It’s not just Mums who are booking in for massages, yoga and Reiki – babies are feeling the benefits too! 

Increasingly parents are using alternative therapies to help settle their babies, but what’s safe, what’s not and does it really work?

Infant massage was first practised in China and India several centuries ago. And studies have shown regular massage helps promote relaxation, encourages premature babies to gain weight and aids sleep.

Touch is instinctive, but if you can it’s great to attend a baby massage course to help increase your confidence and learn extra strokes and techniques. 

You can massage your baby at any time, but it’s usually best before her bath. Use a massage oil from a single plant source, such as jojoba or virgin olive oil. Older babies may be too active to enjoy a full body massage, perhaps just give your child a foot or hand massage.  

Like infant massage, mother and baby yoga is a wonderful way to bond and relax with your child. Doing stretches with your baby helps to release hormones such as oxytocin which can promote relaxation. It’s always best to keep sessions to about 15-20 minutes – and always stop if your baby appears unhappy. After practising the poses, play some soft, soothing music and cuddle up with your baby for relaxation. Place a blanket over you and lie with your baby either on your chest or by your side.  

It’s nice to do a guided relaxation with babies and toddlers. When you put your child to bed, you can simply encourage your child to let go, by saying go to bed feet, good night legs and slowly mention each part of the body in turn. By the time you reach your baby’s face the chances are he or she will be off in dreamland!

Perhaps even more alternative is Baby Reiki – a gentle, non-invasive form of touch therapy. Baby Reiki practitioner, Susan Steel says parents just can’t go wrong with Reiki. To practice with your baby, take a few moments to calm yourself, then place your hands very lightly on your baby – the best places are on your baby’s chest and lower back. Then focus on a feeling of peace and love and try to transfer this feeling through your hands and to your baby. Susan says your hands will often feel hot as the energy from your heart sends these love vibes directly to your baby.         

Aromatherapy is also gaining popularity, Naturopath, Elaine McBride says it’s important to take care with essential oils. ‘Essential oils should always be diluted (and shaken) well before adding to a bath. She suggests diluting them in either full fat milk or almond oil which will help the droplets disperse throughout the bath water, ‘this is especially important because of babies sucking their thumbs or hands and rub their eyes,’ says Elaine. 

One drop of chamomile or lavender is enough for a baby and will also help any minor skin problems such as eczema and nappy rash. Alternatively, Mum could make a cup of chamomile tea and add that to a bath (after letting it cool).

And to help calm your baby while feeding, place a drop or two of lavender onto a tissue near your baby, but make sure your baby can’t roll onto it or grab it.  A lavender tissue or cotton wool ball can also be pinned to a curtain beside your baby’s cot – somewhere close, but away from your baby’s reach!