The 4th Trimester: Nurturing and Understanding Your Newborn
The 4th trimester refers to the first three months of a newborn's life outside the womb. It is a time of immense transition, as your little one adjusts to the outside world and their new surroundings.
Fourth Trimester
Welcome to Sensory Land's blog, where we explore all things related to early childhood development. Today, we delve into a particularly intriguing and precious period called the "4th trimester." So, sit back, relax, and let's navigate this fascinating topic together!
Defining the 4th Trimester
The 4th trimester refers to the first three months of a newborn's life outside the womb. It is a time of immense transition, as your little one adjusts to the outside world and their new surroundings. Just as a pregnant woman's body undergoes significant changes during the first three trimesters, the 4th trimester symbolizes the continuation of this development.
Key Characteristics of the 4th Trimester
Developing Senses
During the 4th trimester, babies' senses are rapidly evolving. While in the womb, their primary senses were sound, touch, and movement. However, now exposed to a broader scope of sensory information, they begin to explore and adapt to new sensations. They discover the world through their delicate sense of smell, taste, vision, and enhanced hearing.
Need for Consistency
Newborns thrive on consistency and predictability, as it helps to soothe and comfort them. Replicating a womb-like environment aids in their transition. The 4th trimester involves creating a nurturing and secure space for your baby. This can be achieved by providing a regular routine, practicing gentle touch, and ensuring a calm and quiet atmosphere during sleep and play.
Building Trust
Establishing trust forms the foundation of a secure attachment between parent and child. During the 4th trimester, your baby relies on you to meet their immediate needs, providing them with nourishment, warmth, and affection. Responding promptly to their cues and signals fosters a sense of trust and security, which helps them develop emotional resilience and self-regulatory skills.
Physical Development
The 4th trimester holds significant milestones for your baby's physical development. Infants begin to gain control over their reflexes, strengthen their muscles, and gradually achieve greater mobility. Tummy time, where the baby lies on their stomach to explore and develop their neck, back and arm muscles, is crucial during this period.
Sleep Challenges
Sleep patterns during the 4th trimester can be unpredictable. Babies often sleep in short, irregular bursts and frequently wake for feeding. This is entirely normal as their tiny tummies require frequent nourishment. Understanding and adapting to their sleep needs, creating a peaceful sleep environment, and establishing soothing bedtime routines such as practising Baby Massage can greatly assist in promoting healthy sleep habits.
Nurturing Your Baby during the 4th Trimester
Here are a few tips to help you navigate and embrace this incredible period of your baby's life:
1. Skin-to-skin contact: Frequent skin-to-skin cuddling helps regulate your baby's body temperature, heart rate, and promotes the release of the bonding hormone, oxytocin.
2. Babywearing: Carrying your baby in a comfortable sling or carrier fosters a sense of security, allowing them to stay close while you go about your day. It also helps mimic the warmth and movement they experienced in the womb.
3. Gentle stimulation: Engage your baby's senses with soothing sounds, gentle touch, and age-appropriate visual stimuli. Soft music, swaying, and black-and-white patterns can be particularly captivating for newborns.
4. Consistent routines: Establishing regular feeding, sleeping, and play routines helps create a sense of predictability, making your baby feel safe and secure.
5. Seek support: Reach out to your support system, whether it be family, friends, or healthcare professionals. Sharing your experiences and seeking advice can provide the reassurance and encouragement every new parent needs.
6. Practise The First Forty Days: Staying home & limiting visitors in this early stage is a wonderful way for you & your baby to really get to know each other better. You’ll learn their cues for sleep, feeds, discomfort & more in this time.
Embracing the 4th Trimester Journey
The 4th trimester is a unique and transformative period for both parents and newborns. By understanding the key characteristics and providing a nurturing environment, you can help your baby adapt and thrive. Cherish every moment, as this time is fleeting, and soon you'll find yourself witnessing your little one blossoming into a beautiful and curious individual.
Remember, each baby is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach. Trust your instincts, enjoy the journey, and savor the magic of the 4th trimester!
Disclaimer: Sensory Land provides general information. Consult with your healthcare provider for personalized advice.
Activities to try in the fourth trimester
Baby Massage and Baby Yoga are practises that have been used for thousands of years to support with bonding, sleep, tummy troubles, teething, setting routines & so much more. Check out our home learning options & begin as soon as your baby is 6 weeks old.
Read how the fourth trimester effects you
Interview With a Mother - The Benefits of Baby Massage and How it Changed This Family's Life
Baby Massage took this mum from being tired, stressed and worried to cool, calm and collected. Plus it really helped to form a bond with her baby.
Learn about their journey through massage in this interview
Knowing your baby is in pain is a stressful and heart-wrenching situation that all parents find themselves in at some point. Having the tools to identify what is wrong and how to help, through baby massage, for example, is so powerful, as Anna discovered when her newborn suffered from the excruciating wind.
