Spa Treatments for Kids

Yes, kids go to spas. And here are some of the most popular treatments for young people to help parents wrap their heads around an 8-year-old getting a pedicure.

Author:: Jeanine Skowronski
Publish date:: Nov 13, 2010 7:00 AM EST

You might think that, given the current state of our economy, people would cut back on spa treatments for themselves, let alone for their children. However, according to salon owners and beauty experts, luxuries like manicures, pedicures and massages for kids are a growing trend. “We most definitely are seeing more interest in spa treatments for kids,” says Shon Bayer, who works at Milk and Honey Spa in Austin, Texas. He adds that the spa actually had to draft policies for children under 18 due to the overwhelming increase in underage patrons. Photo Credit: Pascal Marin F

According to Shannon Nelson, editor of the beauty blog A Girl’s Gotta Spa!, kid spa treatments have become increasingly popular during the past few years for several reasons. Parents see them as a viable option for group birthday parties, but they also use small treatments, such as manicures or pedicures, as a way to spend quality time with their kids. Marci Wolcott, owner of Main Salon & Spa in Mumford, N.Y., recalls a time that a single mother purchased a couples package for her and her young daughter. “[She] had been working a great deal of overtime and wanted to thank her daughter for being so good about it,” Wolcott tells MainStreet, explaining that once the mother was able to see her daughter was enjoying the treatment, she herself could relax. Photo Credit: Steven Depolo

As with any visit to the spa though, these treatments aren’t cheap. “Just because their child is pint-sized, they shouldn't expect that the price tag is any less,” Nelson says. “Most of the treatments factor in around the same price range as an adult treatment.” PineHurst Resort and Spa in North Carolina, for example, which has its own separate children’s menu, offers a 30-minute kids massage for $70. The adult version of this basic massage costs $110, but lasts 20 minutes longer, meaning you actually pay 10 cents more per minute for your kid. Other spas, such as Milk and Honey, forego a separate menu for kids and, instead, market certain treatments to teens, tweens and tikes. To give you a better idea of how to pamper your offspring, MainStreet takes a look at some spa treatments that have become popular in the younger demographic. Photo Credit: Pamela V White

If you are looking to save (a little), hosting a spa party is the way to go. “Some spas and salons will offer package deals for a girl's day out or birthday celebrations,” Nelson says, citing Felicity Children’s Spa in New York, which caters exclusively to kids ages 6-12. Their “Felicity Diva Bash" offers manicures and pedicures and hairstyling at $375 for a party of five, or $75 per child. Cupcakes are included. Scooops Kid Spa at Great Wolf Lodge in Virginia charges resort guests $69 a child for its Triple Scooop package, which includes manicure or pedicure, a Scooops T-shirt, pizza, birthday cake, ice cream and a bag of party favors. Sometimes a spa treatment for kids can be part of a vacation package. Great Wolf Lodge, Conrad Maldives and Carnival & Royal Caribbean cruise ships all host ice cream social spa parties geared toward youngsters and Jacuzzi spa parties for teens. It’s definitely easier to justify a spa treatment for your child while you are on vacation. Photo Credit: Pink Sherbert Photography

You don’t have to wait until your child can walk and talk to bring him or her to the day spa. According to Spafinder.com, over 60 salons in the world offer treatments geared to mothers and their babies. Consher Organic Spa in Michigan, for example, offers a $90 treatment that teaches parents how to massage their newborns before mom or dad get a 30-minute massage of their own. Elixir Mind Body Massage in Colorado offers a similar infant massage that offers parents an opportunity to bond with their infant. According to the spa, the infant massage is designed “to strengthen the immune system, stimulate digestion, relieve gas and colic, promote restful sleep, and encourage development.” The one-hour lesson costs $75 if one parent comes or $85 if both want to sit in. Photo Credit: Valentina Powers

Teen facials, which generally cost around $75 to $120, differ from the adult version in that they are designed to treat facial acne. TopNotch Spa and Resort in Vermont, one of SpaFinder’s top-rated spas for kids, offers a $120 teen facial that includes a deep cleansing, steam, toning mask, extractions and a facial massage. It also includes a post-facial consultation that advises teens on how to take care of their skin at home. Photo Credit: Nina Matthews Photography

Generally speaking, massages aren’t as popular with the younger demographic as the more demure manicures and pedicures. However, Bayer points out that sports massages are often booked by teenage athletes “who are looking to get the kinks worked.” Milk and Honey’s $105 hour-long sports massage uses deep stretching and tissue manipulation to ease stiffness and pain in muscles and joints. Photo Credit: {N}Duran

Another popular salon treatment parents are also buying their tweens and teens is makeup lessons. Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas offers “Make up 101” to teens 14 and older. For $45, they spend 25 minutes getting a fresh makeup application and are taught how to replicate the look at home. They also get a quick lesson on what they should always carry in their makeup bag. Photo Credit: bowler1996p

Parents who can’t afford to take their kids and their crew to the local salon for birthdays should consider hosting a spa party of their own. Bath products company Me Bath! sells spa kits that are delivered to your home and designed to help you create a spa in your home. Their bath soaps are shaped like ice cream scoops so they’re particularly good for kiddie parties. A basic spa kit costs $25 per person and includes sherbet scrub, body lotion, stationery (for invitations) and a do-it-yourself guide that teaches you how to run the party. You also get ice cream soap, a bottle of nail polish and a pumice stone for each guest to give out as favors. Photo Credit: Pamela V White

If you’re looking for other ways to keep costs down on birthday celebrations for kids, check out this MainStreet article for some suggestions. Photo Credit: clever cupcakes

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Spa Treatments for Kids?

You might think that, given the current state of our economy, people would cut back on spa treatments for themselves, let alone for their children. However, according to salon owners and beauty experts, luxuries like manicures, pedicures and massages for kids are a growing trend. “We most definitely are seeing more interest in spa treatments for kids,” says Shon Bayer, who works at Milk and Honey Spa in Austin, Texas. He adds that the spa actually had to draft policies for children under 18 due to the overwhelming increase in underage patrons. Photo Credit: Pascal Marin F