Help detoxification in the body, sending a fresh supply of oxygenated blood around the body. The heart is placed above the head and helps with over-all health and well-being. There must always be a period of rest after an inversion to settle the blood.

Benefits: Good for the entire nervous system and senses, the brain receives a fresh supply of oxygenated blood to help with cell growth, overall strength, immunity, and emotional wellbeing by toning and taking care of your spinal column. Inverted poses commonly increase concentration, memory, awareness, and stimulate thought; they are also good for detoxification as well as helping with deeper sleep and digestive problems.
Cautions: Let baby rest for at least one minute on their back to balance the blood flow and flow of energy before continuing with any further exercise. To be avoided if the baby suffers from any of the following conditions: Epilepsy, diabetes, heart conditions, neck injuries, high blood pressure, glaucoma, and other eye or ear problems or seizures unless permission has been given by a medical practitioner. Stop if baby is not enjoying it.
Note: Do not bring baby upright straight away as they may become dizzy. Rub their tummy for a few minutes first (you could sing something like “Round & Round The Garden.”)

Basic Inversion (baby headstand)
Sit with your legs stretched out and together. Place baby on your shins face up with their head at your ankles and a cushion by your feet. Hold the baby securely at the hips with the thumbs underneath and fingers on the top and bend the knees to invert baby (not too high for very young babies). Hold for about 5 seconds, gradually building up to 10 seconds after a few sessions. Repeat another two times. Baby can eventually hold for up to one minute if practised regularly.

Flying Inversion
Parent lies on back, legs tucked into chest and positions baby on their tummy on parent’s shins. Ensure baby’s head is in the ‘V’ shape of your knees and their shoulders are behind your knees. This position ensures baby’s head is not over the knees but fully supported. Supporting baby around the tops of the shoulders/back with parents hands, gently begin bouncing. For non-head holders, do gentle slow bounces and on the up bounce the position can be held so that the legs are on a 30 degree angle or less (very slight elevation). For head holders, this can be a little more bouncy and the elevation more than 30 degrees up to 45 degrees approximately, holding the elevation between 4-6 seconds. This can be increased with practise up to a period of a minute.
Cautions: Slight elevation must be used on non-head holders and support always given around top of back with parents hands to ensure the baby does not slip forward when elevating the legs. Ensure the position of the head does not creep past the knees but that the shoulders sit behind the knees so the head is always supported.

Restful Inversion
Parent/carer lying down with legs up against a wall. Lie baby on tummy facing up and in the same position so their legs are up against the parent/carer’s. Can be used just before or during relaxation.