Infant and Child Massage
A calming, smooth flowing massage which promotes deep relaxation and a sense of physical and emotional harmony. Specialised for the responsive bodies of the young. The use of gentle massage techniques may be integrated with Brain Gym® or with soothing music to promote inner calm. Parents are shown how to continue the practice at home.
Infant massage is useful to
• Improve the baby’s immune system
• Help the infant learn to relax
• Promote sounder and longer sleep
• Promote bonding (verbal and non-verbal communication is developed)
• Regulate digestive, respiratory and circulatory systems
• Relieve pain and discomfort from gas and colic, congestion and teething
• Help the production of endorphins, which relieves stress
The benefits for parents are also apparent, as a special focused time allocated for massage can deepen bonding. This can be especially useful for mothers with post partum depression and teenage mothers who are having difficulty developing parenting skills. Fathers who are separated from the baby as they work during the day, find that it alleviates their feelings of being left out. Studies have proven that babies who have close bonds with their parents (babies that have been held and massaged) grow into adults that are likely to be cooperative and well balanced individuals.
Children, Teens and Youth massage
Everyone benefits from comforting and therapeutic touch. Parents and body workers can play an important role in helping young people to learn about how to take care of physical and mental health, through caring for their bodies and noticing tension patterns and learning how to relieve them. Having a healthy respect for your body – what you put into it and how you care for it physicaly, can start from a very young age. Children can be taught how to relieve muscular tension and mental stress through utilising physical therapies, instead of first seeking drugs, comfort foods or other strategies that deal with symptoms instead of the core issue.
Young people – both active and passive, healthy or chronically ill, benefit from massage. Michael Carr Gregg speaks of the “Skin Hungry” teens in his book “Surviving Adolescents – The must have manual for all parents”. Massage therapists can teach parents simple techniques they can use to engage with their child and teenager, to build positive parenting relationships through respectful touch. Simple techniques can be learned so that tension spots can be relieved, circulation can be increased, and pain reduced. It could be a simple foot or shoulder massage or a gentle face massage.
NDIS
Young people with massage, mindfulness or pain management in their NDIS plans may be able to access these services. Check if it is in your child’s plan or get a referral from a Physiotherapist that can explain the need for remedial or relaxation massage for your family member. Self managed clients pay as they go. Service Agreements can be setup for clients who need their invoices sent through to their provider / fund manager for payment.
What to expect during an infant, child or teen massage
Parents complete a client history and consent to treat form and discuss the treatment plan with the massage therapist. The parent and child attend the sessions together. The proposed treatment is discussed and the parent helps the child get ready by assisting them with clothing, getting on the table and towel placement. Under garments are worn and towels are draped discretely to protect the child’s privacy. Parents of infants are encouraged to be involved in the sessions. Parents of children remain seated in the room to watch the treatment. Older children can elect to have parents wait in the adjacent waiting area – where they are within hearing shot and the door is left open for free communication between all parties. When the session finishes the therapist leaves the room for the child to re-dress with or without assistance from the parent.
Specialised Treatments for Sport, Remedial and Stress Management
Many young people attend this clinic because they participate in elite and recreational sports. Gymnasts, dancers, footballers, basketballers and other active kids all enjoy having a remedial treatment for acute or chronic issues.
Students experiencing stress are often living with headaches, anxiety, depression, fatigue and/or physical symptoms such insomnia, muscular tension, excema and bowel conditions that are significantly relieved by therapeutic massage. Caroline provides thoughtful caring treatment to all her clients and puts them at ease – so that they can get the most from each individually tailored treatment.
Caroline MacDonald is an Applied Positive Psychologist Coach and Counsellor, a member of Massage and Myotherapy Australia and TRE Australia.
Duration: variable 30 – 60 mins
Kids massage prices
30 min $75 | 60 min $115
Caroline delivers high quality treatments to infants, children and teens from many local suburbs including Wonga Park, Warrandyte, Ringwood, Ringwood North, Chirnside Park, Croydon North, Croydon and Moroolbark.
NDIS Clients welcome – all ages
Caroline sees children, youth and adults with NDIS packages that cover massage. Receipts can be provided if you manage your own funds or invoices can be supplied to providers who have entered a service agreement on the clients behalf.
Health Insurance Funds HICAPS
Health Insurance claims can be processed on the HICAPS machine. If you don’t have your card with you – a receipt can be provided for you at the appointment to make a health insurance claim later.
Caroline delivers the highest quality Baby and Children’s massage in the eastern suburbs and has many clients in these areas – Croydon, Ringwood, Wonga Park, Chirnside Park, Mooroolbark, Kilsyth, Warrandyte and Lilydale.
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