Massage For Children

We believe in massage for everyone. That is one reason why massage for infants and children was one of our favourite classes (also having lots of children running around the classroom was a highlight!).

Massage for infants and children (especially under 6 years) is very different than an adult massage. Some examples are a full body massage on an infant takes about 10-20 minutes or with a toddler, they may be standing and jumping while we massage them and that is okay we work with the child. Also, we have some cool tricks to show them and the promise of that usually gets them to lay down or if they like big or new words we can tell them something like your finger bones are also called phalanges, point out the strongest muscle in your body masseter (the muscle that closes your jaw), or trace the trapezius on their back and explain that it is in the shape of a trapezoid that is where the name comes from.

Children can have pain due to a few reasons, injuries from playing sports being common.

Stress is something that children experience. Stress in children can be caused for several reasons, wanting to get good grades, anxiety from social situations to mention a few. There are many ways that stress can affect the body including headaches, muscle tension or pain, fatigue, stomach upset, or sleep problems being among the most common.

"Pain should be treated. Untreated pain causes anxiety, depression, irritability and exhaustion. Pain can also cause problems with eating and sleeping."

"Distract the child from the pain. Talking, video games, breathing exercises, blowing bubbles, television, music, pop-up books, reading and being read to are all distractions."

"Relaxation is useful for adolescents. A psychologist, nurse or other health professional can teach special techniques for relaxation, which can reduce anxiety, nausea and vomiting, and pain."

"Comforting touch. This includes stroking, swaddling, holding, rocking, caressing, cuddling and massaging. Cuddling is nature’s own pain remedy."

"Heat, cold and vibration can relieve pain. Ice wrapped in a cloth eases some disease and procedure pain. Heat is useful for muscle pain. Vibration, either by gentle tapping or some other mechanical method, can block pain."

"Play or be silly. Children relax and forget their worries when they play."

The portions in quotation marks are a direct quote from Pain, Pain, Go Away: Helping Children With Pain By Patrick J. McGrath, G. Allen Finley, Judith Ritchie, and Stephanie J. Dowden. We are using their material with permission. Below is the link to the full book.

http://pediatric-pain.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/PPGA2003.pdf