Why Baby Yoga is Good For Bonding
Here, Norfolk’s ZenMuma Baby Yoga Teacher Bec, discusses the science behind why Baby Yoga is good for bonding.
Throughout pregnancy and in the early days of motherhood, many people talk about how much you will love your baby instantly and infinitely which of course, for many is true. However, some mothers can find it difficult to bond with their babies, and for those who don’t, they still need time to get to know this new little person whom they are responsible for. Baby and Postnatal Yoga classes are an amazing way to provide this time for bonding, to get to know one another as mum and baby.
In every class, there is an element of baby massage. Van de Rijt and Plooj talk about physical contact as “simply the best possible comfort and amusement” for babies, as this engages their somatosensory system by giving them an awareness of their own body, and switches on the parasympathetic (the calm) nervous system. which is great for mental wellbeing. Through touch, we are able to connect to our babies and understand what they do and do not like and learn tools to calm them. Massage can be a lovely aspect of the class which mums can take home and introduce into daily routines, to help create a calm and loving bond.
As well as massage, the touch and movement throughout classes helps babies to learn that mummy is “a wonderful home base to which [a baby] can return when [they] are upset” (Van de Rijt and Plooj), which will build a baby’s confidence and a bond of safety with mum. This is especially so when we practice asana which can seem scary for both mum and baby, such as dips, swings and Flying Baby. When these are performed carefully and successfully, both mum and baby show a great sense of pride and achievement, and the bond between them builds stronger as baby learns to trust mummy, and mummy’s self-confidence in handling her new baby grows.
Taking time away from the mundane tasks of daily life can be tricky as a parent, as there is always a ‘to-do list’. Therefore, by going along to yoga classes, it gives both mum and baby some important time together to focus on each other, and tune in to the needs of one another without any other distractions. Performing yoga together brings with it “connection and communication, stimulation and relaxation, calming and healing” (Freedman). Each class is carefully planned to include enough stimulation and activity whilst not being overwhelming or exhausting for mums and babies. It also gives time for bonding not only between mum and baby, but in a wider social community too.
A sense of community and friendship can be so important to postnatal mothers as it can feel overwhelming to spend so much time with a tiny little human without much other interaction. Therefore, at the start of every class is a ‘sharing circle’. During this time, each person gets the chance to talk about an element of their week; be it positive or not so much; and to listen to advice and support from other mums. This part of the class is so beneficial for building confidence, and to develop an awareness of our abilities to ‘mother’, and it can help mums to build relationships with other mums too which is so lovely to see. One of the eight limbs of yoga is to practice non-judgment. This is really important in classes to ensure that each mother feels safe, valued and respected within the space.
Babies are fascinated by other babies. Often in baby classes, mums can feel worried or upset that their baby is looking around the room at other mums and babies and not at them. However, this is great! When a baby does this, it is because they feel confident enough to leave their mum’s gaze and to look around the room to see what is going on. By watching and listening to other babies, they will begin to build bonds and relationships from a young age, which can develop as they grow and continue to socialise together.
As you can see, practicing Baby and Postnatal Yoga is so beneficial to both mums and babies, for their physical development and postnatal recovery, their mental wellbeing and their ability to bond with one another, as well as others in a social and safe environment. These classes are fun, relaxed and calm whilst maintaining key elements for mums to learn and take home to practice. Bonding with our babies is one of the most precious things we can make time for, and yoga is a perfect way to do this.