I love to teach baby massage; I especially love when I see first-hand how families benefit from practising massage regularly. Now it isn’t all butterflies and fairies in class and there are often times when the babies are particularly unsettled and prone to tears. One family who experienced this first-hand but managed to come out much better on the other side shared their story with me.
Anna and Nhyira’s Baby Massage Journey
Here’s a little background detail. Anna and her baby Nhyira (pronounced En-Shra) started coming to baby massage in January 2018. Anna was desperate to find a solution to Nhyira’s agonising wind. She did one public class and then dropped out of the 5-week course. Nhyira seemed very uncomfortable with her wind and began to cry halfway through the class.
Overwhelmed with emotions as a first-time mother the pressure became too much for Anna in the group environment. I invited them to come back for the following term and advised them to practise little and often at home between the courses. I interviewed them a few months after they completed their second five-week course with me and the transformation was incredible!
I thought it was definitely worth sharing this interview to help others discover the benefits of baby massage.
Ten questions with a sleep-deprived, anxious mother about her baby massage experience
What made you want to try baby massage?
‘When we first brought her home from hospital she was all scrunched up in a little ball all the time and looked red. I couldn’t work out what was wrong. I noticed she would be this way especially when she needed the toilet, so I looked online for solutions. I didn’t want to give her medicine and much preferred the idea of helping naturally. Then I found baby massage and it seemed like a really good way to do that as well as bonding. I hadn’t heard of it before I looked online.’
How old was your baby at the time?
‘She must have been just about five or six weeks at the time I started the first course. Then when we started again she was around ten weeks.’
Did you have any expectations for the course?
‘More just HOPE rather than expectations that it would help her a little bit.’
Did it meet your expectations?
‘Far excelled not only with her gas, which was a nice by-product but also (baby massage) became such a big thing of what we do together now. Massage has given her body awareness. If she has a tummy ache, she will now rub her tummy so I know it is hurting and it is generally less red these days.
It’s been amazing for both connections, the way she looks at me melts my heart. It’s also really built my confidence. You would think it would be instinctual how to help or touch your baby but it didn’t come naturally to me. The love part was but the practical touching wasn’t. I was so scared I would break her. After seeing in class what you do (how you can move your baby) you realise you won’t break them. She is now more confident with me touching her.’
What did you enjoy the most?
‘As soon as I had done it, it removed the panic from me when she was hurting, it gave me something I could do to make her feel better, she became a different child, it was magical really. I went from having a really unhappy baby where nothing I was doing could make it better and suddenly I did!
When unhappy she wouldn’t rest, she kept waking and would only sleep on me or her dad, which meant that we weren’t functioning properly.
It wasn’t instantaneous but after a few hours later. She’s so much better now. Sleeps for longer, all gas out.’
Do you know what would give her an upset stomach?
‘She’s greedy, she would guzzle and make a funny little piggy sound as she drank, wanting to eat so quickly. She didn’t eat well at first so once she learned how to latch, she guzzled.
If I don’t massage each night or not properly, or if dad does it and misses a bit out, she won’t sleep so well. The gas will wake her up. She has around a 30-minute massage every night.
I used to wake at 3am every morning to give her a massage in anticipation of her strain. I don’t need to do it now as her stomach is good enough with one before bed.
When we do massage she will fart A LOT. When I turn her around to do her back it all comes out like clockwork. Before massage, it could have been days before she could pass wind or poo.’
Who would you say the course is for (people who want to make friends, want to learn a skill, those with a poorly baby, sleep troubles)?
‘If you haven’t heard of baby massage before and think it sounds all airy-fairy and silly, with a bunch of hippies lighting candles, in reality, it is not. We’ve had so much fun and it’s been great for our bonding. I’d recommend, even if you’re sceptical it is worth giving it a go as you can get so much out of the classes.’
When was the best time of day for you to massage?
‘We always do it as part of the bedtime routine because of her wind and constipation. It was two a day for a while (7pm and 3am).’
How often would you do it?
‘Every night.’
Do you still massage now?
‘YES!’
What do you rate the course?
‘5 out of 5. If I could start over and do it again, without a doubt I would. I wouldn’t have stopped the first time either. I felt uncomfortable as she was upset and in pain.’
Casey - ‘maybe it was okay to wait because she may have been so bunged up and congested with poop that it would have made you feel more anxious each time you were in class trying to massage, uncertain if she would become upset again. It’s great that you kept up practising at home in her happy and safe space and did it little and often until she felt well enough to have more of a massage.
It is better to do one minute of massage with a baby when they’re happy and want to be massaged than the whole routine with a baby that is too uncomfortable or has other needs that they need to be met at that time. You know your baby best and you made the right decision for you both. I am so pleased you kept at it and what a beautiful result you have had!’
The Benefits of Baby Massage
It was so amazing to see how, in such a short time, Anna could help ease her baby’s wind and constipation without the need for medicine. However, she got so much more out of the course than just helping Nhyia’s tummy. If your little one suffers from tummy upsets and you’d like to try massage, make sure you contact me today to discuss your needs.
