Itsy Bitsy Yoga: Poses to Help Your Baby Sleep Longer, Digest Better, and Grow Stronger

by Helen Garabedian

The ancient practice of yoga will help your baby sleep better, digest easier, be happier, and stay healthier. Start today.

If you've been searching for an excellent way to bond with your baby and improve his or her health, Itsy Bitsy Yoga is the solution you've been looking for. Helen Garabedian, a certified instructor in yoga and infant massage, has developed over seventy yoga postures and thirty-five series for moms and dads to enjoy with their growing babies. You don't need any previous yoga experience. Learn the many benefits of yoga, posture by posture, in this accessible guide, with seventy beautiful black-and-white photos, at-a-glance reference charts, and memorable Itsy Bitsy Yoga rhymes.

Yoga can help babies up to two years of age:
-sleep better
-get relief from gas pains and colic
-digest food easier
-stay healthier with a strong immune system
-receive neuromuscularm stimulation
-learn to relax

The book also features seven Magic Poses that can soothe fussy, upset babies within minutes! So start enjoying more time with your happy yoga baby right now.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Health, Childrens, Reference

256 pages, Paperback

First published April 6, 2004

Reviews

[Regina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! Not technical and full of jargon, very sweet, just lovely. I have not seen any other book like this one on the market. It really is yoga for babies not mommies! I found it very inspirational and creative. It gives a parent ideas for communicating nonverbally and verbally with their child from an early age. It also helps parents learn about the importance of movement for baby's early emotional and cognitive development. Some people might benefit from simply browsing through the pictures for ideas about singing and playing with baby during diaper changes. You may find you are already doing these things and the book just serves as encouragement. I especially liked the advice for enhancing digestion through massage and parent facilitated stretching. I also appreciated the emphasis on breath, which is so often overlooked in baby books but is the heart of yoga practice.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Truly enjoyed learning yoga positions to share with baby girl.

[Celeste · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not wanting my 3 month old to go green and organic or anything, but I love doing these stretches with him. The pictures are great because I didn't have to read the text much, which, honestly, is a bit hard for me to take seriously. Things like: "As you continue yoga with your baby, your journey in life with come clearer to you both." I guess I'm a conservative yogi at heart. I'm not sold on it helping him sleep or digest any better either. It's just fun and good to know how I can help him move in new ways.

[Cherie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited and bought this book - as a yoga teacher, how great would it be to teach my baby yoga? However, I couldn't stand the tone of the book, with the babies giving advice in these insipid tones. So many mommy books talk to you like you are so stupid. This is one of them. Couldn't finish. Many of the asanas seem good, but I didn't find the songs useful or the tone.

[Jackie Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was GREAT for a first time mom who loves yoga anyhow. I love that the author went into detail about how the different poses were important to baby’s development at each stage. I also like that it was sorted by development rather than age (I.e. “almost crawler” instead of “6-month-old”) because everyone develops at a slightly different pace.

[Leslie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is well set up to help you guide your baby through a number of stretches. I was surprised how many of these poses my baby and I were doing intuitively, but there are still a good number for us to try out.

[Jessi Kafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute and easy to read. Something fun to do with newborn during brief awake windows. Soothing techniques are very helpful.

[Darin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute concept book. Some ideas we might not have thought of without reading. However, the photos should be in color, more of them, and perhaps some science behind the poses world be fun info.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book as a tool for fun things to do with my baby. I found it at the library when looking for books about helping my baby sleep longer, and it has turned out to be fun. I think I want to buy this and the toddler yoga book. I can't say it has helped her sleep longer, digest better and grow stronger because I haven't tried it for that long yet. However, it has helped us have some fun things to do together. Somtimes it's hard to know how to play with a baby, and that's what I really liked about this book. We really have fun doig this yoga together.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for introducing your baby to Yoga. It contains simple poses, routines, and songs for mom/dad and little one. I have looked at many books in this same category and like this one the best. I like the illustrations and the simple directions. I would also recommend the Itsy Bitsy Yoga Program!

[Net · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author makes an excellant case for why infants need yoga (bonding, better sleep, improved motor and cognitve skills). The instructions seem simple and promote time with baby. The book could do step by step illustrations though. But final ruling will have to wait until I have a little to practice on.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun! The author of this book has developed a new form of yoga for babies. It is all geared at wellness for babies - helping babies feel better, digest better and sleep better. Most of the poses are borrowed and modified from "regular" yoga. Aiden's favorite pose is Downward Facing Dog which is called "Down Dog" in this book. I ordered him the toddler book today and hope we enjoy it as much!

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I used this book with a child I babysat and there is not one day that he was here that I couldn't do yoga with him. He begged for it! It helped him sleep through the night, strengthen his muscles, and helped his stomach. Doing yoga with a baby not only helps them, it strengthens the bond between the child and parent/babysitter.

[Minna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly easy-to-follow moves for baby yogis. It took me so long to finish this because I have only been reading the sections that reflect my son's development. I can't say that I've tried every move but my little guy has enjoyed the ones I did try, particularly the ones that most resemble what I would call "assisted stretching."
If you're interested in baby yoga, this is a great book to try.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

You don't have to be a yoga expert to do this with your baby! The book is simple and easy to understand. I love that the book is divided into developmental stages rather than ages. I also love the Mantras.

[Shashi]

I would have preferred a shorter book with tabs along the top for easy flipping to curative poses and tabs along the side indicating developmentally apt poses. Also sturdier pages and wire binding would make it more user friendly.

[Tory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Technically, I'm not finished with this book. It is sitting on my coffee table and I regularly pull it out and use it during play time with my daughter. The book is great- good photos and easy to follow instructions. I highly recommend it!

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, I try to do yoga with my baby each day, and he loves it. It is a great time for us to bond, and to play. We are looking to try to find a yoga class so we can connect with other moms. I wish Helen had classes out on the West coast.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Garabedian's title on yoga for newborns through young walkers is surprisingly accessible and yet gives a solid beginning for basic yoga practice. Great for parents who are experienced yogis or beginners.

[Leigh Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

i did this baby yoga practice with daughter regularly throughout babyhood. I SWEAR this is one of the reasons that kid was so chill. plus it was a fun way to bond/ have play time with her. i also use these poses and techniques in post-natal yoga. I highly recommend!

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a lot of great little exercises to do with each age group. I don't care so much for some of the "New Age-y" language, but I can overlook that and enjoy doing the little activities with my little guy--and he seems to enjoy them too!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best baby yoga book out there.

[Cicip · Rating 4 out of 5]

help me as a new mother to take care my new born son, so useful, it helps me a lot.. I recomend this book to new parents

[Lolakay · Rating 3 out of 5]

not nearly as dippy as i expected. actually very practical.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book because it included fun songs and activities to do with my baby! Also, it is a great way to introduce yoga to your child.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was never fully dedicated but Ada loved these. Must try again with Mr. L! I'll bet he is ready.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was looking for a Mommy and Me Yoga class, but this book seems even better because it provides me with the flexibility of doing yoga with Landon when the time is right for us.

[Alissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be informative and useful. My daughter and I have been doing Itsy Bitsy consistently for the past 2 months and we both really enjoy it.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great yoga book for newborns to toddlers. Easy to follow!

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for new moms. It is exercise with you baby:)