Touch Time for Tots in Hampton Roads, Tidewater, Virginia, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Suffolk, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Hampton, Newport News, Poquoson, & Williamsburg

Who doesn’t like a good massage? Well, your baby is no exception to this rule. I know whenever my au pair or I give my children a massage, they get this blissed out, glassy look in their eyes, and all is calm, if only for a moment… Aside from your baby’s pure enjoyment of a massage, there are also some tangible benefits in taking the time to touch. 

According to a recent study at the Tel Aviv University and the University of Haifa in Israel, babies that received a 30-minute rubdown from their au pair or parent every night for two weeks were more in sync with their mothers and au pairs - they were most active in the early morning and afternoon. Those that didn't get bedtime massages from their au pair or parents were awake at midnight. The babies that received massages produced more melatonin, the hormone that helps promote sleep.

In addition to aiding relaxation and sleep in your baby, according to the International Association of Infant Massage, massage also promotes mother/child bonding, or au pair/child bonding, boosts baby’s immune system, soothes colic, helps with teething and skin conditions, and also facilitates body awareness and development. So, with this long list of benefits in mind, what are you and your au pair waiting for? 

The low down on baby rub down:

Timing;

Perhaps a good time to give your baby a massage is after her evening bath and just before bed (though anytime you or your au pair are able to dedicate to it is better than no massage at all). 

Tools of the trade;

Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature – around 75 degrees. You can put on some relaxing music if you or your au pair wish (I particular like Dreamlands from the Putamayo collection), and you can also have some baby lotion or oil at the ready such as Johnsons.  Place a towel down on the changing table or wherever you can comfortably lay your baby for the massage, and lie your baby down with clothes and diaper off (and yes of course there may be accidents but babies typically love having no diaper on). Make sure to switch off your devices and switch on to your baby - be present and make eye contact.

Touch Time;

Begin with her feet and toes, moving up each leg in a gentle twisting motion, and also gently pulling down her legs and squeezing knees into chest. Rub her belly in a circular motion, then again gently twisting each arm, massaging little hands and fingers. Take both of your thumbs and stroke outwards from the eyebrows, support your baby’s head and stroke their back in a circular motion. As you practice, pay attention to what your baby seems to like. For more information on baby massage and to locate a class in your area for you or your au pair to take, you can check out infant massage USA.

Give your baby a kiss and a cuddle and tell her that you love her. Revel in this special bonding experience (and also hopefully in the blissful baby sleep that follows!)

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Safety Care March Promotion in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Hampton, Williamsburg, Suffolk Virginia

Is your caregiver ready to handle the unexpected?  Does she know how to handle a fussy baby in the car?  How to perform CPR?  Does she understand the top drowning dangers for children? Leaving your child in someone else’s care can be nerve-wracking.  This is why we require all our au pairs to attend our rigorous Safety Care™ program, where we equip them with the knowledge and training they need to be safer, more vigilant childcare providers. Unlike most au pair agencies, all AuPairCare au pairs receive CPR and First Aid certification training by the American Heart Association.  While some au pair agencies do not offer an au pair safety training program, at AuPairCare we are continuing to invest in this area because we understand that safety is a parent's number one concern.  Knowing that my au pair has gone through extra safety training and CPR certification with AuPairCare helps reassure me that my kids will be safe - Jenni Frank, AuPairCare Host Mom This month, we’re launching our first ever National Safety Month by hosting over 175 child safety-related clinics nationwide.  Au pairs will participate in child care, driving, and household safety training workshops led by officials from local hospitals, police and fire departments, and safety organizations.  This is just one component of AuPairCare’s ongoing safety education and training that is provided to au pairs throughout their program year. Start your search for a safe caregiver today.  Apply to AuPairCare for FREE* plus save an additional $200 off program fees when you match with your au pair...that's $550 in total savings! Enter Promo Code: SAFETYMONTH Providing Safe, Quality Child Care since 1989,  Your Friends at AuPairCare 800.428.7247 *This promotion is for new host families welcoming an overseas au pair arrival and cannot be combined with other offers.  To be eligible for this discount, new host families must apply by March 31, 2012 and match with an overseas au pair by June 21, 2012.