Baby massage: A Cure for Colic
Colic hurts. Any parent who has an affected child will know that
there is almost no pain like it - the physical and vocal
response to the problem can be highly tiring and its very
difficult to stand by and cope as a parent. It’s often tough to
ask - what the hell is going on inside my baby?! When the
problem arises, as it’s so common and many health visitors
expect parents to be aware of the nature of the affliction and
how to deal with it. The fact is: NOBODY knows what colic is, it
was thought for a time to be a intestinal problem, and related
to trapped wind, but the only thing that even the medical
profession know about the cause of such pain is that is causes
up to three hours of crying a day, for more than three or four
days a week. Your baby isn’t alone either: 20% of children,
males and females, suffer colic as infants; usually when they
are but a few months old. Apart from the application of
gripewater: a, shall we say, interestingly flavoured product;
there was for many, many years no cure for this elusive
problem…. Until now… Many parents instinctively rub their
children when they are in pain. We all know that, just as we
need to massage our limbs when we get cramp, they need physical
stimulation so that blood flow and wind movements can be
righted. Baby massage allows for intense and structured contact
with colic afflicted babies - and has been accredited to the
dissolution problem completely. Flowing from the head to the
toes, this specialist form of massage sees babies have full,
much needed skin to skin contact with their caregiver; a
soothing prospect for those suffering pain. A particularly
encouraged technique for parents of colicky babies is the
stomach massage, which sees the masseuse rub the babies belly in
a gentle, circular motion beneath the rib cage, an action that
encourages the correct movement of digested food through the
body. Classes teaching baby massage techniques are available
worldwide, as many families have now begun to reap the benefits
of the special, quiet times massage allows them to spend with
their children. The BBC recently ran an article on the enriching
quality of the exercise for mothers who have suffered from
post-natal depression and their babies, noting that the bonding
process can be strengthened by the intimacy of massage. It has
also been suggested that the strong bond developed naturally by
the exercise can prevent behavioural disorders later in life,
and that the muscle stimulation involved can see children
sitting, and even walking much sooner. Available at the majority
of Sure Start centres in the UK, baby massage provides at last a
positive solution for parents suffering the effects of a colicky
child. Righting sleep patterns and ending infant anxiety, it is
perfectly simple, and the perfect solution to a huge number of
childhood ailments.
To find out about baby massage courses or classes in your area
simply visit www.busylittleones.co.uk
