Developmental baby massage
Living life to the full demands stamina, flexibility and strength. Stamina is achieved by good breathing and good rib plus diaphragm mechanics; flexibility comes from healthy joints; strength is achieved by muscular development. Developmental Baby Massage is directed to promote these three factors at the earliest possible stages in life. This prepares the child for an active and fulfilling future, leading to a strong, healthy and productive adult life.
General massage improves circulation, lymphatic drainage and body awareness. It promotes a feeling of well being and is an excellent way to develop a close relationship with your baby. It can help with colic and digestive problems. The belly is the emotional centre and will contract with emotional and physical pain and relax with emotional and physical pleasure.
Developmental baby massage includes simple articulations to aid flexibility in th4e major joints (knees, hips, ankles and shoulders) and promote comfortable, controlled sitting in the tailor pose. This in turn enables the baby to move forward into contralateral crawling; babies who sit with one leg out straight (usually due to slight hip restriction) often go on to become “bottom shufflers”. Whilst this is a very efficient method of getting around there is reduced development of the long back muscles because the head does not need to be lifted and supported. Moreover there is reduced development of the core stability muscles; activation of these deep muscles happens automatically when you maintain balance during crawling. Many rehabilitation exercises and Pilates movements given to adults show parallels with these early neurodevelopmental patterns. Some believe that there is an association between crawling/contralateral body movement and the prevention/treatment of dyspraxia and dyslexia.
Anita Hegerty has been working with Alex Gibbs as an osteopath since 1991. She trained at the BSO in London and specialises in Cranial Osteopathy. Anita has been trained in London by the pioneer of these techniques Peter Walker and is running classes for mothers (or fathers) and babies at Glencairn House.
Classes will nominally be for babies aged 10 weeks to 10 months and are held on Thursday afternoons between 2.15 and 3.30 pm. The cost for a 5 week session is £30. If you are interested please contact Glencairn House.
Further reading:
Baby Massage by Peter Walker published by Carroll and Brown. ISBN 978-1-904760-36-8.
Backing exercise by Matthew Walden, the Osteopath Magazine September 2007.
Baby Relax by Peter Walker published by Unwin Books 1986.
Developmental Baby Massage DVD with Peter Walker