The wonders of Baby Massage

Babies, Bath time by polly.marsh (edit)

Next week is National Baby Massage Week, and to celebrate we have a guest post from Samantha, creator of Mumma Love Organics, a family run business “based on three simple steps: Comfort, Settle and Sleep.” Mumma Love Organics specialise in products that have been designed to soothe delicate baby skin, and are perfect for use in baby massage. Today Samantha shares her tips and tricks to make baby massage a part of your daily routine with baby.

Ask anyone that has had a decent massage, how they feel afterwards and the words they tend to share are ‘amazing’ ‘relaxed’ and ’soothed’. The human body is made up of millions of nerve endings that respond positively to the power of touch, and babies are no different. Studies have shown that massage releases oxytocin hormones in the body that make us feel happy and safe, and so these sensations can work wonders for a baby that is feeling unsettled or irritable. Babies also tend to develop a heightened awareness during a massage, that helps to strengthen the bond between parent and child too.

If you’re interested in trying baby massage as part of your bedtime/ bathtime routine, here are my tips and tricks to get you started:

Have everything ready for your massage session:

● Dim the lights and play music softly to create a calming atmosphere.
● Gather all your equipment together: nappy changing items, massage oil and a change of clothes.
● Spread your Cuddledry baby change mat liner on your bed (or changing table, or wherever else you intend to massage your baby) so that baby has something soft to lie on.
● Talk to your baby softly, making sure you explain what you are going to do. Just as you would an adult, you need to tell your baby you are going to be touching body parts and making sure that he/ she is prepared.

Once you have everything set up, you are ready to begin! The best time to do baby massage is right after bath time, as baby will be relaxed and skin will be softer too.

Start by:

● Gently stroking the legs. This body part is often best to start with as babies are used to legs being touched during nappy changes. Tell you baby you are going to massage his/ her legs and do so with soft, slow strokes. Use a massage oil that you have warmed in your hands first.

● Move on to the arms, tummy and chest area, making sure each time that you explain what you are going to do next.

● Keep an eye on baby for any reaction to the massage. Stop immediately if baby appears distressed or irritable.

● Talk gently to your baby and even sing if it helps to relax.

The wonders of baby massage:

Baby massage has so many benefits! Not only is it a wonderful way to wind down after a busy day, but it provides the ideal opportunity for you and baby to connect, and to form a lasting parent-child bond. As part of your regular bathtime routine, baby massage can help to: 

● increase blood flow and improve oxygen levels to the brain. 

● promote deeper, calmer sleep – great news for parents with a fussy baby! 

● encourage babies to form a sense of trust.

www.cuddledry.com

For all enquires about the Cuddledry range in South Africa please contact:

fiona@cinnamonsue.co.za 

www.cinnamonsue.co.za

Tips for Outdoor Play!

Parenting, Toddlers by polly.marsh 

It may be Spring, but that doesn’t always mean warm sunshine and dry land when you live in the UK! But why let that stop you? Recent studies have proven that children need at least 15 minutes of outdoor play every single day, and let’s face it- they don’t tend to mind a spot of rain, do they? So if you’re looking for excuses, look elsewhere. These tips for outdoor play have been designed to inspire you to get those wellies on and get out and play!

Why outdoor play is so important

• Being outdoors has so many benefits for children (and adults too!) and these are just a few of them:

• Vitamin D. Being outside boosts the intake of the vitamin we need to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. For growing children getting enough is essential!

• Gross motor skills. Children need to learn how to run, jump, climb, kick balls and pedal pedals. Being outdoors promotes gross motor skills and gives children wide open spaces to exert themselves.

• Fitness. Give a child an open space and that child will run! Being outdoors promotes a healthier lifestyle for our children and boosts fitness levels too.

• Knowledge of the world around us. Being outdoors is a wonderful learning experience for children, and an opportunity for them to use their senses to explore. Just being in green spaces boosts a child’s knowledge, but also being able to investigate new surroundings has huge impacts on learning too.

• So now that you know how important being outdoors is, here are some tips to getting out there and playing!

• Make sure you have appropriate clothing. The UK is not known for it’s warm weather all year round, and we do tend to get a lot of rain too. So make sure you have thick waterproofs and welly boots to hand at all times. As they say- there is no such thing as poor weather, just poor clothing!

• Make outdoor play a natural part of playtime. Don’t make a big deal out of going out to play- it doesn’t need to be planned, or something to ‘get over and done with’. As soon as you view being outdoors as part of everyday life, the easier it will become.

