HydroBaby, happy baby
It takes a village to raise a child, but what if you live in Dhaka? HydroBaby introduced the concept of granny's massage in the scientific form of hydrotherapy and spa. The first-ever baby wellness centre in Bangladesh ensures early development for little ones.
From the first congrats note on pregnancy to the maternity ward, it's all breath-taking and beautiful. Everybody talks about it. What they never say is the next thing.
As soon as you leave the maternity ward with your first newborn swaddled in a blanket and a zero-parenting guide, the challenges become the new pals of your life.
Is the baby's canned food expired or is it tainted? The water quality, okay? What lotion will be organic for the toddler? Why is the child taking time to crawl or walk? How to make sure the growth is right?
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Endless worries cause stress at every turn, and most of the time you do not know how to help.
"While positive parenting is the trend worldwide, raising your precious little one in this city with no community help is disheartening in many ways," said Syeda Shabiba Ali, a mother of two kids.
Passionate to bring support in the baby care, Shabiba and her husband Saifur Rahman initiated a water therapy service called the HydroBaby for newborns—first ever in Dhaka.
Shabiba and Saifur took their child Aishah to a hydrotherapy centre while they were living in Europe. Aishah loved being in the water. The exercise relaxed her, improved her mood and enhanced her sleeping and eating habits.
Shabiba also came to learn of the importance of hydrotherapy in baby's growth. She attended childcare courses in Norway. Upon moving to Dhaka, they were concerned by the lack of such services.
From their inner drive, HydroBaby started their journey from October last year. Before starting, Shabiba received formal training in hydrotherapy and massage from the International Association of Infant Massage (IAIM) in Indonesia, where baby spas are popular.
Shabiba also completed the Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) training. Later on, she trained her HydroBaby staff.
Hydrotherapy aids growing
"The response has been enormous since the opening, with no formal advertising attempt, just through word of mouth," said Saifur.
"The missing link, however, is the lack of awareness. The benefits of hydrotherapy are still unknown to local parents," he added.
Studies have shown that hydrotherapy can support the growth and strength of infants. They start to sit or walk relatively early. Their sleep and digestion patterns are further enhanced. Hydrotherapy helps to develop the cognitive abilities of a baby and provides overall wellbeing.
One of HydroBaby's regular clients, Dr. Shaida talked about the benefits of hydrotherapy for infants.
"I started taking my one-and-a-half year old boy, Danir, to HydroBaby, knowing that the therapy would help him improve his growth. Now I see it also helped him to tone his muscles a lot," said Shaida.
Another regular client, Erad Mohammed, shared his daughter's experience.
"My daughter had a water phobia. After a few sessions at HydroBaby, she started enjoying her shower. Unexpectedly, her daily routine has improved too," he said.
Services from HydroBaby
Hydrobaby offers water therapy and baby massage from 2 months to 4 years of age. Each session lasts about an hour, during which children swim in warm and sterile water with a floating device, followed by a soft tissue massage. The complete package helps the child to be active and tired at the same time.
HydroBaby also has a playground where children can play and feel comfortable before starting a therapy session.
Amos Ruffer and Jean Tsai came to HydroBaby with their colleagues' recommendations. Their daughter Emery finished her first session and they appreciated the whole experience.
"I think she liked to spend time in the water tub. The massage will help her blood circulation, so I have taken some tips from Shabiba to try at home," Amos explained with excitement.
"Places where you can spend a quiet and happy time, especially with a child, are rare in Dhaka. HydroBaby can be a good recommendation," he added.
From the entrance to the therapy room, everything at HydroBaby is designed to create a calm and fun environment for the babies. It is a place where every child can feel comfortable with bright colours and toys.
To book an appointment and for other queries:
Visit: www.facebook.com/hydrobaby.wellness or call at 01885 96 96 73.