How to tell if your baby is tired
Knowing when your baby is getting tired is a learned skill. Learning early on can reduce overtiredness and overstimulation.
Learn how to identify when your baby is tired before they become overtired
We’ve all been there, your baby starts to grizzle:
‘Whatever could be wrong sweetie?’
In an attempt to help you show her some of her favourite toys and commence making funny animal sounds.
Her grizzle changes into a cry
‘Oh dear, that didn’t work’
You pick her up and give her a cuddle, gently shhh’ing her comfortingly
But she continues to grizzle and cry
‘Maybe she’s hungry? When did she last feed?’
You offer her some milk but that just makes her more cross.
If only she could tell you what was wrong.
But she can! And she does, often! Your baby gives you cues throughout there day, subtle looks, actions and sounds that if you learn them you’ll be able to reduce fussing and increase happiness.
Sounds amazing right?
Each baby will have their own sleepy cues. Once you learn these you’ll be able to preempt when your baby is getting tired, is tired and avoid the overtired tears. Responding and putting baby down for their sleep whilst they are awake and tired is perfect. Usually baby shows between 3 - 5 signs before getting overtired.
Read on to avoid overtiredness, baby being wired, unsettled, overstimulated, fractious & grumpy. This list doesn’t include ALL sleepy cues, they differ from child to child and you will need to learn the ones specific to your baby.
Sleep cues
Yawning
Eyelids fluttering
Heavy eyelids
Staring unfocused
Less vocal
Closing fists
Rubbing eyes/face
Pulling at ears
Sucking fingers/thumb
Making jerky movements
Frowning or looking worried
Clingy
Grizzling or crying
Wanting attention
Fussing when stimulation offered
If feeding – sucking is slower
You are the expert & know your baby best. Being able to identify your baby's unique sleepy cues will become your superpower.
Did this blog help you? Comment below your baby’s sleepy cues.
If you would like to learn more about how massage can help you and your baby to sleep better check out Sweet Sleepy Baby our short Baby Massage for sleep course.
What are the benefits of fennel tea and can it help with colic?
If your baby has colic there could be a simple way to start helping to ease the painful symptoms associated with the condition. Combined with Baby Massage & Yoga this has helped many families get through a difficult phase.
What are the benefits of fennel tea and can it help with colic?
Fennel tea is a popular non-caffeinated refreshment and is drunk by many seeking a warm drink without the buzz the regular teas and coffee can give you (great when you are breastfeeding or trying to reduce your caffeine intake). But what is the hype towards this drink and should you be drinking it too?
Background of Fennel tea
Fennel has been used as a natural medicine for centuries with its properties been having said to help prevent and relieve muscle spasms, improve digestion, flatulence and stomach cramps. Many of the symptoms associated with colic in infants.
The tea is made by steeping the ground dried seeds and sometimes the leaves in boiling water to create a mild aniseed/liquorice tasting drink clear golden yellow in colour. Before you hear liquorice and right it off, let me tell you I’ve had mums swear they detest liquorice with a passion but LOVE fennel tea and drink it religiously!
How can fennel tea help with colic?
When you breastfeed, the food and drink you consume are usually formed into your breast milk around 6 hours later (as an average, taking differing metabolisms into consideration). Its has been said that the benefits of the tea can pass through the milk so both mother and baby can experience relief from tummy discomfort and wind.
Do I have to drink it?
In very small babies that are exclusively breastfed the easiest way to get the tea into them is by you drinking it. Bottle-fed babies and those who drink formula can also experience colic and tummy discomfort and you can give them some cool fennel tea to drink. Hipp Organic sells baby fennel tea and say it is suitable from one week of age.
What is colic?
Many people refer to their young baby as having colic many people have never heard of it before having children. Colic can start at different ages in babies but is a very common ailment. Here are some of the symptoms parents report:
it happens most often in the evening
they cry inconsolably for around 3 hours
it happens frequently (some experts say it can be classified as colic if it happens for 3 hours a day, at least 3 nights a week for roughly 3 months.
This can be an extremely distressing time and it feels like nothing you can do will help. There has been a lot of research into what Colic is and why some babies are affected by it, amongst other things, trapped wind is a common belief that effects colic that is where fennel tea comes into play. Here is some more information about how to identify if your baby may have colic and how you can help.
During our Baby Massage and Baby Yoga classes we offer fennel tea to parents to drink. Many, like myself didn’t think they would like the taste of the tea and once they had tried it were pleasantly surprised and found they do enjoy the taste and it’s not to over powering-ly aniseed-y tasting. Which can be really off putting for many. I didn’t love it at first but now drink it daily and look forward to a cup of the warm tea as many of the mums attending class have told me! A plus side to drinking herbal teas is they’re still drinkable luke warm or cold - as many mothers know it can be almost impossible to finish a hot drink!
I encourage mothers to drink a cup of the tea during class and many mums have gone on to report a real change in their baby and the reduction of discomfort and they continue to drink the tea regularly outside of class.
