5 Ways Reflexology Can Help Your Toddler or Preschooler

Toddler & Preschooler Reflexology

When you have a toddler or preschooler, reflexology probably isn’t the first thing that springs to mind when you’re looking for ways to help them. Toddler or infant reflexology is not as well known as baby reflexology, but as a parent to a toddler and preschooler I can 100% recommend it.

My little girl has received reflexology pretty much her whole life. She is now at the age where she requests it (probably about 3 times a week!). She now tells me how it is ‘relaxing’ and she seems a lot calmer afterwards. We also notice an improvement in her sleep when she regularly has reflexology. She is now 3 so is transitioning from toddler to preschooler.

As our little ones grow up from a baby, to toddler, to preschooler they have a lot of physical, environmental and emotional changes to deal with, and I have found reflexology to be a helpful tool for that journey. (And the evidence suggests this too).

Reflexology for all their scary milestones (first days & changes)

Benefit one: Improving Preschooler’s & Toddlers Emotional Wellbeing

If my little girl is feeling worried about something (first day of preschool for example), we use reflexology. After having reflexology she does genuinely seem calmer and happier. There is a specific piece of research with preschoolers that further back up what I have seen with my own daughter. I was fascinated to read the research which showed reflexology helped preschoolers with their emotional and attentional issues. It didn’t impact on behavioural challenges, but I wonder if that may be because these can often be linked with communication from the child.

Reflexology is inclusive and has been shown to help neurodivergent children too.

Benefit two: Improved Sleep

In my last blog, I wrote about lots of research that shows reflexology can help improve sleep. Reflexology was shown to improve sleep for children, babies and adults.

There is also another piece of research I have since come across which shows reflexology can benefit children with autism. The research showed that reflexology improved the quality of sleep of children with autism, and was recommended to their parents as a safe intervention.

Reflexology helps kids relax (which is more important than may first seem)

Benefit three: Relaxed Child = More Relaxed Parents

One of the great benefits of reflexology is that it can help relax. I have noticed it helps even little newborns, babies and toddlers relax from my own clinical experience. But it’s not just me that have found this (and if you have had reflexology yourself you will notice how chilled out you feel afterwards).

Often (without realising) our bodies are in a state of stress, when we are in fight or flight mode. When your little one is relaxed, their body releases all the right ‘calm’ signals. This can mean their heart rate slows, their breathing steadies, and the hormones that support rest and growth kick in. That’s why winding down and relaxation is just as important as nap time itself.

Also, when you have a more chilled out toddler or preschooler, you can chill out a bit more too – the pace seems to slow down slightly.

Reflexology can help reduce tension (and pain) in children.

Benefit four & five: Reduced tension & pain

One of the well known benefits of reflexology is that it can help reduce tension, but the research also suggests it can help reduce pain too. In an Egyptian study, they found that the children receiving reflexology had reduced pain, reduced fatigue and better sleep. In another study with 192 children, they found that those children receiving reflexology had reduced anxiety and pain.

BONUS: Reflexology for constipation, colic and digestion

Benefit six: digestive support

I have personally used reflexology on my little girl when she has needed a bit of help to go to the toilet (constipation) or if she has an upset stomach. I also used it on her when she was younger and had a touch of reflux.

There is also some research out there to suggest reflexology can help with digestion. On balance, this one piece of research found no difference in children’s constipation. However, there two other studies since that have suggested reflexology has helped constipation and digestive issues (including in children with cerebral palsy).

Reflexology is not just woo woo

I hope these pieces of research will show that reflexology isn’t just a load of woo woo nonsense. Yes, we don’t really know HOW it works yet, but the research shows that for the majority of cases it DOES work and has some fantastic benefits.

I am a healthy sceptic myself. I like things to be evidence-based, and I won’t ever claim something that hasn’t been proven by evidence because I hate it when people do that (and I am sure the advertising standards authority would have something to say about it too).

However, I do know from my own experience, and the research that reflexology is great for our children; whether they are babies, toddlers, preschoolers or at school – it can have so many benefits for them.

Taking the guesswork out for you – no more googling required

Parenting is overwhelming, and we are often trying to google to make sure we are doing things the ‘right’ way. I don’t want reflexology to be another thing you are left wondering about, so I have used my training and experience to develop routines especially for out little ones; that you can follow along and do in a matter of minutes.

If you are looking for reflexology to help with sleep, relaxation or anything above please do check out my guides and home page for more tips.

Reflexology has been a total game changer for us, not just for sleep, but for those big toddler emotions, busy days, and moments when nothing else seems to work. And, thanks to the research, I am confident it will help your family too.

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