A new trend has been circulating online the past couple of weeks. News outlets and blog have been making the rounds about a new spa in Texas that are dedicated to babies!
You heard me right, it’s not for mommy and her girlfriends to get some downtime away from the trials and stresses of motherhood. It’s for babies to get away from the trials and stresses of being little!
I decided to do a little digging to see how “new” this trend really is and if other resorts and spas are featuring services for those under 2. Turns out, this spa in Houston, Texas really is pretty innovative.
The article originally appearing on The Today Show, highlights some of the basics of this baby spa trend.
Other countries have been doing their take on pampering for tots, but it seems this is the first of its kind in the United States. I sure had a hard time finding anything like it in this country!
Float Baby is the spa in Texas making waves all over the Internet.
Owner Kristi Ison reportedly got the idea from Asia, where baby spas are quickly becoming almost as desirable as adult ones. In an interview with TODAY Mom, Ison says she did research that found that babies love the water and find it “very soothing and relaxing.”
It’s a relatively new concept, opening its doors in February, but has already found niche success. During any given visit, a baby gets a chance to experience hydrotherapy, which includes floating in a little pool wearing a special ring around their neck to keep them afloat. They also receive a neonatal massage that is actually done by the baby’s parents, while being coached by a certified instructor.
Owner Kristi Ison is a certified infant massage instructor and has been working in the medical device industry for 17 years. She did a lot of research about the effects of water and massage on babies and their well being before introducing the spa, so she definitely knows what she is talking about!
A visit costs $65.
Spas for babies and children have been gaining traction in recent years in Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand. So it’s no wonder these trends are starting to make their way overseas.
I decided to highlight a few spas around the world that inspired the “first of it’s kind” Float Baby in Houston.
Little Spa Kingdom – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
This spa is relatively new as well, opening it’s doors in April 2014. According to it’s website, it is the second of it’s kind in Malaysia. The Southeast Asian country is becoming more and more known for its medical tourism, since Malaysians value wellness and preventative care in the form of massages, spas, and herbal medicines. Instead of waiting for a problem to happen, they tackle it before it becomes one. So it’s no surprise that Malaysia offers spa services for babies as young 18 months old. Start ’em young!
The main services at Baby Spa Kingdom include swimming, yoga, and massage. The site states each of these have their own benefits, including helping to strengthen the heart and lungs, as well as reducing any emotional distress.
According to one of the founders, many of the clients are actually expats, since the area in Malaysia is largely infiltrated with people not originally from the country.
Check it out at http://www.little-spa-kingdom.com/
Mom’Me Baby n Kids Spa – Semarang, Indonesia
Another spa coming out of Southeast Asia that is particularly interesting is Mom’Me. According to the site, the spa opened for kids based on studies indicating the natural and gentle touch that comes with spa experiences is very good for babies, including helping them recover quicker from illness, sleep better, and grow faster and stronger.
Here they offer babies massage, including using special oils made for a baby’s skin, special “kid-friendly” manicures and pedicure, and a special kind of swimming called Balneo-swim. The word balneo is something known in the spa world as using various forms of mineral water to help combat disease.
The spa also highlights the importance of baby massage, this is not just over-indulgence, but there are some real health benefits, including boosted immune system, better digestive functions, and reduced bloating and gas.
Mom’Me offers a full range of spa services catered specifically toward babies between 0-24 months. You can start them really young here!
Thermes de Spa, Belgium
Known for chocolate and enjoying some of the better things in life, it’s no wonder that Belgium has a spa designed with mommy and baby in mind. Here you can purchase an entire day package designed to pamper yourself with your baby — kind of like a couples massage, but not! This spa even has an institute dedicated to mommy and baby called (fittingly) L’Institut Maman-Bébé. And I can’t even make this one up — Themes de Spa is in a tiny little town just an hour and a half from Brussels called “Spa”. There is a reason the town is aptly named that, it’s the source of Spa water, used frequently for its healing properties. It’s also home to a healing cold spring and is frequently visited for its water.
Thermes de Spa offers a two day total therapy consisting of massages, lunch, thermal baths, pressotherapy, hypopressive therapy, and a special mommy/baby bubble bath.
Only small groups are allowed and it’s far away from the rest of the spa to provide total privacy and relaxation.
http://www.thermesdespa.com/en/Baby-formulas.html
Image Courtesy: Float Baby