Baby Yoga: The Benefits, Poses And What All The Hype’s About

If you don’t know much about baby yoga – or haven’t come across it at all – let us introduce you to it. It’s not about exercising your tot in the traditional sense but instead about putting a couple of minutes aside to bond with her. And the effects are virtually endless.   

From giving your little one’s digestive system a boost to helping soothe and relax her for a better night’s sleep, there are many reasons why baby yoga classes are in high demand. Not to mention it’s a brilliant way to get your own mind and body in shape, too.

But you don’t need to spend lots on lessons – once you’ve picked up the basics it’s a practice that you can take home with you.

Benefits, Benefits, Benefits
Baby yoga is a fairly new practice. “Francoise Freedman of Birthlight pioneered the concept,” Sam Petter, Pampers' baby yoga expert, tells Yahoo Parenting UK. “It focuses on a holistic approach to health – looking at the wellbeing of your baby, physically and emotionally.

“The range of moves can be active, dynamic, relaxing and calming, which offers stimulation for babies when they wish to play and then relaxation as they quieten and calm, helping babies to learn about self regulation from the beginning, which will give them skills for life.”

Probably the best reason to give it a go is that it’s a great way to bond with your little one. It incorporates mindfulness with yoga and gives parents a reason to focus solely on their child – without checking their phone every few minutes.

It’s also a fantastic chance to boost your baby’s development, as tummy time and muscle-strengthening moves are incorporated into some of the poses, and it gives little ones a chance to soak up lots of different views.

“It’s important that a baby has the opportunity to experience the world from many different dimensions, including facing forwards, backwards, upwards and downwards – all of which are used in baby yoga,” says Sam.

“It also allows parents to be involved in this process, as the exercises they carry out with their baby are designed to support the development of balance and co-ordination. The more the baby moves, the easier it is for them to control their movements.”

There’s been research that shows that various health issues can be resolved by baby yoga. Some parents find that their child’s colic and constipation issues are eased as a result of it and the soothing nature of it can be a brilliant sleep aid.

Perhaps not so obviously, doing baby yoga is a great way for you to communicate with your bub, before she’s able to speak.

“By doing baby yoga you will learn some really useful techniques to help you ‘have a conversation’ with your baby right from the start,” says Sam. As you establish good eye contact with your baby and move with her in this very intimate way, it will help you both to understand how to communicate with each other.”

Practising Baby Yoga
Baby yoga doesn’t have to be time consuming. Even if you only have five or 10 minutes to do some baby yoga with your tot, you’ll notice the benefits.
 
The time of day that you should do it depends on your baby’s routine. “Usually in the morning your baby will have the most energy and will be at the peak of her alertness, so it might be worth trying baby yoga after she wakes up from her first morning nap,” says Sam.

“I would advise waiting for around 30 minutes after a feed. Lastly ensure that your little one is changed and wearing a fresh, well-fitting nappy.”

You can start practising baby yoga from when your bub’s around six weeks old – once you’ve had all of your post-birth checks and she has better neck control.   

“If you’re feeling nervous about it doing it for the first time on your own then start by trying it with a professional group first to gain confidence,” Sam suggests. “However, baby yoga is based on simple principles of movement, so as long as you are attentive and responsive to your baby’s needs, you should feel empowered to go ahead.”

Try Baby Yoga At Home
Sam, together with Pampers, has put together a routine that's safe for you and your baby to practice at home. "The idea is to give your baby the opportunity to stretch their whole body and experience different body positions," she says.

"This is a big workout for your little one, so go gently at first, reading your baby’s signals and mood with every step. Never force the movements and stop if your baby is not happy. Start off with just a couple of repetitions, increasing length and duration as you learn together."

Have you tried baby yoga? Let us know what you think of it in the comments below.

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