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Benefits of therapeutic massage on babies

Posted by Essentials for Baby on January 30th, 2012

Once again we bring you a guest post from Paediatrics Physiotherapist, James Turgis, who writes about the benefits of massages on babies.

Massaging the baby is by far the kind of treatment the most enjoyable for the baby and it is extremely beneficial to his/her well-being and development.

Used instinctively by mothers around the world for hundreds of years, we now know, thanks to several studies, the benefits of massage on infants.

Image: Clare Bloomfield / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The first therapeutic benefit is the action on the digestive system. Many babies during the first months of their life experience suffer digestive problems, constipation, colic or gas. A specific stomach massage can drain the digestive system and help babies to be gently released thereby avoiding pain and facilitating their transit. The massage must meet very strict rules in order to follow the path of the colon and the direction of its content to be released. This massage is extremely effective and quickly soothes the baby when done correctly.

Another benefit of massages is the relaxing effect it has on the baby. The passage of the hands on different parts of the body stimulates the skin receptors which reassures the baby and calms him/her. This massage is even more effective on babies who experience sleep problems as it calms their anxieties and allows a less disturbed and deeper sleep. A baby who sleeps well also means less tired parents.

This massage also stimulates the baby’s circulatory system and improves the elimination of toxins from the lymphatic system which increases the overall vitality.

Babies make their first tactile experiences in the early months of their life. Therefore, the stimulation of the skin receptors also increases their neuro-motor development and allows them to develop faster their gesture and walk. This is an important asset for babies with a slight delay.

A baby massage can be done by an experienced physiotherapist but given that this is a routine activity, it can be taught to the mother who will then be able to do it herself. However, it is important to respect the massage’s technique as some parts of the massage should be done very precisely in order not to go against the digestive system circulation or touch the baby’s sensitive points. At Baby Physio we offer massages performed by a physiotherapist who also offers a specialised course in four sessions to teach parents the essential gestures and those to be avoided.

The fact that the mother and / or dad make the massage themselves, strengthens the bond they have with their child. The relaxing effect increases for parents and children who take time to share a moment of complicity and calm through a gentle cuddle. It also allows the baby to feel the love and attention her mom or dad have for her, which is certainly the most important effect of this massage.

For information on baby massage course, visit www.babyphysio.com or call on 078 2455 3765.

James Turgis
Paediatrics Physiotherapist

Looking for Baby Shower Gift Ideas?

Posted by Essentials for Baby on January 4th, 2012

One of the most exciting parts of being a soon to be mom is the baby shower. This is the special gathering between the mother-to-be and her friends and relatives. However, baby showers are also gatherings where the parents – usually the mom – receive gifts for the soon to be born baby. If you area a mom in waiting, do you know what baby gifts to include in your baby shower list? Below are some baby shower gift ideas that you can keep in mind.

Different baby shower gift ideas

When you are making a baby shower gift ideas, it is always a good idea to remind your friends what your baby needs. Here are a few ideas:

Linens - One of the useful baby gifts are linens. Your friends can buy linen gifts such as a blanket, towel, crib sheet, bumper pad, and other beddings. These gifts can be useful since the newborn baby is mostly at sleep. Just make sure that the quality of the bedding sets are made with good fabric materials. This will add comfort and protection to the baby.
Clothing - Next to the list of baby shower gift ideas is baby clothes. Parents often receive baby clothes because it is convenient and practical. Baby clothes are one of the most common gifts even today. When buying baby clothes, just give your friends clear tips about the size of the clothes that will fit. Another thing to consider when buying baby clothes is the color. Traditionally, when you are giving a gift to a baby boy, blue should be the color. When you are giving a gift to a baby girl, on the other hand, pink should be the color. You can also choose versatile and safe colors such as green and yellow.

Baby gift basket – Adding to the list of baby shower gift ideas are baby gift baskets. If you don’t want to name particular items, then this gift basket might be just perfect. These usually include feeding bottles, baby shampoo, baby soap, baby cream, diapers and more. These are some of the things that a baby needs on a daily basis.

Baby monitor – This gift is perfect not just for babies but also for parents. This gift will greatly help parents in monitoring the breathing and crying. This way, parents will still be updated even if they are on the other side of the room.

Baby car seat- This gift is a bit expensive and not normally part of a baby shower, but a good baby car seat will provide safety and protection to a child in case of any car accident. And it is a must for any newborn so it is a good idea to include it.

Things to remember

These are just a few quick baby shower gift ideas, but much more could be added – just check our baby checklist for more ideas. Just remember that when you organize a baby shower, it is always important to provide context and give suggestions that can make our life easier. Ask your friends for gifts that will be valuable to you and the baby. After all, the main reason for parents to organize a baby shower is to share the joy of parenthood and to get some help from the friends.