Does it really work on colic? How to make the most out of adding fennel tea to your diet.
Maybe it’s a placebo or magic, herbal medicine magic. Who knows if it really works but taking into consideration ‘You are what you eat’ you probably wouldn’t drink lots of fizzy drinks or caffeine and not expect you & your little one to be buzzing around all day. Why not give it a try for a week and see if you notice any difference? If your baby suffers in the evenings be sure to drink some tea around mid day as on average it takes around 6 hours for what you consume to enter your breastmilk. If your baby suffers in the mornings drink some tea in the evening and the night feed early morning should be full of fennel goodness. Drinking Fennel tea compliments a good diet and regularly massaging your baby’s stomach to encourage bowel movements and the elimination of gases. If you’d like to learn some tried & tested baby massage strokes to help digestion check out our online learning videos we have a short course called Tummy Ease which is specifically designed using Baby Massage and Baby Yoga techniques to eliminate the symptoms of colic, wind, constipation & reflux. or join us in a face to face class.
How much fennel tea should I drink?
This will be trial and error on the time of day & the quantity, you might find that your baby only have one period of unsettledness during the day in which case perhaps just one cup around 6-8 hours before that period of time would be best. As fennel tea is completely natural & does not have any side effects you could drink it throughout the day & both you & baby would be fine.
Here are some of our favourite fennel tea brands
Twinnings
Pukka
Health & Heather
Buy organic if that is available to you. Or you could try and make some fennel tea for yourself. If you would like more information about the benefits of fennel tea and a recipe on how to make your own tea here is a blog we found useful. Please let us & other readers know in the comments below how you dealt with colic in your family & if there is anything else you tried that worked.
How else you can help your baby with colic
Adding fennel tea and regular massages to baby’s daily routine can really help with the symptoms of colic.
Book a Baby Massage class with us today to start helping your little one through a difficult time.
Take a sneak peak at our Tummy Ease online baby massage & yoga course
Learn Baby Massage with us online
Disclaimer: if you think your child may have colic or any other digestive issues please seek advise from a medical professional. In no way is drinking fennel tea an alternative to medical treatment or medicines.
What Is Colic? What Causes It? And How Can Baby Massage And Baby Yoga Help?
Colic is a term commonly used to describe unsettled babies. Learn more about what colic is, how to identify it in your baby and most importantly how to help!
What Is Colic?
Colic is the name given to the reasons behind a normally healthy baby crying and fussing over an extended period of time. One standard given by many experts is that if they cry for more than three hours a day, three days a week until the baby is around three-months-old, they are said to have colic. The exact cause of colic is unknown, but there are a number of theories as to what is behind it, such as wind, overstimulation, immature digestive system.
The good news is that there are ways to manage colic and reduce the symptoms. Both baby massage and baby yoga can relax both parent and child, release wind, help develop the digestive system and stimulate happy hormones that relieve colic as much as possible.
This infographic provides more information about colic, its causes and the ways that baby massage and baby yoga help with colic. Contact me today to learn more about both of these activities that could make life happier for you and for baby.
Suggestions for Causes of Colic:
Baby might have an immature digestive system.
Overstimulation may have excess wind that is causing discomfort – perhaps swallowed during feeding or crying.
Baby Is over stimulated.
Baby has a cows milk protein allergy.
Baby’s Vagal nerve has impinged which can happen during delivery especially assisted delivery
Symptoms of Colic - Baby doesn’t have to display all of these signs to have colic.
Baby’s knees are bent up to their tummy.
They have a firm tummy.
You can hear or feel windy bubbles in their tummy.
The baby passes wind as they cry.
They cry excessively.
It is difficult to settle the baby.
Evenings are usually the most difficult.
They have a red or flushed face.
Lips are blue.
They clench their fists a lot.
How Baby Massage and Baby Yoga Helps
Stroking, hugging and holding increases oxytocin, the love hormone.
Higher levels of oxytocin reduce stress cortisol.
Replicating… peristalsis, the body’s natural function to move food and wind to the lower part of the bowel.
Relaxation encourages effective digestion.
Massage strokes can help relieve trapped wind by replicating the body’s natural functions.
Builds trust between baby and parent by demonstrating that you are listening to them and trying to help.
Stimulates and develops systems within the baby’s body.
Baby Massage & Sleep?
You may have heard that baby massage can help your baby to sleep, but is this true? and if so, how does it work & how can you get started right away!
How Does Baby Massage Affect Both Yours and Your Baby's Sleep?
Baby Massage to help sleep
Whether you’re a new parent or you are on your third child, having a young baby is full-on. They are completely dependent on you and that inevitably leaves you feeling tired all the time. Therefore, it is so important to establish a good sleeping routine from early on so you can get the rest you need to. There will be regressions as baby grows but if you have a set of tools, such as baby massage, you can tap into to help settle baby for sleep, you are setting yourself up for success.
