinks instead, but a hangover with colic — that’s like giving yourself colic.

We’re also still more cautious than other parents we know. For months, we’d both get jumpy from just a little normal “I’m hungry” or “I’m tired” crying. It was weeks after colic was over before we started taking the baby out with friends. We still plan our lives around naps or bedtimes, and I’m sure our friends think we’re overprotective.

The truth is, during my worst moments, I hated the baby. I even told him to shut up. After nine months of hopeful anticipation, I wondered, “So this is what I get?”

Thankfully, things are so much better these days. The colic ended abruptly soon after our son turned three months old — as many of the books had promised. Even then, it took me several more months to bond with him completely, to let the irrational resentment and feeling that we’d been cheated pass. But now at eight months, Christopher is awesome — he’s cute, funny and, most importantly, happy. He cries when he’s tired and hungry and when I get him dressed — that’s about it. There really are no after effects — except for the ones still affecting us.

 

Jun 01: Bedtime reading

Jun 01: Bedtime reading

Discover the gentle art of Infant Massage…If you’re interested in learning more about baby massage and how the IAIM was started by Vimala McClure back in the 70’s then this book is for you! The International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM )is now in 71 countries!

In this completely updated version of her renowned classic, Vimala McClure, founder of the International Association of Infant Massage, and its premier proponent in the United States, helps you master the techniques of infant massage so you can incorporate this joyful and wonderful healing art into your baby’s life. She shows you why a daily massage can be one of the greatest gifts you give your child…and yourself.  For generations mothers the world over have known that the soft stroke of their hands soothes, calms, and communicates their love to their babies. Now scientific research proves that massage can do all that and more.

Infant Massage: A Handbook for Loving Parents is a beautiful book written by Vimala McClure and available from Amazon – Purchase the book that started a worldwide movement.  

May 29: course review

May 29: course review

Another lovely review via BathMums from my April course!

BathMums review__2_may 2015

 

May 20: Class pictures

May 20: Class pictures

May 15: Infant Massage Inspires Parental Confidence

May 15: Infant Massage Inspires Parental Confidence

I recently read a wonderful article in Massage Magazine which rang so true for many of the parents attending my baby massage courses – often they ask me if it is okay that their baby cries in a session, or doesn’t seem interested in the massage that day. Persistence in baby massage when introducing it to your baby for the first time is vital! Yes they may wriggle and become fussy but it’s about you as the parent responding to your babies cues and identifying their routine so that you both adapt and learn what your baby likes. This article written by Phyllis Hanlon shares some wonderful insight.

“The arrival of a new baby can provoke both excitement and a bit of fear in even the most confident mom and dad. But in some cases, that confidence may begin to erode as baby cries, fusses, refuses to nurse or demonstrates some other upsetting behaviour. While studies have shown that massage can help calm a stressed infant, they also indicate that parental confidence can realize a boost from touch therapy with their baby.

Decades long Tradition
Vimala Schneider McClure, founder of the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM), witnessed infant massage in an orphanage in India in 1973. The incredible benefits she saw prompted her to found her specialized organization to promote the practice. She points out that infant massage has been an integral part of caregiving tradition in many countries around the globe for decades—and for several good reasons. She asserts that, among other benefits, infant massage empowers parents, giving them the means to become experts on their own children and making them better able to respond to each baby’s unique needs.

In a paper titled “Infant Massage: Communicating Love Through Touch,” Juliana Dellinger-Bavolek, M.S.E., certified infant massage instructor, reports that parents cite increased feelings of competence in their parenting role. They also feel more capable of helping their infant relax during stressful times.

Another expert, Elaine Fogel Schneider, Ph.D., C.I.I.M., founder and executive director of First Nurturing Touch Communication, a nonprofit educational corporation that assists families as they develop safe and nurturing relationships, and Baby Steps, a family-focused early intervention program that introduces families to the world of touch and the importance of bonding and attachment as they learn to see their child first and their child’s disability second, reaffirms the confidence-boosting power of infant massage. She indicates that infant massage creates and strengthens physiological, social-emotional and mind/body/spirit connections for both parent and baby; social interaction is significant for parents’ well being, Schneider adds.

Competence and Confidence
The biggest endorsement for enhanced parental confidence through infant massage comes from Tiffany Field, Ph.D., founder and director of The Touch Research Institute, which has conducted more than 100 studies. Since 1992, she has explored the benefits of many different forms of massage and encourages the practice of infant massage as a way to promote a sense of competence and confidence for parents.

Amy Murry, certified health coach and owner of Human Body Works Massage Therapy in Olympia, Washington, finds lack of confidence a common issue with many new parents.

“I think that sometimes new parents want to do everything just right and feel like the first few times they try infant massage they are somehow unsuccessful because the baby is squirmy or fussy. They start, but aren’t sure they are ‘doing it right’ and then stop,” she says. Although they are unsure of their technique, she encourages new moms and dads to persist. “After developing a routine, both parent and baby learn each others’ quirks and bond into their routine.”

Murry notes that she massaged all three of her children as infants.“One loved to lay there and receive a long soothing massage. Another loved to try to crawl away and wrestle and giggle, and my colicky one had a very short timeline for very specific massage to his areas of tension.Consistency in practice and flexibility to one’s ideas about what you had envisioned as ‘infant massage’ is key,” she asserts.

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