A well-timed snuggle has long been one of the best tools in a wise parent’s arsenal. In fact, the healing power of touch is becoming the prescription of choice for children of all gifts and ages – infants and babies, special needs, adopted children, critically ill children and more. Hospitals and therapists now offer massage and touch services for their young patients, and parents are learning how to connect with their little ones through the warmth of human touch.
Touch is a powerful tool for both healthy and sick children, says Dallas clinical massage therapist Wendy Smith. Kid-friendly massage stimulates the development of the nervous system, releases tension and increases spatial and body awareness. It relieves colic, reflux, congestion and constipation, while increasing body awareness. It’s also beneficial to parent-child bonding.
Even the youngest babies respond to touch therapy with pleasure. Smith notes that once she’s worked with a baby a few times, the mere sight of her entering the room elicits a welcoming wiggle.
Smith recommends infant massage classes for parents who are looking for a way to bond with their babies that can carry through childhood into the teen years. “The most important thing when starting any massage on any child is to get an engagement cue from the child and that you ask for permission,” Smith adds. “It’s really important for children to realize that massage is not something we do to them; it’s something they participate in, as well.”