You want them to sleep well but how? Baby Massage may help
How long should a baby’s sleep last? According to Stanford Children’s Health, a newborn should have a total of 16 hour’s sleep a day. Their daytime sleep decreases and nighttime sleep increases as they get older.
Sleep regressions often happen at 4 months, 8 months and 18 months. These figures are simply a guideline, each person is individual and will need different lengths of sleep time. Please do not be alarmed if your baby is not sleeping these lengths.
How can baby massage positively impact a baby’s sleep?
Have you ever gone for a massage and felt so zen that you could drift off? Or have you even slipped off to sleep during a massage? This isn’t uncommon. When you go to a spa or for a massage treatment, the scene is usually set to encourage this relaxation. There are dimmed lights, calming music, nice comforting smells and not too much stimulation from bright and colourful things or distracting noises. But, that’s not all that is making you calmer and sleepier.
The science behind it
Massage means ‘to stroke’. When we stroke skin, we stimulate an important nerve for sleep. The vagus nerve, also known as ‘the wandering nerve’. It is part of the parasympathetic nervous system, working in opposition to the nervous system which is responsible for our fight or flight response. Our reaction to danger involves sending the blood in our body away from our vital organs and to our muscles so we can run away and escape that sabre tooth tiger, or even fight it should we need to. When the nervous system is working hard, there are high levels fo the stress hormone cortisol in our body. This makes it almost impossible to sleep well.
Stroking the body and stimulating the PNS counters this and releases lots of nice happy hormones like oxytocin (known as the love drug and also released when we cuddle, hold and kiss). When this happens, cortisol reduces and the blood in our body can return to focusing on normal functions like digestion and resting. Oxytocin can make you feel very sleepy as well as safe and loved.
How does this affect a baby’s sleep?
When you combine stress reduction, slower and deeper breathing, a relaxed environment and a feeling of safety and security, a baby’s brain can now calm down, with their body moving into a better state of digestion, healing and growing.
Add to this enough food, drink, bowel movement and stimulation (such as baby yoga) and it’s a recipe for baby sleep success.
This is why many parents like to incorporate a massage into their bedtime routine.
Now it isn’t always an instant magic trick and just because you give a baby a massage before they go down for the night doesn’t mean they will sleep right through from the start. They may not even want a massage before bed! Many babies are overtired at bedtime and giving them a massage before bed may provide too much stimulation.
There may also be a combination of other factors affecting your baby’s sleep habits and you need to assess the situation as a whole. I had a client whose baby suffered with terrible wind and constipation. The baby didn’t sleep well because her tummy was working overtime to process her food and pass wind during the early hours of the morning. Keeping track of your baby’s day is a really great way to work out what could be affecting their sleep. Why not download our FREE SLEEP TRACKER?
You should use the tracker for two or more weeks to find patterns in baby’s day so you can pre-empt when they may be tired.
Massage can be added to the bedtime routine
If your baby isn’t in a routine and the mere mention of the word frightens you, or it feels too soon and they’re too young, please do not feel afraid. This was my speciality as a maternity nurse and I would often start putting babies into a routine from one week old.
Nowadays, one parent is often left at home for long spells with a baby. Or we have to get baby onto an ‘awake in the day, asleep in the night’ routine to fit in with our lives, work schedules etc. We thrive from structure and having a routine doesn’t mean you have to be rigid and inflexible.
Find a routine that you like and take it with a pinch of salt. Think of it more as a pattern of events that baby will identify as meaning the end of the day is approaching. This will prepare them for sleep.
‘Don’t wake a sleeping baby’….
I am a firm believer that sleep breeds sleep but I am also not afraid to wake a sleeping baby to help them adjust to a routine. I have seen many times that a child starts to wake in the night and parents, in a desperate attempt to get them to sleep through, will reduce nap time or stop them altogether.
It may work for a day or two but baby will be totally overtired, overstimulated and wired which will only lead to more sleep issues later on. They need enough sleep during the day as well as at night. Keep track of their natural sleep pattern with our FREE SLEEP TRACKER. Once you can see your baby’s overall day written down you may need to perform a few tweaks here and there to ensure they’re getting their full quota of night sleep.
There may be a combination of things that are affecting your baby’s sleep:
No routine
Digestive issues
Bad habits eg knowing they are often picked up or spoken to when they stir
Hunger/thirst
Being disturbed
Overtired
Overstimulated
Uncomfortable/in pain
Rely on comforter/settling
Too hot/cold
If you have already looked into all of these things, a sleep consultant may be the best way to get help specific to your family’s needs.
If you would like to learn our Sweet Sleepy Baby - Baby Massage mini course, click this link.
Importantly, don’t compare your sleep journey to anyone else’s; some babies sleep very well without much help, others need support. That is ok.
Finally, a warning - if you are super-tired, ask for help, take a break. Look after yourself.
7 Baby Massage and Yoga Tips from one mum to another
Meet Bex & her little boy, they LOVE Baby Massage & Yoga and have positively benefitted from learning it since her baby was around 8 weeks old.