Gro Clock Sleep Trainer: Putting Your Baby to Sleep

Posted by Essentials for Baby on December 22nd, 2011

Teaching your toddler the concept of time will take some effort. You might be one of those people who have woken up with a headache because your toddler rose up early thinking it’s already morning. Since toddlers have different sleep patterns from adults, it is not unusual if they wake up during unholy hours. It may still be dark at 4:30 in the morning but toddlers may be playing and kicking in bed because they already have their full night of sleep. Providing a visual clue that will help them understand when is the right time for waking up will be the best solution for parents losing sleep due to this dilemma.

One product that is devised to function for this purpose is the Gro Clock Sleep Trainer. This device is a clock with a glowing screen that helps indicate time with the use of images. Since kids do not yet know how to read time, images of sun and stars are provided in the Gro Clock Sleep Trainer to indicate if it is already morning. The twelve glowing stars representing each hour of the day will go out one by one as time passes by. When morning time arrives, the display will change from blue to yellow. Instead of showing images of stars, the display will change into a sun. Gro clock is a simple but fun solution for helping toddlers understand whether it is still too early to get up or not.

Advantages of a sleep trainer

Purchasing a Gro Clock Sleep trainer has a lot of advantages. Telling time has never been more fun with this device. Kids usually cannot appreciate the function of a clock because they find the numbers in each dial too confusing. Gro Clock sleep trainer simplifies time with the use of images that change and disappear depending on the time of the day. And who knows, by the time your child learns the different numbers, he or she might be able to tell you the correct time because you have already introduced the concept with Gro Clocks.

Another good thing about this device is that it is adjustable to your preferred length of time. If you have set morning to 7 a.m., your toddler need not bother you before this exact time comes. He will now that just when the clock glows yellow and shows a sun on the clock face will he get up to say Good Morning to everyone. Another good feature of this product is the intensity of the glow, that can be adjusted. Finally, this clock can still be used even after your kids grow up because it has the capacity to display digital time as well as an alarm feature.

A bonus

Upon buying a Gro Clock Sleep trainer, customers will be surprised to know that a Sleepy Farm Story book is included. It is an educational book wherein the main character is a pig that grew very tired from lack of adequate sleep. Other items included in the package include a power adaptor and instruction manual. Overall, Gro Clocks are a unique solution so that every household member will have a wonderful sleep.

Colic in Babies: How to Help Your Child

Posted by Essentials for Baby on December 13th, 2011

At some point in the early life of a baby, he or she may experience colic. Although colic in babies is not exactly a disease, it could get pretty uncomfortable for the baby and the parents. Fortunately, baby colic can be dealt with and it does not last for more than some few months.

The cause of colic in babies is unknown although there are several theories and opinions about it. Most people believe that a baby experiences colic when its intestines are working too hard, another is that because the babys bowel movements may be too slow and traps air inside the intestines and make it expand. Some people also believe that when a baby eats too much or takes in food too fast or swallows the food without burping, air might get into the stomach and may cause colic. The diet of the mother is also one of the things that might cause colic on the baby. When a mother consumes food and beverages that produce lots of gas like coffee, chocolate, tea, apples, plums, onions, cabbages, orange juice and spicy foods, the gas could be transferred to the baby through breastfeeding.

Baby colic signs

If a baby is experiencing colic, there are some signs to be watchful about. When the baby is crying loudly for two to three hours and it seems like nothing can comfort the baby, when the baby is crying at certain times of the day on different days, when the baby is having some difficulty in defecating and when the baby pulls up his feet and clenches the fist because of apparent stomachache. The stomach of the baby might also rumble and produce wind. Colic in babies usually starts within two to three weeks after birth and lasts up to three months.

Like the cause of colic in babies, the exact treatment is also unknown. But there are many things that parents can do to make their baby feel better and more comfortable. Rocking the baby on his or her cradle, on the parent’s arms or lap could make the baby feel more secure and calm. Holding the baby close might also help because of the body heat. Gently massaging the tummy area of the baby could also ease the pain; it could be done by massaging the tummy in a circular motion and moving the hand form left to right. Putting on a soothing music or singing songs like lullabies to be the baby might also help in making him or her comfortable and calm.

Infacol: a solution to relieve colic in babies

Another effective cure for colic is the Infacol Colic Relief. It is an oral suspension that has been carefully formulated to relieve colic in babies and to ease the pain and discomforts cause by it. Infacol also assists in bringing up the wind from the stomach of the baby. It has a natural orange flavor so the baby will enjoy its taste. This relief from colic is free from sugar, alcohol and colourant so it is safe to give to newborn babies.

About Infacol:

To use from birth onwards
No sugar, alcohol or colourant
Infacol has been formulated to relieve wind, infant colic and griping pain.
Pleasant orange flavour
Each bottle contains enough liquid for up to 100 doses
Comes with a handy integrated dropper
Clinically proven to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of crying attacks associated with colic.