Both as important as each other and form the ending structure of a Kalma Baby session. It is important to give both parent/carer and baby a chance to rest both body and mind. Explaining the importance of relaxation to parents/carers is important to both reap the benefits and babies learn the difference between quiet and play time.

Cool Down for Baby
Heart to Heart – Lie down with baby on your chest and your knees raised, hold baby securely and feel their heartbeat and breathing. Feel the love flow between you as you gently rock from side to side using your feet. Continue for approximately 30-60 seconds and then lie still. This posture can be used just before going into relaxation.
Chakras — (Energy centres of the body) Parent/carer to kneel and inhale a big deep breath/complete breath, then placing the mouth on the baby’s chest say the word “Ram” until you have no breath to say the word anymore. Take in another breath this time getting skin to skin contact, so that the baby feels the vibration of your lips say the word “Lam” on the side of the baby’s neck until you have no breath to continue. Repeat on the other side of the neck. This technique is fun and calming for the baby and very beneficial for the parent/carer.
Gentle Legs & Arms — Just very slowly peddle the legs into the tummy, then taking the arms open them out and back in to touch the hands together.
Massage — Hands on hug, leg milking, massage feet and ears as for warm ups, also stroking the baby’s cheek.
Lullaby — Either cradle the baby or sit/lie with the baby and sing a gentle lullaby.
Relaxed Walking — With the baby in the Tiger in the Tree hold walk very slowly around the room, taking the shoulders up, back and down. Take long deep breaths, exhaling slowly through the nose. Massage the baby’s tummy with the free hand from underneath the body.
Bubbles — They have a rather magical effect. Unless a baby is completely traumatised, then bubbles will always calm and soothe a baby but they are also good for creating a relaxed atmosphere.
Feathers/Tickly Sticks/Pom Poms — Use as sensory stimulation with slow and deliberate strokes. Gently stroke around the perimeter of the face, the ears, hands and feet, bare arms and legs. (Be aware some babies do not like this and some are very ticklish).
‘Incy Wincy Spider’ — Use big arm actions, and feathery fingers and this song is a miracle worker. It calms and stimulates the majority of babies, and is good to use if some of the group have started to become unsettled.
Blanket Swing — Done very gently to soft lullaby music, make sure cushions surround the area of the blanket.
Visual Lights – Stimulating eye movement and relaxation, these fairy or soothing lights can be a great way to mesmerise babies. Dim lights in a bright room.

Relaxation

Ask the parents to lie with their baby if possible but explain that relaxation can also be done sitting or standing if anyone is nursing their baby.

Blow bubbles or simply just flutter your fingers over any baby that seems restless. If a baby is particularly upset then offer to have the baby from the parents and walk around in Tiger in the Tree hold (this usually calms them fairly quickly and parents get a relaxing break). Some parents may be nursing their baby. Just ask them to close their eyes, relax their shoulders, empty their minds of any thoughts and release any tension in their body so that they too will get a sense of relaxation. Put some relaxation music on, draw the blinds or curtains and dim the lights. You can at this stage talk them through a relaxation
technique or just introduce the relaxation by saying that the parents should take full advantage of doing absolutely nothing for the next few minutes and should empty their minds and relax their bodies as they lie with their baby. Either as the music ends or at the end of the session time, ask the parent/carer to take a breath, exhale slowly and then repeat. Then ask them to take a deep breath and stretch their arms and legs out and again exhale slowly and repeat. Lastly ask them to wiggle their fingers and come up to sitting when they are ready and only when they are ready.