NOTHING beats a bit of pampering.

A chance to forget your worries and drift off to a world where deadlines, demanding children and housework don't exist.

Wouldn't it be great if you could pass that sense of relaxation and wellbeing on to your children?

That's what a new treatment is hoping to achieve.

Already a popular therapy choice with adults, reflexology has now been downsized to make it suitable for the tiniest of feet.

Reflexologists believe that all parts of the body are reflected in the feet and by stimulating the relevant areas, they can influence the corresponding organs and systems. It has been used to treat a variety of ailments from stress and anxiety to constipation, asthma and eczema.

Now a simplified version has been developed for use on babies and children and Hadleigh therapist Rosemary Cunningham is one of the first in the country to offer it.

Instead of treating the children herself, she teaches parents techniques to help deal with complaints ranging from colic to teething troubles.

While adult reflexology sessions can last up to an hour, treatment on babies is restricted to five minutes at a time.

"Any more than that and it's too much for them to take," she explains.

Kerry Auger was one of the first to be shown the techniques. The mum of baby Isobel is already a reflexology client of Rosemary's and was keen to use the therapy to help her children - baby Isobel, 12 weeks, and Thomas, four.

The techniques had helped clear up her pregnancy back problems and she believes it also made the labour and birth a lot easier.

"You can never tell, but I am sure that because I had a treatment that morning and was relaxed, it helped me so much," says Kerry.

"I know how reflexology has made me feel better and healthier and that can only be a good thing for children and babies," she explains.

Rosemary breaks the training down into three sessions, the first tackles feeding and digestion, the second covers sleeping and comforting and the third works on general wellbeing.

The first thing Kerry was shown was how to sooth Isobel by stroking the back of her big toe, this corresponded to her head and neck area and was the equivalent of stroking her neck. Another technique involved stimulating the large bowel and easing constipation by tracing little circles on the base of the foot.

"It's not easy to get wrong but people do need training," says Rosemary. "That's why I like to get mums to work on each other, so they know what kind of touch they should be using."

As well as the physical benefits, Rosemary says it's a great way of bonding with your child and although she admits it might be a challenge to keep them still long enough to do it at first, she believes with time they'll be requesting it.

"It's just another string to your bow," says Rosemary. "Instead of jumping for Calpol you can try reflexology."

Kerry agrees.

"I think if you can find something to do with your baby or child as a means of bonding and it's something that's going to benefit them as well, then it's definitely worth doing."