Bex shares her top tips, from one mother to another on how to get the best out of your class for both you and your baby.
Guest Blog - Tips from one mother to another how to get the best from your baby massage & yoga class
Being a new mum is entering into a whole new world. Once you’ve figured out how to keep you and your little one alive, you wonder what should you do with your days? How can you best help your baby develop, enjoy themselves and thrive? And how can you do and stay sane (or as sane as possible)?
One of the very best ways of doing this for me has been baby massage. I started with baby massage beginnings, followed by baby massage and yoga combined and then baby stretch and sing classes. The intensely relaxing atmosphere (soothing music, dimmed lights, the glorious smell of orange blossom) was something I looked forward to each week. Massaging my baby was incredibly bonding, bringing a special warmth and closeness each time and on a practical level, I learnt helpful tips and techniques to use outside of class, as well as meeting some lovely mummy friends.
Here are some of the things I learnt from Sensory Land’s baby massage and yoga courses:
Arrive early
For the first couple of sessions, my little man did not play ball, crying and wriggling as I tried to give him a relaxing rub! But as the weeks went on, I got smarter about giving us both the best possible chance to get the most out of this fabulous class. So I started to arrive almost an hour early and settle him in a nearby coffee shop - feeding, changing him and generally attending to his needs so when we actually got to class he was in a zen-like state.
I love fennel tea
Who knew how delicious fennel tea could be? I’d never tried it before but a warm mug was provided in each lesson and I quickly developed a taste. I’ve since ordered stock for home (though I confess it never tastes quite as good when I brew it myself!).
How to do a “flying baby”
One of the favourite positions we learnt was the flying baby AKA Superbaby - putting baby carefully on your bent legs while you lie with your back on the floor. My son squealed in delight as he soared in the air, while my body got a small but much needed, workout at the same time.
It’s worth travelling for a good class
I almost didn’t sign up for the first baby massage course because it was further away from my home than I had planned to travel. However, I was persuaded by another mummy and I’m so pleased I was as it was the highlight of my week. The bus ride wasn’t half as bad as I imagined it might be and I then felt more confident about travelling further afield with bubba.
Baby massage isn’t just for mums
My hubby was able to come along to a session and got stuck in with the massage and yoga. He really loved seeing the enjoyment our boy got from the class and getting a little insight into how I was spending maternity leave.
It’s always a good time for a photoshoot
As well as wonderful baby massage, the classes were frequently set up for wonderful photoshoots. The best two photos I have of me and my boy - the ones (by far) I got the most compliments about - were taken in the class using simple, clever techniques to capture the joyful atmosphere. Frankly I’d have paid the price of the class again just for those amazing snaps. So, if you can find a class where it’s set up for photos and the teacher has a good eye, then all the better!
Online classes are great too
When social distancing meant the amazing face-to-face classes had to stop I was so worried I’d be massively missing out. But they quickly went online, and those classes were brilliant too. I still got the same bonding experience with my boy, and the brilliant instruction of tips, techniques and songs. To make the experience complete I simple spritzed some room spray and made myself a cup of fennel tea!
About the author
This blog was written by the lovely Bex, she began attending classes at Sensory Land when her little boy was around 8 weeks old. She is a fantastic supporter of all Sensory Land events, a wonderful mum and generally great human making all that attend classes with her feel welcome, comfortable & confident. It has been an absolute honour to watch her blossom over the months. We love Bex!
Benefits of Baby Massage for Babies & their Parents
Learn why Baby Massage is the perfect first activity to do with your baby. It is beneficial to both you and your baby.
The Benefits of Baby Massage for Babies and their Parents
The benefits of baby massage are not just enjoyed by the baby, they also positively affect the parent too. Whether it is related to physical or mental wellbeing, the outcomes of taking part in baby massage classes are noticeable almost immediately thanks to this special bonding activity between mum or dad and child.
Take a look at this infographic detailing the benefit of baby massage for both parties and if you want to find out more contact me today to discuss how baby massage can help you and your child. I can talk you through learning baby massage in a face to face class or through online tools, such as videos.
Benefits of Baby Massage for Babies
Relax
Promotes relaxation and prevents the damaging effects of stress.
Releases the ‘love hormone’, oxytocin.
Promotes bonding with parents through eye contact, touch, smell and body language.
Develops notions of trust and security that help baby form relationships
Relieve
Offers relief from wind, constipation and stress hormones.
Stimulate
Stimulates nerve endings and creates pathways in the brain.
Helps circulation, carrying nutrients to organs and encouraging cell repair and growth.
Encourages proper functioning of lymphatic and digestive systems.
Develop
Teaches body awareness.
Encourages muscles and bones to strengthen.
Benefits of Baby Massage for Parents
Relax and Connect
Provides an opportunity for relaxation.
Baby massage groups provide an opportunity to socialise.
Offers a chance to play with baby and bond with them.
Boost
Releases oxytocin that can help manage postnatal depression.
Boosts confidence with baby.
Learn
Gives helpful tips for dealing with tummy issues, teething pain and congestion.
