Is massage safe for your child?

We want the best for our children. We’ll do anything we need to in order to make them comfortable and help them grow. There are few experiences more comforting than a relaxing massage, but are spa treatments a way to pamper children, or do they put them in danger? Should children get massage?

Today.com reported that, “According to the International Spa Association, more than half of the nearly 14,000 spas in the United States offer packages for families, teens or kids.” Some of these spas are even inclusive to children, offering services such as massage (with a parent present), manicures and facials.

Many health experts report that the pressure children put on their bodies through sports, stress and sitting at a computer can be relieved through massage.

Plus, the benefits extend beyond the physical level. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, a 1998 study involving massage therapy as a treatment for Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), researchers found that massage helped to reduce fidgeting, raised scores on the Conners behavior rating scale and raised serotonin levels.

While there are some risks involved with massage, they are extremely rare, and children do not have increased chances of injury or discomfort. In fact, massage may be extremely beneficial to child athletes or children with behavioral disorders.

Before scheduling an appointment for your children, take two steps to ensure their safety:

1. Consult their pediatrician on whether there is any reason they should not receive massage.
2. Be sure that there is a mutual understanding between you and the massage therapist that you will stay in the room for your child’s massage.

Contact us today to discuss spa treatments for your child, and don’t forget to make an appointment for yourself as well.