An amazing new resource: Metta Baby

If you know me, then you know that one of my favorite things to do is connect people. Right now it seems like my whole network is either having babies or have babies on the brain, so I am always on the lookout for baby-centric resources. And I must say that I have delivered with the resource I am sharing today! I recently chatted with my old friend Rachel Curran, who has just opened the most amazing studio. 

Rachel is a NICU nurse by trade, having worked at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and then later as a traveling in-home private nurse. She’s worked all throughout Europe, and during her time there she kept running into infant wellness studios for the practice of infant massage and floating. As a nurse, she became very intrigued by the popularity of this idea, and knew she wanted to know more. 

About water movement

Fast forward five years, and Metta Baby opened its doors in a great central Bucktown location (on Damen, just south of Armitage). Metta Baby primarily focuses on infant water movement and massage, though Rachel has even bigger plans for the studio in the future. Babies can start the water movement as early as two weeks, or once their umbilical cord has fallen off. The benefits of water movement for babies are literally endless. First, it is deeply relaxing for an infant because it feels like they are back in the womb. Metta Baby uses a special air-filled ring that rests just under the baby’s chin, so they feel totally weightless in the water. 

The babies quickly realize they can move weightlessly, and the resistance of the water provides a gentle form of exercise. Muscle tension is relieved and babies can also explore their motor skills in a way they wouldn’t be able to outside the water. All of this movement aids in digestion and increasing appetite. It is also a great precursor to learning to swim. 

About infant massage

Infant massage is a practice that has been around for hundreds of years, but is just making its way here. Metta Baby teaches parents how to massage their babies so they can work it into their at-home routine. And here too there are so many benefits including aiding in longer and deeper sleep patterns, gas and constipation relief, decreasing cortisol levels, stimulating brain development, and one-on-one bonding. Studies have also shown that moms who regularly massage their infants saw relief from the baby blues, and it also helped with lactation. And the best part is that many of the benefits appear nearly immediately! 

About Metta Baby

One of Rachel’s other big goals with Metta Baby is to provide a support network for new parents. As a nurse she saw so many moms isolate themselves inside all day, so she wanted to create a safe space for new families to come to socialize and create a network. 

Lastly, I asked Rachel what Metta meant, and she said this: it is practicing benevolence and loving kindness, giving out universal love and not expecting anything in return. Thank you, Rachel, for giving back in such a profound way to the community! We are so lucky to have you and Metta Baby!

For more information on Metta Baby and to book an appointment, visit their website.