Creates structure to the day when utilised as part of a routine.
The fourth trimester - Nurturing and Supporting yourself through the first few months of Motherhood.
The fourth trimester, what is it and how can you support yourself through this time.
Now, we have all heard of the first, second and third trimesters during pregnancy, each trimester represents a different stage or phase of pregnancy. Throughout these (approximately) nine months, your body and mind go through a huge change as your baby grows and develops. The fourth trimester is an extension of the three trimesters and is a term used for the first few months of a baby’s life, and perhaps more importantly, the first few months of your motherhood journey with your baby. just as your baby is growing, developing, learning, changing and adapting to his/ her new life outside the womb, you too are growing, developing, learning, changing and adapting to new life as a mum. Your body and mind are once again going through a huge change and during this critical time it’s important to listen to your body and give yourself the rest it needs and truly deserves.
As mothers, we naturally want to ‘do’. We have a continuous list as long as our arms, we have daily chores, and we have a house to run and a family to look after. But during this fourth trimester, it is vital for our own mental health and wellbeing (and the health and well-being of our family) that we take care of ourselves and just ‘be’. Here are my six top tips to supporting yourself during the fourth trimester:
Rest
Whether you’ve had a natural birth or c section, a traumatic birth or an elated birth, your body is most likely exhausted, sore and uncomfortable. Letting your body rest and recharge is helping you to heal those scars and wounds, physically and mentally.
Pelvic floor
During pregnancy, your internal body endures a lot of weight. The muscles of your pelvic floor need exercising to ensure good health following childbirth. Booking an appointment with a women’s health physio is advised, but during the early days, at home exercises are a great way to looking after your needs.
Nutrition
Healthy nutrition helps to fuel us with energy and releases those feel good hormones. Nutrition is a simple way to support you during those sleepless nights and demanding days. Of course, it’s also important not to deprive yourself of your body’s cravings, so treating yourself every now and then with your favourite snack will also give you a little ‘pick me up’.
Water
Staying hydrated is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Water is good for our skin, our gut and our overall health. If you are a breastfeeding mother, you will find your body craves water. Having a glass of water close by to you during those feeds will help to keep you hydrated and looked after.
Ask for support
Please don’t be too shy or embarrassed to ask for support. Support could be from a family member, a friend or even a neighbour. And it could be as simple as asking someone to hold your baby whilst you take a shower, by asking for external support, you are supporting yourself.
Baby massage
The baby massage classes I offer can be started within the fourth trimester time frame from as early as 4 weeks old. Massage helps you and your baby to connect and bond in a nurturing and supportive environment with like-minded mums and it gives you the tools to support you and your baby through the early stages of his or her development. You can learn with me online or in person.
It is so important to support yourself during those early days of motherhood. Don’t forget to physically look after yourself, stay hydrated and well nourished, ask for help when you need it and start baby massage when you can with your baby. By supporting yourself, you are supporting your baby and your whole family.
How to do Tummy Time Correctly
Tummy time is an essential practice for a baby’s physical development. As a parent of a young baby it can be an overwhelming activity especially if your baby does not respond well to it. In this article learn exactly why tummy time is important, what it helps your baby with and how you can easily implement it into your daily activities.
Tummy Time
How to do Tummy Time Correctly and Help with Baby Development
In between feeding, winding, changing and napping, it can be difficult to find time within the day to do tummy time with your baby. Then, if you do finally get around to doing it, they vomit or worse still, hate it and cry the house down. Does this sound familiar?
Tummy time seems to be the hot topic lately in discussions surrounding ‘how to help your baby reach their developmental milestones’. So, if you’re wondering what is it and why is it so important for baby development, I am here to help and hopefully offer some ways to help incorporate it into your daily routine.
Why Tummy Time is Important for Baby Development
Before I show you how to do tummy time with your baby, I want to first tell you why it is so important to try and do often I will also try and explain how not doing it may be linked to learning difficulties such as dyslexia and dyspraxia.
I am an 80s baby and when I was born, I was put to sleep on my tummy in my cot as were many millions of other children. Our average development ages were:
for rolling was 4 months
sitting - 6 months
crawling - 8 months
walking - 12 months
This has been put down to the fact that when a baby is lying face down, also known as ‘prone’, they need to use the muscles in their back, neck and tummy to try and lift their head and support themselves. By engaging these muscles regularly early in life they are better equipped to start pushing up onto their arms then hands and knees. This is the perfect position for crawling.
Since I was a baby the safety guidelines have changed and now the recommended guidelines in line with SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) is for babies to sleep in their crib/Moses basket/cot on their backs with their feet at the foot of the bed. In comparison to my generation of babies, who spent around 14 hours a day on their tummies, babies today often do not spend any time at all on their tummy. In addition, the prolonged time on their backs is causing other problems such as hair loss and flat head syndrome. It also means they can develop a real dislike for tummy time in general.