• Indulge in your child’s interests. If they love creepy crawlies, go on a bug hunt. If climbing is their thing, find a good, solid tree and see how they go. Take a picnic to the park, and bring teddies to make it extra special.

• Take the paints outside. Outdoor art is a wonderful way to get kids creative and you won’t even notice you’re outside once you get going! Another plus is that the house stays clean too…

• Clean the car. A simple, yet wonderful sensory experience for children. And you get a clean car in the process. Result!

• Go for a walk. Take bikes, prams, scooters or just little legs. Where you go doesn’t really matter- take a letter to pop in the post box? Buy a comic from the newsagent?- but once you’re walking and breathing fresh air the world is your oyster!

• Take an empty bag with you. Sounds strange, but you’ll notice that children like to collect things when they’re out and about. Let them find brightly coloured leaves, oddly shaped stones and smooth, round rocks. Let them collect their treasures!

• Run. Yes, you too. Get outside, get the endorphins flowing. Take a ball, or a skipping rope, or just run. Get the heart pumping and enjoy being outdoors!

The best thing about being outdoors in cold or rainy weather can sometimes be coming back inside again. Make sure you have some warm milk or hot chocolate to hand, and wrap cold children in a snuggly Cuddledry to warm up… until the next outdoor adventure!

Making bath time fun!

Babies, Bath time, Parenting by polly.marsh (edit)

Bath time doesn’t always have to be at the end of the day. Of course, a bath is an integral part of most bedtime routines for many families, but sometimes it can be fun to make a splash at other times too! Water play is a wonderful sensory experience for babies and toddlers and if the weather is not permitting, why not bring it inside? The bathroom is the ideal place and so we’ve put together some tips and ideas for making bath time fun!

Create a colour themed bath. This can be as simple or as extravagant as you like. Colours are a great way to add a fun element to bath time, and all you need is to collect toys of the same colour, add a few drops of food colouring to the bath and you’re set!

Make the water glow! Submersible lights are a wonderful way to transform any bath tub. You can buy various types quite cheaply and the colour changing versions make for a rather magical experience. If you can, close the blinds and turn out the lights too so that your little one can enjoy the experience to its full potential.

Cook up a storm! Kitchen utensils such as wooden spoons, colanders and whisks don’t need to be restricted to the kitchen. Encourage imaginative play and introduce them to bath time instead. Perhaps your little one will create a bubbly feast for a king? Or a magical potion for fairies? The possibilities are endless.

Give dolly a bath. Children love to role play and bath time is a great opportunity for you to encourage self care. If you have a baby doll that can go in the bath, bring her in and let your little one take turns to wash her hair and body.

Let them paint! If paintbrushes and all the paraphernelia that goes with it sends shivers down your spine, why not bring it into the bath instead? You can buy specific bath crayons and paints, or you can bring small pots of washable paint into the bathroom instead- it depends how brave you are! The best thing about this activity is that your little one gets to express himself, and you get to hose him down afterwards!

Play sink or float. Let your little one help you to find waterproof objects and take turns to guess which ones will sink and which will float.

Make paper boats- and sail them. Simple fun!

Add some ice! Add a few drops of food colouring to the water before you freeze it, then pop them into the bath for the little ones to chase! Once melted, the water will change colour- and you can have a chat about why the ice melted too.

All of the above can be done during the usual bath time if you prefer, but if you know that your little one needs extra wind downtime after activities like this, then you might want to choose a different time instead. As always, make sure you supervise little ones at all times, and don’t forget to wrap them up warm in their Cuddledry towels afterwards!

What are your little one’s favourite bath time activities?

www.cuddledry.com

Please contact us for further information on the Cuddledry brand in South Africa!

www.cinnamonsue.co.za
info@cinnamonsue.co.za

https://cinnamonsue.co.za/product-category/hands-free-baby-bath-towels/

Bath Time and Good Baby Sleep!

Babies, Bath time, Parenting by polly.marsh

Sleep is probably the hottest topic of conversation between new parents. We want it, and more of it, and we will do anything to get it. At the same time, our bundles of joy just don’t seem to understand this need we have for them to sleep well at night. Annoying. But there are ways that you can help them to learn good sleeping habits, and today we’re bringing you a guest post from sleep expert Wendy Dean Did you know that bath time can be an excellent way to ensure good baby sleep? Read on for more tips.

The Bath time ritual and a full night’s sleep

Tips from Wendy Dean author of the Baby Sleep System. Read more about her work here: http://thebabysleepsystem.blogspot.co.uk/

Wendy has worked with thousands of parents who have struggled to get their baby into a healthy sleep pattern.

