14/11/2024
7 Reasons Your Baby Needs Reflexology
Soothing and pain reduction: Pain scores were reduced by almost 60% when infants received 20-30 minutes of reflexology work prior to inoculations. Also reported were lower heart rate, higher oxygen saturation and shorter crying periods.
A little touch goes a long way. Make a play date with your little one’s feet. One mother learned from nurses what to do when her premature infant stopped breathing: tickle her feet. Such stimulation is commonly used in NICU’s where premature infants are monitored for apnea, “usually caused by immaturity in the area of the brain that controls the drive to breathe.”
Premature infants: Premature infants who received reflexology saw a significant and positive differences in common problems standing in the way of their healthy development: sleep, sleep duration, and weight gain when compared to the control group whose tiny members received standard care.
Constipation: Reflexology helps infants (and children) with “bowel frequency” as shown by research. One anecdotal story was told to us by the “poop” nurse, a title she proudly wore. Whenever there was a newborn at a Lubbock, Texas hospital who had failed to defecate for the first time in a timely manner (as needed for hospital release), the “poop” nurse would get the call to come to the nursery. She’d apply a little reflexology and “get them to do what I want” as she put it.
Ear infection: Sometimes solutions to baby’s help problems don’t seem to help. After constant ear infections Heather’s mother found relief for her through reflexology treatment. “'It was unbelievable,” Mrs. Ridenour said, “I would not have believed it had I not been there and seen it. I honestly believe that is what cleared it up.' ”
Colic: Sometimes there doesn’t seem to be a solution to a common problem for babies, colic. Studies show positive results for reflexology use and the colicy baby. Our story: We were visiting friends and their little one started fidgeting and crying. Colic was their verdict. I asked if we could try a reflexology technique. After a few gentle presses, the little one drifted peacefully off to sleep. The child’s father turned to its mother and said, “Why can’t we do that?” And, they did to good effect. What to do for the little one? Gently press the baby’s foot, targeting the area below the first and second toes.
Ear pain on take off of plane trips: Gently press the child’s foot below the second and third toes. This represents the eustachian tubes of the ears which respond to the sudden change in air pressure during a take off