Learning Difficulties Linked to Lack of Tummy Time
But how is this connected to babies developing learning difficulties? Many babies now are skipping a vital developmental stage - crawling - and either opting for bum shuffling or going straight on to walking. When babies crawl, they use both the left and right side of their brains and build important early pathway synapses. When crawling is skipped altogether, or switched for bum shuffling, the theory is that they miss those early brain connections which later in life can affect the way they learn and process information.
If you are feeling overwhelmed with a guilty sense that you’re not doing enough tummy time with baby, do not panic! I have some top tips to incorporate a prone (tummy time) position into your daily routine!
Benefits of Tummy Time
Here are some benefits of tummy time:
Aids digestion
Builds muscles
Supports more complex actions like rolling, sitting, crawling
Builds early connections within the brain
How to Add Prone Positions to your Daily Routine
If your baby does not enjoy tummy time, it may be best to start with little and often and build gradually. They do not need to be placed flat on a hard surface to receive all of the amazing benefits. Try laying your baby in some of these positions:
On your chest
On your chest whilst you are slightly reclined, each day you can gradually lean further back. Support your back by reclining against cushions in a chair or in bed.
2. Across your thighs:
Across your thighs demo 1 - lay baby face down (prone) across your outstretched legs. Help them by lifting their arms over your legs. You can raise one leg slightly higher to keep their head higher than their hips if they’re struggling.
3. On your lap:
Baby on lap demo - sit on the floor bending your knees up towards you, place baby on your lap face down (prone) against your thighs with their head highest close to your knees. Support your back against cushions on a chair or in bed - you may need to recline your body slightly. Each time you practise this make your legs straighter and straighter so baby’s head is lowered and they lay flat.
4. Tiger in the tree:
this can be done either standing or sitting and is with your baby placed face down along your forearm. Their head should be in the crook of your elbow and you can either hold your elbows or use your spare hand to stroke baby’s back.
5. Fireman’s hold:
this hold involves placing your baby up high on your chest with their arms up over their shoulder - as if you are a fire person carrying them. It is also a great position for winding. The pressure of your shoulder on their tummy gives the same effect as on the floor.
Fireman’s hold side angle:
Fireman’s hold side angle
6. Tummy time on the floor:
this way can be the most frustrating for baby and even if you know they really don’t enjoy it, don’t avoid it altogether, slowly build up to it. Perhaps try a few of the other techniques first and then progress to this, it might take you a few days or weeks.
When you are ready to try the on the floor position, put something comfortable down such as a play mat, place baby down on their tummy and help them with the position by gently encouraging their arms forward as if they are in a plank position. Top tip: you can place a rolled-up towel or blanket under baby’s chest to help lift them up.
Now for baby, if they haven’t done anything like this before, it is going to be really hard - like you have to do a 60-minute plank. So be their cheerleader, really encourage them and reward them for doing so well. My trick to build up the time they spend in this position is to do a VERY over-exaggerated count to 10 as soon as they being to voice or show their discomfort. In reality, it is likely more than 10 seconds and more than 20 seconds as I speak in between eg ‘1, oh wow, you’re doing so good, 2 that’s it, baby, keep it up, 3 so close that’s it, 4 so proud of you, 5 look how strong you are!’ - You get the idea.
Add a bright and upbeat voice with smiles and ALWAYS stick to your promise and pick them up/turn them around when you reach 10. This way you are building really good trust with your baby.
Never leave baby unattended during tummy time and only practise when your baby is awake. It is also best to wait until 30-40 minutes after a feed.
At first, your baby may be face down on the mat in this position. This is normal - if your baby is really struggling, you can encourage them to turn their head slightly to the side. As time goes on, they will begin to bob their head (that’s where having a comfy mat comes in handy so they don’t face plant) and then they’ll progress to both pushing their bottom-up and pushing into their arms.
How Long Should I do Tummy Time for?
There is no right or wrong for the length of time you should do it. Some babies are quite happy to lay there for ten minutes at a time, whereas other babies struggle to do ten seconds. Start small and work towards a minute. Each time you practise (especially using the over-exaggerated cheerleader technique) you’ll notice that baby can do longer and longer Start as young as possible and do it little and often if your baby is struggling.
TheBump.com suggests 20 to 30 minutes a day for babies aged three or four months old, with WhatToExpect.com advising three sessions of around five minutes each per day, increasing as the baby becomes more accustomed to tummy time.
Have you Tried Any of These Techniques? What’s Your Favourite?
I am not a GP and in no way suggest you lay your baby on their tummy to sleep. I think it is always best to follow the current guidelines and if you have any questions, I suggest you speak with your health advisor or GP. I do, however, suggest that for those babies that don’t currently spend much time in the prone position, do use some of the exercises stated above for both play and developmental support.
If you have enjoyed learning about how to support your baby’s development through tummy time and prone positions, you might also enjoy learning Baby Yoga with us where we will show you more fun ways to support your baby’s development.
Add white sage to your practices and enjoy the benefits of cleansing, resetting & rebalancing energies.