A regular bathing ritual will help you prepare your baby for a quality night’s sleep.

Sleep cue

If you aim to bathe your baby at approximately the same time very night, it acts as a valuable “sleep cue” so that she knows that night time and therefore sleep time is approaching.

Preparing the body for sleep

The act of bathing itself is a relaxing experience which prepares the body for sleep. Ensure that the water is a pleasant temperature by using your elbow or a thermometer to test. Use a soft material to do the washing. Let your baby float in the water being careful to fully support his head and back.

Increasing trust


The post bath snuggle in a Cuddledry product builds a bond of trust between parent and baby which makes it easier for the baby to cope when he is put into his cot alone. Talk to your baby in a soothing voice.

Breaking the connection between feeding and sleeping

The bath if used as part of a bedtime routine can help to break the connection between feeding and sleeping which is at the root of many baby sleep problems. The bath should have pepped him up enough to take his feed without falling asleep.

Result

By including a bath in a regular bedtime ritual your baby will be relaxed and happy to go into his bed at night and will settle himself off to sleep. This in itself will help to reduce night time wakings.

Bathing your premature baby: tips from Bliss

Bathing your premature baby: tips from Bliss

January 3, 2015 in Babies, Bath time, Parenting by polly.marsh

Bliss, the special care baby charity, provides vital support and care to premature and sick babies across the UK. Founded 30 years ago this year, we offer guidance and information at a critical time in families’ lives. We also fund ground-breaking research and campaign for babies to receive the best possible level of care regardless of when and where they are born. Today’s post is all about bathing your premature baby.

Your premature baby’s first bath is a very special and exciting yet often scary event for parents. It is best if you, the parents do the first and subsequent bathing so your baby feels safe and calm.

Wrapped bathing can be very relaxing and soothing for the baby, especially when they are small or still worried about being undressed. Bathing offers parents a valuable time for observing their baby’s behaviour so that the way you bath is adapted to his/her developing needs. Wrapping the baby in a sheet while he/she is immersed into the water and doing everything very slowly, pacing your washing in small bursts according to the baby’s reactions, will prevent tears at bath time and ensure he/she has enough energy to feed afterwards.

Preparation:

The bath should be planned to enable you to: 

Include dad or another family member if possible, as bathing is often a 4-hands job! 

Before the bath: 

Provide a warm, relaxing atmosphere, quiet and calm with soft background lighting. 

Prepare all the equipment, clothing and cuddle towel first. 

Prepare the baby by approaching quietly, talk softly before and during undressing the baby, and tell the baby what is going to happen at each stage. 

While undressing the baby, provide hand and/or blanket support to keep the baby tucked up feeling safe and offer containment of any outstretched arms or legs as necessary. 

Adjust the pace of what you are doing according to the baby’s cues (i.e. look for reactions that mean he/she needs a time-out pause (yawns, sneezes, breathing fast for example); proceed slowly. 

Support the baby by holding hands or feet and keep one half wrapped while the other half is being undressed. 

During the bath 

Consider ways to help the baby feel secure and to avoid distress when naked and placed into the water e.g. wrap in a thin sheet or muslin. 

When the baby is ready to go into the water make sure the water temperature has not cooled down too much.

Tell the baby what is going to happen all the time.

Immerse the baby into the water ……feet first STILL WRAPPED.

Make sure the water is deep enough to cover the baby’s torso.

Let the baby adjust to the experience of being in the water before washing or removing the wrap.

Allow the baby’s legs to be near the end of the bath to brace against so he/she feels secure.

Continue to go slowly pacing the way you proceed according to the baby’s behavioural cues.

Only uncover one body area at a time while you wash. Replace the wrap and then do the other body area.

Allow the baby opportunities to experience buoyancy if stable enough – a floating feeling on his back, side or front is very relaxing.

After the bath:

With the wrap left in the bath water, lift the baby from the bath on his side with the arms and legs tucked into his/her body.

Bend down to be near the bath as you bring him/her onto the towel, which is against the parent’s chest.

Keep the baby contained in the towel until the baby is settled.

When settled dress the baby keeping the top half covered, while drying and dressing the bottom half.

Consider Kangaroo Care after to help settle and re-warm the baby.

Result

Bathing is completed pleasurably, safely and effectively.

The baby’s stability has been maintained and the baby has enough energy to feed if necessary.

The parent and the baby have enjoyed the bath experience together.

Parents feel confident about carrying out bathing and supporting their baby through what is often a challenging procedure.

The neonatal staff have helped, supported and observed the baby during a challenging procedure and are able to assess and record the baby’s strengths and sensitivities.