specific things to do to help the fascia relax
massage
Massage can be very helpful in calming baby and releasing tight fascia and muscles.
Massage of the neck and back when baby is in Kangaroo is a wonderful place to begin.
With olive, coconut, or grapeseed oil on your hands, and with baby laying down, lightly stroke
- baby's neck muscles from the ears to the shoulders, and then in front and behind the shoulders. You can also press these muscles slowly, one finger at a time as if you were playing the piano, and do small circles on them too.
- up and down their back,
- rub in one motion from their feet to the head and back down.
In a bath you can also do a gentle stretch of baby's neck, moving one of their ears down toward their shoulder and back again repeatedly. Also, do the other ear.
- An "I love you" massage on the belly can help baby pass gas and relieve constipation.
With olive, coconut, or grapeseed oil on your hands, gently draw a line from the R hip to the R ribs. Then draw an upside down L from the R hip, to the R ribs, and over to the L ribs. Then draw an upside down horseshoe from the R hip, along the base of the ribs and down to the L hip. Gently repeat.
These videos might help you:
rolls
supported rolling
Roll baby from the back to the tummy by laying baby on the floor, bring one knee up to the chest, then bring that knee over their body toward the floor. The head and torso will follow and they will toll onto the tummy.
This video might help:
When it is time to help them roll from the tummy to the back you can put one arm to the side as if baby is reaching for something, draw the same sided knee slightly up, and gently roll the baby over the other arm onto their back.
This video might help:
extension play
Movements to help baby stretch out:
- straighten the legs when in kangaroo
- guppy Lay baby horizontally face down over your thighs or on an exercise ball, letting the head and legs drape down. Then lay baby face up and have her head and legs drape open. The goal is to have the baby relaxed in a parenthesis type curve.
- Another position is to lay baby on your thighs with your knees bent. Let the head hyperextend slightly over your knees. Then gently turn him over and let his head curl over your knees.
- rocking forward and back: Sit on the floor with your knees bent up in front of you, place baby on your thighs, sitting facing you. Raise and lower your legs to help baby extend their body and then come back into sitting.
- use the otteroo
vision play
While baby is on the tummy gently move the head from R to L and L to R, so that they get practice looking both directions and putting both ears down onto the floor.
You can also make soft noises on one side near your baby's ear. Your baby will turn their head toward the noises to see you.
You can also give them black and white books to look at while in tummy time.
changing a diaper using the side roll
Instead of lifting baby's legs up to change the diaper, which can re-tighten the fascia, roll baby to the side to change the diaper. This accomplishes two benefits at once.
when to seek more help
The effect of tight fascia in a baby can be pictured like being in a 3 legged race. It inhibits effective movement and delays getting to a goal. The goal in this situation is effective and comfortable breastfeeding, and developmental movement.
There are many reasons for, and ways to address tight fascia.
Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST) is one of the most effective helps. Sometimes PT and/or OT can also be very helpful.
If baby is not spontaneously rolling from left to right, right to left, tummy to back and back to tummy by 5 months of age,
if baby can't lay both their right and left ears comfortably on the floor while in tummy time at any age,
when in tummy time, if your baby is balancing on their belly with legs in the air (either bent or stiff and straight),
please seek CST, PT and/or OT help.
We can refer you to trusted therapists if you are interested.