Baby Yoga: Sounder Baby and Toddler Sleep

Benefits of Baby Yoga

Parents from all over the world ask me for ways to strengthen the bond with their children while helping them calm their bodies and minds before naptime and bedtime. I’ve experienced the benefits of yoga personally, on my own and with my daughters.

I was delighted to read that recent pediatric research is supporting baby yoga as a “hugely beneficial” exercise. The experts are saying that these gentle movements can help benefit infants physically and psychologically. Click here to read the full article.

So how exactly does yoga help you and your child?

It can help to stimulate many of your bodies systems, and give the body essential physical activity, which we know can help us all to sleep more soundly. Most importantly, it can help provide precious boding time for parents and children. For moms, it can also be a great way of easing our way back into regular routine exercise after pregnancy, and some of the stretches can open up those shoulder and back muscles that we may tense as we get used to breastfeeding and caregiving.

A few years ago, I discovered Helen Garabedian and Itsy Bitsy Yoga®. I’m very grateful that Helen allowed me to share some poses that you can do with your child outlined in Chapter 3 of my book, The Sleep Lady’s Good Night Sleep Tight: Gentle Proven Solutions to Help Your Child Sleep Well and Wake Up Happy. Be sure to read my book to learn more about how to do yoga with your children! Helen has also posted additional poses to calm your fussy or active child just for Sleep Lady readers….download these additional poses here: www.itsybitsyyoga.com/sleeplady.html

Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us by commenting below! For more baby, toddler, and family sleep tips and tricks, please subscribe to The Sleep Lady’s Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, and YouTube channel! If you are looking for more sleep content, please check out Get Sleep Now-an exclusive members-only area designed to provide in-depth help and support during your sleep coaching experience.

Photography by RelaxingMusic on Flickr

Author: Kim West, MSW, Mom of 2, creator of The Sleep Lady Shuffle
My name is Kim West, and I’m the mother of two beautiful girls, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has been a practicing child and family therapist for more than 21 years, and the creator of the original gentle, proven method to get a good night’s sleep for you and your child. My sleep journey began when I started experimenting with gently shaping my daughter’s sleep by not following the conventional wisdom at the time. After having success (and then more success with my second daughter!), I began helping family and friends and my step-by-step method spread like wildfire, exactly like an excellent night of sleep for a tired parent should!

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